October 2026
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Somfy strengthens industrial presence with new factory in Portugal
October 2026
French multinational Somfy, a global player in automation systems for doors and windows, has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Felgueiras, Portugal. Currently employing 80 people, the factory aims to produce four million shutter motors annually and create 700 jobs within five to six years, subject to international market demand. The investment strengthens Portugal’s role in Somfy’s global industrial network, with the site benefiting from skilled talent, strategic infrastructure and a focus on energy efficiency.
Aosheng Hi-Tech inaugurates its manufacturing facility in Portugal
October 2026
AOSHENG HI-Tech, a Chinese manufacturer specialised in advanced carbon fibre composite materials, inaugurated its first large-scale European manufacturing facility in Valongo, Portugal, to produce advanced carbon fibre composite materials for wind turbine blades. The new manufacturing facility is expected to create approximately 250 jobs, strengthening the company’s European presence and Portugal’s role in the renewable energy supply chain.
thyssenkrupp nucera to establish electrolyzer cell assembly hub in Portugal
October 2026
German multinational thyssenkrupp nucera has chosen Portugal for the establishment of its first European Assembly Hub for electrolyzer cells, a critical technology to produce green hydrogen. Located in Vila Nova de Gaia, the project represents an investment of €10-14 million and is expected to begin production in 2028. The facility will centralise and semi-automate the manufacture of alkaline water electrolysis cells, strengthening the company's European value chain, increasing production capacity and reducing assembly lead times. The hub will serve electrolysis projects across Europe and neighbouring regions.
Baseyard to invest over €20 million in new industrial hub in Braga
October 2026
Baseyard, founded in Latvia, plans to invest over €20 million in a new industrial facility in Braga, focused on defence and dual-use technologies. Operations are expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, with the company planning to create around 200 jobs by 2029. The project, that will initially occupy approximately 10,000 sqm, aims to contribute to the development of a defence and dual-use industrial ecosystem in Northern Portugal, leveraging the region’s strong engineering talent, technological capabilities and established industrial base.
DKV Mobility builds Tech Hub in Porto
October 2026
German mobility services provider DKV Mobility is establishing a Tech Hub in Porto to strengthen its data, AI capabilities, and digital innovation activities, supporting the development of next-generation solutions for refuelling, EV charging, and fleet management. The company plans to recruit around 50 specialists by the end of 2026 and expand the team to approximately 150 employees by the end of 2027. The new hub will serve as a centre of excellence, complementing the company’s existing technology sites in Germany and Romania, and reflects Portugal’s attractiveness as a tech investment destination.
Athena opens new office in Porto
October 2026
US-based Athena Technology Solutions has expanded its European footprint with the opening of a new office in Porto, Portugal. The new location will bring the company closer to its European customers and partners, with a particular focus on supporting Siemens Opcenter and Critical Manufacturing MES environments.
The investment reinforces Porto’s role as a location for technology-driven activities supporting the digital transformation of manufacturing across Europe.
INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHT
Portugal’s clean energy powers data centre growth
October 2026
Portugal is expected to record a fast data centre growth within the European landscape, surpassing 1 GW of installed capacity by 2030, according to Rystad Energy, as cited by Reuters. The country’s main draw is its clean energy: renewables supplied over 80% of Portugal’s electricity in 2025. Portugal currently has 36 operational data centres and 10 more under construction or in planning, with the Lisbon area alone accounting for nearly 1.4 GW of planned capacity. The flagship project is Start Campus’s 1.2 GW SINES campus, built on a former coal plant site and cooled with seawater: its first module already provides computing capacity to Microsoft through Nscale, a second 200 MW module will come online in 2027, and four more are planned by 2030, backed by a renewable power agreement with EDP.
October 2026
Portugal is expected to record a fast data centre growth within the European landscape, surpassing 1 GW of installed capacity by 2030, according to Rystad Energy, as cited by Reuters. The country’s main draw is its clean energy: renewables supplied over 80% of Portugal’s electricity in 2025. Portugal currently has 36 operational data centres and 10 more under construction or in planning, with the Lisbon area alone accounting for nearly 1.4 GW of planned capacity. The flagship project is Start Campus’s 1.2 GW SINES campus, built on a former coal plant site and cooled with seawater: its first module already provides computing capacity to Microsoft through Nscale, a second 200 MW module will come online in 2027, and four more are planned by 2030, backed by a renewable power agreement with EDP.
RECOGNITION
Portugal holds 9th place among Europe’s most attractive FDI destinations
October 2026
Portugal has once again ranked 9th out of 47 European countries for FDI, according to the EY Portugal Attractiveness Survey 2026. While Europe’s FDI projects fell 7% to a ten-year low, Portugal showed greater resilience, attracting 186 projects and increasing its share of European projects to 3.7%. Investors point to quality of life, safety and cultural diversity (32%), the availability of green and low-carbon energy (30%) and the quality of infrastructure (27%) as Portugal’s main advantages, with renewable energy gaining the most ground over the past year. Expansion projects grew, representing 37% of the total, reflecting the continued confidence of companies already established in the country.
October 2026
Portugal has once again ranked 9th out of 47 European countries for FDI, according to the EY Portugal Attractiveness Survey 2026. While Europe’s FDI projects fell 7% to a ten-year low, Portugal showed greater resilience, attracting 186 projects and increasing its share of European projects to 3.7%. Investors point to quality of life, safety and cultural diversity (32%), the availability of green and low-carbon energy (30%) and the quality of infrastructure (27%) as Portugal’s main advantages, with renewable energy gaining the most ground over the past year. Expansion projects grew, representing 37% of the total, reflecting the continued confidence of companies already established in the country.
PRESS
Bridges Magazine on Portugal-Japan Business Ties
October 2026
Bridges Magazine has published a special dossier exploring the longstanding bilateral relationship between Portugal and Japan, with a particular focus on Japanese investment in Portugal. Featuring contributions from key business leaders and institutional representatives, the dossier highlights Japanese companies’ presence across sectors such as energy, mobility, manufacturing, food processing, and technology, while showcasing Portugal’s attractiveness as an investment destination and the growing opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
October 2026
Bridges Magazine has published a special dossier exploring the longstanding bilateral relationship between Portugal and Japan, with a particular focus on Japanese investment in Portugal. Featuring contributions from key business leaders and institutional representatives, the dossier highlights Japanese companies’ presence across sectors such as energy, mobility, manufacturing, food processing, and technology, while showcasing Portugal’s attractiveness as an investment destination and the growing opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
DID YOU KNOW?
Portugal begins construction of its first high speed line
Portugal has begun construction of the first section of its high-speed rail line linking Lisbon and Porto, with the full route expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to just 1 hour and 15 minutes. The €2 billion Porto-Oiã section is part of a major infrastructure investment aimed at improving national connectivity, strengthening links with Spain and promoting sustainable mobility.
Portugal has begun construction of the first section of its high-speed rail line linking Lisbon and Porto, with the full route expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to just 1 hour and 15 minutes. The €2 billion Porto-Oiã section is part of a major infrastructure investment aimed at improving national connectivity, strengthening links with Spain and promoting sustainable mobility.
M&A Corner
WHAT THEY SAY
The competition for the best minds in data & AI can be felt right across Europe. Porto convinced us because a vibrant tech community has emerged there with exactly the expertise we are looking for. We are not building an isolated satellite team there, but a genuine centre of excellence that works closely with our teams in Ratingen and Bucharest to develop better products for our customers together.Jesper Erichsen, Chief Technology & Operating Officer at DKV Mobility
