The 8th edition of the Promove Program supports 55 initiatives to promote the countryside

The 8th edition of Promove – The Future of the Interior, a program of the “la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with BPI and in partnership with the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), awarded approximately 6 million euros in non-repayable grants to 32 projects and 23 innovative ideas, aimed at driving the sustainable development of Portugal’s inland regions.

The list of winners for the 2026 edition, which received a total of 184 applications, includes 12 catalytic research and development (R&D) projects, 20 pilot projects, and 23 innovative ideas that seek to address environmental, economic, and social challenges in inland regions.

The supported projects cover areas such as climate change adaptation, natural resource management, health, biodiversity conservation, and the enhancement of local resources, while also drawing on biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and other technological solutions. Among the award winners is, for example, a digital system that combines satellite data, environmental sensors, and AI for the early detection of pests and plant stress, as well as a living laboratory to test ecological restoration techniques in the Serra do Caldeirão.

In the health sector, initiatives were selected aimed, among other objectives, at developing a new treatment strategy for the post-acute phase of stroke, improving access to specialized geriatric care for the elderly population in rural areas, and promoting the use of Vimioso’s thermal water for respiratory health applications.

The promotion of local resources and economic activities is also evident in the supported projects, with proposals ranging from the use of surplus Barrosã PDO beef to the revitalization of the rock-cut olive presses in Valpaços. Among the ideas developed by college students, SativaWool stands out, combining chestnut husks and wool produced in Trás-os-Montes to create a new functionalized textile yarn.

In this 8th edition, the FCT contributed 1.3 million euros, earmarked exclusively for R&D projects that promote the development of inland regions through knowledge and innovation, the enhancement of local resources and skills, and the strengthening of a qualified workforce. The FCT’s partnership with the Promove Program has been in place since 2020.

Over the course of its eight editions, the Promove Program received 872 applications and mobilized approximately 29.4 million euros in non-repayable grants, benefiting 164 projects and 90 innovative ideas. Of this amount, approximately 7.6 million euros were provided by the FCT under the joint funding agreement with the “la Caixa” Foundation.

Read the summaries of the winning projects from the 8th edition of the Promove Programand learn about the ideas that contribute to the development of the interior regions.

Applications for the 9th edition of the Promove Program will open in late November.