Portugal: COMPETE presents programme results

Submitted by Robert Koch on 8 February, 2012 - 11:55

Country:

Portugal

The Competitiveness Factors Operational Programme (COMPETE) organised, together with the Ministry of Economy and Employment, on 20th December 2011, a forum and exhibition where the results of the programme were presented and the competitiveness and internationalisation of Portuguese clusters were discussed.

The COMPETE forum gathered policy makers, project representatives and innovation experts around discussions and reflection panels on entrepreneurship, innovation, competitiveness and internationalisation. COMPETE had started in 2007 and will last until 2013. More than 90% of the available funds have already been assigned; however, only 37% of the means have already been transferred to the beneficiaries due to delays in the implementation of the various funded projects.

By mid December 2011, 4378 projects with a total value of more than € 7 billion had been approved for funding under COMPETE. Total funding (co-financing) amounts to € 2.8 billion. Support is granted, in particular, to exporting companies; they account for 1,771 of the approved projects with a total value of € 5.6 billion and COMPETE grants of € 2.0 billion.

The implementation status of the various projects has not occurred at the desired pace, according to Nelson de Souza, COMPETE manager. "We are searching for ways to mitigate the problem", he said at the COMPETE forum, because such investments may "induce international investments" that the Government considers essential to accelerate the Portuguese economy.

Carlos Oliveira, Secretary of State of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Competitiveness, announced that the Government would create new tools to increase collective efficiency and the capabilities for internationalisation among clusters. According to Mr Oliveira, the government “is committed to measures of competitiveness," while acknowledging that some adjustments will be carried out due to austerity measures. "We have to focus more on results and economic impact," said the Secretary of State. The aim is that the Portuguese cluster policy becomes "more oriented towards internationalisation."