To the Applications for the BSC AI Factory incubation program in Porto are now open and will run until September 15th.The initiative, promoted by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the National Center for Advanced Computing (CNCA), is aimed at startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that develop solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI).
The program is free and will take place between October 5, 2026 and March 30, 2027, at the facilities of UPTEC Asprela II, in Porto. In addition to providing specialized support to participating companies, this initiative aims to accelerate national innovation in AI and strengthen the link between the business ecosystem and the advanced computing infrastructures available in Portugal.
One program, multiple services for startups.
The initiative consists of a A set of services and resources made available by the BSC AI Factory.This allows companies to develop, test, and scale their technological solutions. The support provided includes data discovery and access services, computing hours, specialized technical assistance, mentoring, training, and consulting in advanced areas of artificial intelligence, including large-scale linguistic models.
In addition to the incubation component, the program also functions as a gateway to the remaining services offered by the BSC AI Factory, facilitating access to strategic resources for the development of innovative projects.
Who can apply?
Although the call is open to all startups and SMEs developing artificial intelligence projects, priority is given to applications in areas considered strategic for national innovation and competitiveness. Health, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, climate and blue economy, energy, legal and financial services, communication and media, as well as the public sector are some of the priority areas.
To the Applications must be submitted through official project page.
The BSC AI Factory is a European initiative led by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. Portugal is part of this network through the Foundation for Science and Technology and the National Center for Advanced Computing (CNCA), reinforcing the national strategic positioning in the European AI ecosystem. The project is also funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
