The STEP Taskforce was invited to participate in the STEP Open Days in Portugal by its STEP National Contact Point, Duarte Rodrigues, vice-president of the Agency for Development and Cohesion. The four sessions took place in Porto (10/01 - online), Évora (20/01), Faro (21/01) and Coimbra (22/01). The sessions aimed at showcasing the STEP initiative and funding opportunities, exploring the STEP Seals, and engaging in sector-specific roundtables. The STEP Open Days were organised by the National Agency for Development and Cohesion, together with the Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) of the regions of Norte, Centro, Alentejo and Algarve organised the STEP Open Days.
The STEP OPEN DAYS brought together a diverse range of participants, including representatives from national and regional authorities, European institutions, business associations, and financial institutions. The event also attracted researchers, innovators, and industry stakeholders from key STEP sectors, as well as experts in EU funding and investment. Additionally, organisations involved in managing and implementing funding programmes participated to share insights and facilitate discussions on financing opportunities.
The high level of interest in the STEP OPEN DAYS reflects Portugal’s strong commitment to leveraging European funding to drive innovation and competitiveness. The discussions highlighted the country's proactive approach in identifying opportunities within STEP to support strategic projects across key sectors. The engagement from national and regional authorities, industry stakeholders, and financial institutions demonstrated a clear willingness to maximise synergies between different funding instruments and promote technological development. The STEP Seal was particularly well received as a valuable tool to enhance project visibility and facilitate financing. Overall, Portugal is actively exploring ways to strengthen its position in the European innovation landscape through targeted investments and collaboration.
The STEP Taskforce will continue supporting Portugal’s progress in exploring the opportunities offered by STEP and will provide guidance in case any Managing Authority decides to amend Cohesion Policy programmes in view of the March 31 deadline.
