Latest news and stories about economic activity in technology in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Canadian IT consultancy CGI announced the opening of its first Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence in Portugal. The new facility will focus on generative AI and agent-based technologies, with the company planning to hire 100 people annually to support digital transformation projects.
The Portuguese aerospace and defence sectors, represented by the AED Cluster, exported 92% of their production last year and expect growth exceeding 10% in 2025. The sector, which generated 2.1 billion euros in 2024, is increasingly targeting the United States and the Middle East as strategic markets.
A new satellite production facility, the Alverca Space Hub, is being built at the Air Force (Força Aérea) installations in Alverca and is expected to be completed by mid-2024. The 1.5 million euro factory will initially produce eight radar satellites for the Atlantic Constellation (Constelação do Atlântico). The project aims to establish Portugal's capacity to build and operate satellites for both domestic and European use.\n\nUpdate: Portugal launches six satellites including first national radar equipment\n\nPortugal successfully launched six new satellites into space on Monday aboard a SpaceX rocket from California. The launch included the country's first radar satellite for Earth observation and four satellites named after famous Portuguese authors, which form the Lusíada constellation (Constelação Lusíada). These new assets will allow for real-time image capture regardless of weather conditions or light levels.
The Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea) is Portugal’s military branch for defending national airspace and conducting aerial operations. Created in 1952, it also carries out search-and-rescue, aerial reconnaissance and disaster support such as photographing floods or moving emergency teams. Residents in affected regions may see its planes and helicopters used during storms and relief missions.
The Atlantic Constellation (Constelação do Atlântico) is a collaborative space initiative between Portugal and Spain involving a network of small satellites for Earth observation. These satellites provide real-time data on maritime safety, climate change, and biodiversity across the Atlantic region. The project is linked to the Alverca Space Hub, a satellite factory in Portugal expected to finish construction in mid-2024.
The Lusíada constellation (Constelação Lusíada) is a group of four Portuguese satellites launched to monitor Earth and maritime activities. Named after literary figures like Luís de Camões and Fernando Pessoa, these satellites are part of Portugal's space strategy.
The European Commission is reviewing a joint request from Portugal, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Austria to implement a windfall tax on energy company profits, acknowledging the proposal while distinguishing current market conditions from the 2022 energy crisis.
IAG has withdrawn its interest in acquiring TAP, leaving Air France-KLM and Lufthansa as the remaining contenders for the Portuguese airline's privatisation.
Economist Luís Aguiar-Conraria analyzes the potential economic fallout of the Middle East conflict, emphasizing that global recession risks depend heavily on policy responses and the stability of oil transport routes.
![If there is an impediment to oil transport [in the strait], it is almost as if 20% of global reserves disappeared](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.iol.pt%2Fimage%2Fid%2F69b73b3ed34edcee7c61e93d%2F200.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Tourism is a vital part of the Portuguese economy, but it must adapt to new challenges such as increasing value, diversifying markets, and managing visitor flows effectively. Lídia Monteiro from Turismo de Portugal emphasizes the need for strategic growth in a competitive global landscape.
Portugal aspires to be a leader in innovation and technology, focusing on integrating AI in education and attracting foreign investment. However, the reality of its public services is starkly contrasting, with inefficiencies so severe that even basic tasks like paying taxes require prior appointments, highlighting a systemic failure that undermines its ambitions.
Portugal is seeking to enhance its appeal to Middle Eastern investors, particularly from Qatar, by shifting its marketing strategy beyond just its favorable climate. In Doha, representatives from Startup Portugal are engaging with local entrepreneurs to promote investment opportunities in the country.
This article provides an analytical comparison of the digital landscapes in Spain and Portugal, emphasizing that Portugal offers a more favorable environment for digital growth and investment.
