Portugal Blue

Portugal Blue is a program of the Portuguese Development Bank that supports projects and companies linked to the Blue Economy. Its objective is to finance startups, SMEs, and mid-cap companies that develop activities related to the sea and oceans, promoting innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness.

Investment Period

Up to 5 years

Financing

Up to 50.000.000,00€

Funders

Fundo Azul (Blue Fund)

Eligible Entities

Startups
SMEs
MidCaps

Portugal Blue

Portugal Blue is a program of the Portuguese Development Bank that supports projects and companies linked to the Blue Economy. Its objective is to finance startups, SMEs, and mid-cap companies that develop activities related to the sea and oceans, promoting innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness.

Investment Period

Up to 5 years

Financing

Up to 50.000.000,00€

Funders

Fundo Azul (Blue Fund)

Eligible Entities

Startups
SMEs
MidCaps

Objectives and characteristics

  • Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) focused on investments in technology transfer, venture capital, expansion capital (early-stage), and development capital (growth capital) in blue economy projects.

  • Startups
  • SMEs
  • MidCaps
  • How to Apply
    • At the level of Venture Capital Funds
      • Contact BPF/EIF directly
    • At the level of Companies
      • Contact the fund management company: Faber Ventures

  • Generally, funds invest during the first 5 years of a 10-year activity cycle.

  • Mainly equity and quasi-equity instruments
    • Geographic Scope
      • At the level of direct funds:
        • Funds managed by teams preferably based in Portugal or in the European Union
      • At the level of companies:
        • Preferably investments in Portugal
    • Priority Sectors
      • Blue Economy sectors (a broad spectrum of economic activities linked to seas and oceans, including traditional/established sectors as well as emerging ones)
    • Conditions Applicable to Final Beneficiaries
      • Preferably for investment in blue economy companies operating in Portugal
      • Must be an SME, a MidCap, or a technology transfer project
      • At the time of the EIF’s first investment, the company may not operate in any of the economic sectors referred to as “EIF Restricted Sectors” under the EIF Restricted Sectors Guidelines.

  • Private Investors / Financial Intermediaries
    • Venture Capital Funds, regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) or another equivalent European supervisory authority, with investment theses focused on technology transfer, venture capital, expansion capital (early-stage), and development capital (growth capital)
  • Financing by Private Investor / Financial Intermediary
    • Direct funds participation: €20,000,000.00 to €50,000,000.00
    • Private participations: at least 30% of the total capital subscribed in direct funds
  • Maximum Co-Financing
    • 70%
  • Funders
    • Fundo Azul (Blue Fund)
  • Involved Funds
    • National public co-financing: €25,000,000.00, via the Equity & Quasi-Equity Fund (FC&QC) managed by Banco Português de Fomento
    • European Investment Fund (EIF) co-financing: €25,000,000.00

Objectives and characteristics

Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) focused on investments in technology transfer, venture capital, expansion capital (early-stage), and development capital (growth capital) in blue economy projects.

Startups
SMEs
MidCaps
How to Apply
At the level of Venture Capital Funds
Contact BPF/EIF directly
At the level of Companies
Contact the fund management company: Faber Ventures

Generally, funds invest during the first 5 years of a 10-year activity cycle.

Mainly equity and quasi-equity instruments
Geographic Scope
At the level of direct funds:
Funds managed by teams preferably based in Portugal or in the European Union
At the level of companies:
Preferably investments in Portugal
Priority Sectors
Blue Economy sectors (a broad spectrum of economic activities linked to seas and oceans, including traditional/established sectors as well as emerging ones)
Conditions Applicable to Final Beneficiaries
Preferably for investment in blue economy companies operating in Portugal
Must be an SME, a MidCap, or a technology transfer project
At the time of the EIF’s first investment, the company may not operate in any of the economic sectors referred to as “EIF Restricted Sectors” under the EIF Restricted Sectors Guidelines.

Private Investors / Financial Intermediaries
Venture Capital Funds, regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) or another equivalent European supervisory authority, with investment theses focused on technology transfer, venture capital, expansion capital (early-stage), and development capital (growth capital)
Financing by Private Investor / Financial Intermediary
Direct funds participation: €20,000,000.00 to €50,000,000.00
Private participations: at least 30% of the total capital subscribed in direct funds
Maximum Co-Financing
70%
Funders
Fundo Azul (Blue Fund)
Involved Funds
National public co-financing: €25,000,000.00, via the Equity & Quasi-Equity Fund (FC&QC) managed by Banco Português de Fomento
European Investment Fund (EIF) co-financing: €25,000,000.00