NOTICE | Hiring Highly Qualified Human Resources by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

The Notice for the submission of applications for support for the Hiring of Highly Qualified Human Resources by companies (micro, small, and medium-sized) in territories of the Northern Region not classified as low density has been published (cf. Deliberation No. 31/2023/PL, September 22, by the Interministerial Coordination Commission).

Actions covered by this notice

Hiring Highly Qualified Human Resources by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in territories not classified as low density, with fair remuneration and prospects for job sustainability, as a means of acquiring critical mass and supporting the development of processes that promote business innovation in areas aligned with the priority domains of the Regional Smart Specialization Strategy (S3NORTE2027).

The human resources to be hired must have an academic degree with a qualification level of 6 (bachelor’s), 7 (master’s), or 8 (doctorate and post-doctorate), as defined in Annex II of Decree No. 782/2009, dated July 23.

Entities eligible to apply

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises of any nature and legal form, in accordance with paragraph a) of article 112 of the Specific Regulation for the Thematic Area of Innovation and Digital Transition (REITD), with organized accounting and a physical structure with regular activity (headquarters or establishment) in the Northern Region.

Covered geographical area

Territories not classified as low density located in the NUTS II Norte, as defined by Deliberation No. 31/2023/PL, dated September 22, by the Interministerial Coordination Commission of Portugal 2030 – Plenary, regarding the classification of low-density municipalities for the application of positive differentiation measures for territories under European funds.

Geographic eligibility is determined by the project’s location, namely the place where the company’s establishment, a physical structure with regular activity, is located, where the in-person position(s) will be created, not remote/online/distance or mirrored (telework).

The virtual incubation modality, intended for companies that do not have or do not need a physical space, is not considered eligible. Virtual incubation, even if developed within the scope of services provided by entities located in the geographical area covered by this Notice, does not confer, for the purposes of this Notice, that location to the company.

Candidature period
30/12/2023 a 28/03/2024

The Managing Authority may suspend or cancel the reception of applications at any time based on the exhaustion of the allocation provided in this notice, through prior communication to be published in designated locations, as stipulated in paragraph 5 of Article 5 of the REITD.

Allocation of indicative fund available in this notice: €4,500,000.00

Fund and maximum co-financing rate: ESF + 50%

Funding Program: Regional Program of the North 2021-2027 (NORTE 2030)

Support Managing Entity/Intermediate Body: The Managing Authority North 2021-2027 (NORTE 2030)

Contacts for more information: Funds Helpline 800 10 35 10 (09:00-18:00h – toll-free)

Email: linhadosfundos@linhadosfundos.pt

Programa NORTE 2030
Telefone: +351 22 766 2020 (9:00–13:00/14:00–18.00)
Correio eletrónico: norte2030@ccdr-n.pt