What Happened
In January 2026, the Portuguese Government approved the National Artificial Intelligence Agenda (ANIA) through Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 2/2026.
This plan represents an investment of over €400 million (mostly European funds) specifically to accelerate AI adoption in Portuguese small and medium enterprises.
Why this investment?
The numbers show a large gap in AI adoption by company size:
- Only 9.4% of small businesses use AI
- 18.2% of medium businesses use AI
- 49.1% of large businesses use AI
The Government's objective is clear: ensure that AI benefits reach all businesses, not just large corporations.
In addition to SMB funding, the plan allocates €25 million to implement AI in Public Administration starting in the first half of 2026.
What It Means for Your Business
ANIA is not just another strategic document - it brings practical and concrete measures for SMBs:
1. Reinforced "AI for SMBs" funding line Direct support for companies to implement artificial intelligence solutions. Funding covers:
- Acquisition of AI software and tools
- Specialized consulting for implementation
- Team training
- Pilot projects and tests
2. National platform of AI products A platform will be created with low-code/no-code solutions (visual tools without programming requirements) ready to use and adapted to the real needs of Portuguese SMBs.
This means: you don't need to hire programmers or have advanced technical knowledge to get started.
3. Accelerated visas for AI specialists For companies that need to hire specialized talent, the Government will facilitate and accelerate visa processes for AI professionals.
4. Focus on strategic sectors The agenda identifies priority areas that include several industries Line Consulting serves: health, tourism (hospitality), agriculture (agribusiness), and business services.
How You Can Access Funding
Practical steps to apply:
1. Identify the concrete need Before applying, clearly define:
- Which business process do you want to improve with AI?
- What specific problem do you want to solve?
- What results do you expect to achieve?
2. Consult IAPMEI The Institute for Support of Small and Medium Enterprises (IAPMEI) manages the "AI for SMBs" line.
- Website: www.iapmei.pt
- Look for "Inteligência Artificial" in the support section
- Contact the digital desk or your regional manager
3. Prepare the application You will typically need:
- Description of the AI project you want to implement
- Estimated budget (software, consulting, training)
- Implementation timeline
- Success indicators you will measure
4. Consider specialized support Many SMBs benefit from consulting to:
- Identify the best AI solutions for their case
- Prepare applications with higher approval probability
- Ensure the project is viable and well-sized
Important deadlines: The national AI products platform will be launched during 2026. The €25 million for Public Administration starts in the first half of 2026, indicating that ANIA is in active implementation.
We recommend contacting IAPMEI as soon as possible to learn about specific funding line deadlines.
Examples of Eligible Projects
To give a concrete idea of the type of projects that can be funded:
Retail / E-commerce:
- Personalized product recommendation system
- Demand forecasting and automatic inventory management
- 24/7 customer service chatbot
Hospitality and Restaurants:
- Virtual assistant for reservations and check-in
- AI analysis of customer reviews and feedback
- Occupancy forecasting and dynamic pricing
Healthcare (Clinics and Offices):
- Intelligent scheduling system
- Automatic symptom triage (clinical decision support)
- AI-powered medical records management
Accounting and Professional Services:
- Invoice processing automation
- Financial data anomaly detection
- Automated reports with predictive analysis
Logistics and Transport:
- Delivery route optimization
- Fleet maintenance prediction
- Automatic warehouse management
Construction and Real Estate:
- Predictive construction cost analysis
- AI-powered project management
- Automatic property valuation
All these projects may be eligible for funding through the "AI for SMBs" line.
Our Advice
ANIA represents a historic opportunity for Portuguese SMBs to access AI technology with financial support from the State and European Union.
How to seize this opportunity:
- ✅ Act now: Funds are limited and applications will be first-come-first-served or in competitions with deadlines
- ✅ Start small: It's easier to approve (and successfully implement) a focused pilot project than a total transformation
- ✅ Demonstrate return: Applications that show clear impact on productivity, efficiency, or revenue have better chances
- ✅ Ensure execution capacity: Have partners or consultants identified to help with implementation
- ❌ Avoid: Applying without a clearly defined business problem
- ❌ Avoid: Proposing projects too ambitious or complex for the company's current capacity
- ❌ Avoid: Expecting that "AI" alone is sufficient justification - focus must be on business benefit
How Line Consulting AI can help:
We have experience working with Portuguese SMBs on AI implementation. We can help with:
- Opportunity identification: Analyze your business and identify where AI can bring the greatest return
- Application preparation: Structure solid projects with higher approval probability
- Implementation: Execute the AI project from start to finish, even if you don't have an internal technical team
- Training: Empower your team to use and take advantage of new tools
Interested in exploring how you can benefit from ANIA? Contact us for a free consultation on opportunities for your business.
Useful resources:
- IAPMEI: www.iapmei.pt
- ANIA Portal: digital.gov.pt/pt/estrategias/agenda-nacional-de-ia
- IAPMEI AI Events: Check the calendar on the IAPMEI website