In short: four calls are open and close between 30 September and the end of the year. The nearest is the Azores Building 2030 scheme for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, with 10 million euros and a first phase closing on 30 September. Then come support for energy costs in fisheries, restoration of productive potential for burnt farms, and the Growing with Tourism programme. Two of the deadlines fall in mid-afternoon, not at midnight.
Azores: Building 2030 — Local Economic Base, until 30 September
Call ACORES2030-2026-21, published on 1 September 2026, is addressed to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders, commercial companies, cooperatives and complementary business groupings with tax residence, registered office or permanent establishment in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Eligible sectors are industry, construction, retail, restaurants and similar businesses and various services. Eligible investment ceilings are 500,000 euros in restaurants, 1,000,000 euros in retail for setting up and relocation, 350,000 euros for modernisation and expansion and 500,000 euros in services. Total operation cost must exceed 50,000 euros and a minimum of 20% own funds is required.
Rates vary by island
The allocation is 10 million euros, with maximum co-financing of 65%. Base rates are 35% in São Miguel and Terceira, 40% in Faial, Pico and the municipalities of Nordeste, Vila Franca do Campo and Povoação, and 45% in Santa Maria, Graciosa, São Jorge, Flores and Corvo. A completion premium is added, always subject to the 65% ceiling. The maximum incentive per operation is 4 million euros as a non-repayable grant, and operations run for 36 months, or 24 months for investments up to 200,000 euros. The first decision phase closes on 30 September 2026 at 5 p.m. Azores time, with further phases on 30 October and 30 November.
Fisheries and aquaculture: energy costs, until 12 October
Call MAR2030-2026-25 opens on 11 September and is intended to compensate fisheries and aquaculture operators for the exceptional rise in production costs, with an indicative allocation of 12.6 million euros and co-financing up to 70%. Eligible costs are the additional energy costs borne in 2026, in the period from 28 February to 31 December. A valid licence is required at application and throughout the compensated period, together with activity in at least one of the last three closed financial years, good standing with the tax authority, social security and European funds, and registration as beneficial owner. Each application must cover all production units, including every vessel; where owner and operator differ, only the operator may apply. The deadline ends at 6 p.m. on 12 October.
Burnt farms: until 27 October
The sixth call under intervention C.4.1.3 of the mainland agricultural plan is open until 27 October 2026 at 5 p.m., with 10 million euros in non-repayable grants. Order no. 10916/2026, published in the Official Gazette, Series II, no. 171, of 3 September 2026, recognises as a natural disaster the fires of 2 to 7 July in the Centre region and of 28 July to 2 August in the North region, and lists the parishes covered in Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mirandela, Valpaços, Vinhais, Águeda, Oliveira de Frades, Sever do Vouga, Tondela and Vouzela. It is aimed at holdings with damage exceeding 30% of productive potential. Support is 100% of eligible expenditure up to 10,000 euros and 80% above that figure for holders of agricultural insurance, falling to 50% for the rest. The application does not dispense with the declaration of losses to the regional coordination commission.
Tourism: Growing with Tourism, until 31 December
Created by Ministerial Order no. 50/2025/1 of 20 February and amended by Ministerial Order no. 159/2026/1 of 15 April, this programme remains open for continuous submission until 31 December 2026 or until the allocation of 30 million euros is exhausted. It covers the whole national territory, including the Azores, and is addressed to public entities, non-profit entities and social solidarity institutions operating for more than three years. The rate is 60%, with an uplift of 20% in low-density territories, and a non-repayable component of up to 400,000 euros per project.
Two points worth making on their own
First: the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. deadlines are not midnight, and submissions prepared for the last day fail on that account every year. Second: in a continuous call with a closed allocation, such as the tourism programme, closure may occur well before the final date — anyone waiting for December risks finding the funds exhausted. Check also the de minimis ceiling already used, since it constrains the cumulative incentive.
This note is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For an analysis of your specific case, please contact us.