The EU–India trade agreement creates a “rare opportunity” to expand Portuguese agri‑food exports, with olive oil singled out as the main beneficiary. The Federation of Portuguese Agri‑food Industries said there are “absolutely favourable conditions for olive oil exports” and described the pact as an unprecedented chance for the sector. To convert the opportunity into sustained growth, industry representatives stress the need for investment in production capacity, market development and compliance with buyer standards, while monitoring regulatory and logistical challenges that could affect competitiveness.
Guimarães has been chosen as the site for the presentation of Portugal’s national space strategy, a symbolic starting point for mayor Ricardo Araújo’s plan to turn the municipality — home to the Guimarães Space Hub — into an Iberian leader in the aerospace sector. Local authorities are pursuing rehabilitation of facilities, investment and economic activation to attract industry, create jobs and build a skills pipeline. Realising that ambition will require sustained funding, coordination with national and international partners, and targeted policies to translate strategy into industrial growth rather than a one‑off showcase.
The article analyses a surge in national defence innovation driven by a €5.8 billion SAFE loan—the largest single investment in the Armed Forces—positioning defence as a strategic area for both European and national investors. Key growth areas include drones, satellites and aircraft, with emphasis on R&D, dual‑use technologies and strengthened aerospace supply chains that can create jobs and boost exports. The piece examines how procurement reform, public‑private partnerships and targeted skills development are needed to translate investment into sustained industrial capacity and economic impact. It concludes that coherent policy and sustained funding will be essential to maximise technological and economic returns.
After Portugal’s Tekever became a unicorn, 2026 looks set to remain a liquid year for investors despite geopolitical uncertainties that are reshaping financial markets. Venture capital will continue to favour AI startups, but a growing emphasis on dual‑use and defence‑adjacent technologies means investors will weigh strong commercial upside against ethical, regulatory and geopolitical risks. The year will therefore be defined by opportunities for tech and defence crossover, active deal‑making, and increased scrutiny from policymakers and funds alike.
Defence has ceased to be merely a security expense and has established itself as an instrument of economic, industrial, and technological policy. This was one of the key topics at the Famalicão Made IN Economic Forum, which this year focused on the theme 'The Best Defence is Innovation', with Expresso participating as a media partner.
On World Earth Day, the Casa da Música in Porto hosted the TransformEC project conference, which promoted the circular economy among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Portugal has the capacity to take on an important role in the defence sector due to its industries and technology, according to the president of ASD, who also warned of the dangers of using AI without ethics.
The president of a European association claims that Portugal possesses a robust defence industrial sector.
Seithor enters the Portuguese market to address a significant gap in available options.
The Portuguese technology company InnoWave announced this Tuesday, the 28th, that it is investing 3.8 million euros in artificial intelligence (AI), with 1.6 million allocated this year, aiming to accelerate software delivery and boost competitiveness. The company plans to invest a further 1.6 million throughout the current year as part of a strategy to enhance product launch speeds for its clients. Between 2024 and 2025, the firm invested 2.2 million euros in this area, reflecting its commitment to R&D. CEO Tiago Gonçalves stated that AI is now central to their operations, team organization, and value creation, with the company also revising its revenue forecasts to over 30 million following a successful year.
Fernando Fraga highlights the strategic potential of integrating advanced technology into large-scale investment initiatives in Portugal.
The composite materials company BeyondComposite, which has been controlled by the Azevedo family since last year, has joined a European project funded by the European Defence Fund, worth 115 million euros. The company is the only Portuguese entity to join the consortium and will be responsible for the development of composite material substructures.
The Cegid Group reported 85 million euros in revenue in Portugal, a year marked by its acquisition of the software company PHC.
SoftwareOne is leveraging its operations in Portugal to expand and reinforce its global network infrastructure.
A business delegation has finished its visit to Portugal and Spain, resulting in more than one hundred new cooperation projects.
A report on a new naval asset or technology that has the potential to enhance Portugal's aerial capabilities.
A group of Portuguese companies is in the United States looking for defence partnerships in the North American market.
