Fevereiro 2026
Announcements
Swiss Life Asset Managers announces a Competence Centre in Lisbon
February 2026
The Swiss-based financial services company Swiss Life Asset Managers is expanding its international footprint to Portugal. The new competence centre will initially focus on providing financial and IT services to Europe, with plans to gradually expand the team over the coming years.
Expansions
Exlabesa announces €40 million expansion
January 2026
Spanish company Exlabesa has announced a €40 million investment to expand its aluminium extrusion plant in Soure (Coimbra region), under the “Exlabesa Coimbra 2030” project. The expansion will increase production capacity and triple the plant’s area. Over the next four years, the project will create 300 new jobs, adding to the current 100. The investment includes the installation of a highly advanced extrusion press, positioning the facility to serve higher value-added sectors such as naval, defence and mobility.
WEG expands production in Portugal
February 2026
Brazilian industrial group WEG is expanding in Portugal with a new 7,500 sqm logistics warehouse, increasing operational and production capacity in medium- and high-voltage motor manufacturing. This expansion also paves the way for future production of EV chargers. Since entering Portugal in 2002, WEG has invested over €70 million, including Low and High Voltage Solutions Centres, as well as advanced R&D and testing facilities.
Accenture’s new Advanced Technology Centre in Coimbra
February 2026
Accenture has inaugurated its Advanced Technology Centre in Coimbra at the Pedro Nunes Institute (IPN). Since landing in the city in 2023 with around 30 employees, the company has expanded rapidly to over 250 staff, with plans to grow to around 700, in line with its Lisbon and Braga centres. The Coimbra Hub delivers advanced technology solutions in AI, Security, Cloud and Data Analytics, to clients in more than 25 countries.
February 2026
New York-based digital communications compliance firm Shield has expanded its Lisbon Hub, growing the team by 40% to strengthen support and product development for European financial institutions. The expansion accelerates delivery of AI-driven compliance solutions, with Lisbon serving as Shield’s strategic regional base for its access to multinational talent, proximity to EU markets, and integration into the EU regulatory ecosystem.
INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHT
Portugal is the leading European per capita producer of glass packaging
February 2026
Portugal stands out as the largest per capita producer of glass packaging in Europe, with 145 kilograms per inhabitant. The country has built a glass industry with a strong international footprint, producing four times more glass packaging than the domestic market can absorb. Beverage containers dominate the market, accounting for around 81% of all glass packaging placed on the national market. Within this category, beer and wine bottles represent 71%, highlighting the close connection between glass manufacturing and Portugal’s beverage and wine industries.
RECOGNITION
February 2026
The inaugural fDi Intelligence Investment Impact Awards 2026 recognizes FDI projects in Europe with the greatest potential to deliver significant local impact. Among the winners, five are hosted by Portugal: Beyond Gravity’s Innovation & Digital Hub in Lisbon; Fischer Connectors’ Production Facility in Porto region; Five9’s Engineering Hub in Porto; Mercedes-benz.io’s Hub in Braga; and Natixis’ Centre of Excellence expansion in Porto.
Sucess stories
Natixis’ Portugal Hub earns recognition from fDi Intelligence
February 2026
Natixis’ Centre of Expertise in Porto, launched in 2017 to support BPCE’s global operations, has grown to over 3,000 employees – far surpassing its initial target of 600 – and won second place for operational mid-sized projects at the IIAs (Investment Impact Awards) 2026. Focused on IT, banking support and compliance, the Hub stands out for its sustainability, inclusive hiring and strong investment in training, reinforcing Portugal’s attractiveness as a long-term FDI and tech talent hub.
PRESS
VW Palmela: Cleaning Up for E-Mobility
February 2026
Palmela is positioning itself as a benchmark plant within the Volkswagen Group for sustainability, efficiency, and the production of affordable electric vehicles, reinforcing its strategic role in Volkswagen’s energy transition in Europe.
DID YOU KNOW?
Portuguese MBAs among the world’s best
The 2026 MBA ranking by the Financial Times includes two MBA programmes offered in Portugal, highlighting the country’s growing reputation in executive education. The Lisbon MBA Católica | Nova, and the MBA from the University of Porto – FEP | PBS.
What they say
Lisbon is a natural choice for our first home outside the U.S. As the world’s human and AI-powered work marketplace, we believe that great talent can come from anywhere, and the city and region offer an exceptional pool of innovative, entrepreneurial, and forward-thinking professionals to contribute to our next phase of growth. We are deeply impressed by the local and national governments' sharp focus on making Portugal an attractive place to invest and grow in the EU.President and CEO Hayden Brown, Upwork
