Portugal launches an accelerator for the EU Defence sector
- Valerie Charoux
- 6 hours ago
- 1 min read
Defence News Europe - Portugal launches an accelerator for the EU Defence sector through Startup Leiria:
More than 50 Portuguese and international Defence startups participated in training, mentoring and networking and the selected projects are now moving to the business and investment phase, with access to investors, incubation and integration in the Defense ecosystem.
Startup Leiria the Defense Accelerator Demo Day held in January, a program pioneer in Portugal dedicated exclusively to training startups and companies for the entry into the sector of Defense, Security and Dual-Use Technologies (civil and military). The initiative positions Portugal in the European innovation ecosystem in a strategic area for Europe.
Portugal’s Defense Accelerator selected 30 teams with high technological potential solutions and ambitions in line with the high-level requirements of the EU Defence sector.
Over two months, the selected teams participated in an intensive specialized training, with sessions focused on key topics such as access to Defense, the regulatory framework, public procurement, certifications, scalability, technological and collaboration with institutional and industrial entities. The program also had the support of idD Portugal Defence and the Portuguese Association of Defense Companies, as well as the contribution of a specialized body of mentors and experts in the national and international Defense and Security ecosystem.
Portugal’s Defence initiative is spearheading the Defence sector as "readiness facilitator" for European funding and NATO, preparing startups to reach the required EU levels.
