Portugal funds €50 million for the European Tech Champions Initiative 2.0
Tech News Europe - Portugal will fund up to 50 million euros for the European Tech Champions Initiative 2.0 (ETCI). Europe is expanding its flagship ETCI initiative, as the EIB Group, the governments of all EU-27 countries, and major institutional investors are teaming up to mobilize up to €80 billion for investment into highly innovative companies that are scaling up to become global leaders. ETCI is part of the EIB Group’s broader efforts to mobilize capital at scale in support of Europe’s strategic priorities, contributing to TechEU and to the Savings and Investment Union (SIU). The Government of Portugal will fund the ETCI 2.0 though a capital subscription paid for by the State Budget under an fund-of-funds model that aims to improve access to financing for tech companies and help develop the venture capital market.
What is Portugal´s participation in the European Tech Champions Initiative 2.0 (ETCI)?
Portugal´s participation in the European Tech Champions Initiative 2.0 (ETCI), an initiative of the EIB Group, follows a Council of Ministers' Decree published on October 21st, 2026. The Decree aims at strengthening the financing of European technology companies in the growth phase, according to Portugal´s Ministry of Finance.
The Government of Portugal´s participation in the European Tech Champions Initiative 2.0 (ETCI) aims to broaden funding opportunities for national technology companies, promoting their growth and internationalization. It will also ensure the representation of the Portuguese Republic in the governance mechanisms of the initiative and strengthen cooperation with the EIB Group in financing innovation.
in addition to supporting mega-funds, medium-sized funds of over €300 million will also be supported. The expectation is that, among the more than 100 funds to be created, 45 will be mega-funds investing in companies in the expansion phase, with an average investment of €200 million per company.
Managed by the European Investment Fund, ETCI 2.0 mobilizes resources for investment funds that finance technology companies in the expansion phase, seeking to address difficulties of access to capital at the most advanced stages of their development.
