Julho 2026
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lufthansa Technik breaks ground on MRO facility in Portugal
July 2026
Lufthansa Technik has officially started construction of its new 55,000 sqm aircraft component and engine parts repair facility in Santa Maria da Feira, near Porto. The investment will create up to 700 highly skilled jobs, with operations expected to begin in 2028. The project, supported by AICEP, represents one of the largest aerospace investments ever supported in Portugal and strengthens the country's position as a European aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hub. Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr highlighted Portugal as “one of the most strategically important countries" for the Group.
Alstom’s groundbreaking ceremony in Portugal
July 2026
Alstom marked a major milestone in Portugal with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new industrial site in Matosinhos, Porto region, reaffirming its commitment to developing a rail manufacturing hub in the country. The 20,000 sqm facility will support the delivery of 153 commuter and regional trains for Comboios de Portugal (CP), with 81 trains to be manufactured locally, creating around 300 direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect jobs.
ICEYE sets up in Portugal to scale sovereign space capability
July 2026
Finnish aerospace company ICEYE has announced the opening of a centre of excellence in Lisbon that will focus on R&D in software, systems integration and AI, building end-to-end intelligence capability, while creating highly skilled jobs and actively hiring local talent. The expansion builds on ICEYE's partnership with the Portuguese Air Force and strengthens Portugal's position as a European hub for sovereign space capabilities and advanced satellite technologies.
Swiss Life Asset Managers opens new office in Lisbon
July 2026
Swiss Life Asset Managers has announced the opening of its new office in Lisbon, marking an important milestone in the company's European expansion. The Lisbon office will operate as a competence centre, bringing together specialised expertise, fostering collaboration across borders and supporting service delivery throughout the company's European network.
German NGO establishes digital transformation hub in Portugal
July 2026
German NGO Welthungerhilfe has established its first presence in Portugal to support its global digital transformation. The Porto team will provide specialised SAP expertise for the implementation of SAP S/4HANA, helping modernise the NGO’s operations across 37 countries, improve efficiency and transparency, and support its humanitarian mission.
EXPANSIONS
Philip Morris International establishes Global GenAI Factory in Portugal
July 2026
Philip Morris International (PMI) has selected Portugal as the location for its new GenAI Factory. Based at its facility in Sintra, the hub will support PMI’s global operations, delivering AI-driven solutions and capabilities from Portugal to markets worldwide
GOING GREEN
Portugal Bets on Storage: How September’s 1 GW Auction Marks a New Era for Renewable Energy
July 2026
Portugal is set to launch an energy storage auction on 14 September 2026, expecting to allocate 1.05 GW of battery storage capacity: 750 MW for standalone BESS projects and 300 MW for renewable projects combined with storage. The initiative reflects a strategic shift from expanding renewable generation alone towards building the flexibility needed to integrate increasing volumes of wind and solar power. It forms part of Portugal’s National Electricity Storage Strategy, which targets 3 GW of battery storage by 2030 and 4.5 GW by 2040.
INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHT
Space race: Why Portugal is reaching for the stars
July 2026
Deutsche Welle highlights Portugal as an emerging European space hub, leveraging its strategic Atlantic location, highly skilled engineering talent and growing ecosystem of around 80 space companies. Supported by the Portuguese Space Agency and European partnerships, major initiatives include the development of the Atlantic Spaceport in the Azores, new satellite manufacturing capabilities led by companies such as Open Cosmos and CEiiA, and plans to deploy 30 satellites by 2030.
RECOGNITION
Portugal ranks 6th globally for industrial investment
July 2026
Portugal has been ranked 6th worldwide and 3rd in Europe in the Savills Nearshoring Index 2026, reinforcing its attractiveness for industrial investment. The ranking reflects Portugal's strong performance across resilience, business environment, economic competitiveness and ESG, as companies increasingly prioritise stable and sustainable locations for long-term industrial expansion.
SUCCESS STORIES
Turning Waste into Sustainable Fuels: The GEMS Biofuels Vision
July 2026
GEMS Biofuels, a joint venture between Portugal's Galp and Japan's Mitsui & Co., was established in 2024 to develop one of Europe's most advanced biofuel production facilities. Located in Sines, Portugal, the industrial scale biorefinery will convert waste and used cooking oils into renewable diesel (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), supporting the decarbonisation of road transport and aviation while reinforcing Portugal's role as a strategic hub for the energy transition in Europe. Watch the video to discover the project's vision, scale, impact, and the compelling story that brings together investor and country.
DID YOU KNOW?
Lisbon ranked 3rd in Monocle's 2026 Quality of Life Survey
The ranking highlights the Portuguese capital's combination of excellent governance, continuous investment in public transport, a thriving cultural and culinary scene, vibrant independent retail, and exceptional safety. Monocle also praises Lisbon's international connectivity, its growing cycling infrastructure, and its ability to preserve its unique character while embracing innovation.
Portugal is building a desalination plant
Portugal has officially begun construction of the Algarve desalination plant, a strategic infrastructure project that will convert seawater into drinking water. With an initial annual capacity of 16 million cubic metres, expandable to 24 million cubic metres, the €107.9 million project aims to strengthen the region’s water security amid growing drought and climate pressures.
WHAT THEY SAY
Portugal is one of Europe's most forward-leaning nations in sovereign space capability, and our work with the Portuguese Air Force has shown what trusted, end-to-end SAR intelligence can deliver. Bringing satellite manufacturing, AI-enabled analytics and our natural catastrophe solutions together in Lisbon, alongside Portuguese talent and partners, strengthens both the country and the wider European capability.Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE
