December 2025
RECOGNITION
Les Echos Report: How Portugal is establishing itself as a European innovation hub
December 2025
French leading business daily newspaper Les Echos has published a special report on Portugal, positioning the country as a dynamic and forward-looking European innovation hub for global companies seeking growth and talent. It highlights a thriving business ecosystem, a strong innovation culture, effective public–private cooperation for training and technology transfer, modern digital infrastructures and a highly skilled workforce - with success stories from Airbus, Natixis, Coloplast, Euronext, Testo, Horse Powertrain and many others.
Portugal, The Economy of the Year 2025.
December 2025
Portugal was ranked the best-performing economy in 2025 by The Economist among 36 mostly developed countries. The country stands out in the study’s five core indicators: inflation, inflation dispersion, economic growth, labour market, and stock market performance.
Announcements
SHP Group to invest in cosmetic packaging plant in Portugal
October 2025
Shya Hsin Packaging (SHP), part of the Blackstone Group, is investing €16.86 million in a new production facility in Leiria. The project is expected to create approximately 140 jobs by 2028 and will position Portugal as SHP’s European manufacturing hub. The new unit will produce premium, eco-conscious cosmetic packaging for perfume, skincare, and makeup. By leveraging Portugal’s highly skilled workforce and the strong plastics and mould-making ecosystem of Leiria in particular, SHP aims to strengthen proximity to key clients, enhance logistics efficiency, and advance its sustainability goals.
ASF 4.0 is opening a new shoe factory in Portugal
November 2025
Chamatex Group’s subsidiary ASF 4.0, based in Ardèche, France, is launching a new automated sports shoe manufacturing plant in Barcelos, northern Portugal, with first production scheduled for July 2026. Chamatex Group’s clients include Salomon, Millet, Babolat, and 555.
Mesh-AI opens new office in Lisbon
Setember 2025
London-based data and AI consultancy Mesh-AI has opened a new office in Lisbon, advancing its European expansion. The hub will deliver tailored data and AI solutions for clients in the UK and across Europe, leveraging the country’s strong talent pool, increasing AI capabilities, and innovation ecosystem. With a growing client base in Financial Services and Energy & Utilities, Mesh-AI is enhancing its capacity to provide strategic, operational and technical support.
Techem and Xelerate.Tech launch new Development Centre
Setember 2025
Techem Energy Services GmbH and its Portuguese partner Xelerate.Tech have established Techem Xelerate, a new software development centre in Porto. The hub will focus on IoT platforms, cloud-native applications, data analytics and software for energy efficiency and decarbonisation, creating 40 to 50 jobs. Porto was chosen for its vibrant tech ecosystem, highly skilled talent and proximity to leading universities.
Keenfinity inaugurates factory in Portugal
December 2025
Keenfinity inaugurated a new production area in Ovar to manufacture advanced electronics and communication systems, aiming to double sales and increase its workforce beyond the current 1,000 employees, over one-third working in R&D.
After acquiring Bosch’s Building Technologies division, including the Ovar factory, Triton relaunched the business as Keenfinity.
Expansions
Zumtobel Group reinforces investment in Portugal
November 2025
The Austrian-based Zumtobel Group is expanding its Intelligent Lighting Centre in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto area. The Portuguese subsidiary Tridonic Portugal, established in 2019, has grown to a team of 95, with plans to increase to 120 in the near future. This R&D centre, which has already registered nine patents, develops innovative lighting management systems through the development of advanced sensors, predictive maintenance, energy efficiency, interoperability, and data security.
Airbus launches joint venture with Critical Software
November 2025
Airbus has signed an agreement with Portuguese tech firm Critical Software to establish a new joint venture – Critical FlyTech. Headquartered in Coimbra, the venture will focus on developing embedded software and services for aerospace applications for Airbus and its affiliated companies, with plans to hire 300 employees by the end of 2028.
Cyient opens Customer Experience Centre in Lisbon
December 2025
Indian engineering solutions company Cyient has launched a Customer Experience Centre in Lisbon. The Lisbon centre will feature a range of cutting-edge solutions, including a pre-integration lab, a network operations centre, and a fibre evolution showcase, focusing on technology, innovation and digital infrastructure.
Bosch expands production in Aveiro
December 2025
Bosch is investing €2 million in its Home Comfort unit in Aveiro to install a new production line for a heat pump systems, with production scheduled to start in January 2026. This investment strengthens Aveiro’s position as a global competence centre for sustainable climate solutions within the Bosch Group, while also reinforcing the engineering team and boosting the R&D activity in advanced heat pump technologies.
DID YOU KNOW?
Portugal has the 7th lowest natural gas prices
According to Eurostat, Portugal recorded the 7th lowest natural gas prices for non-household consumers among EU Member States in the first half of 2025.
Portugal launches European Space Hub
The Portuguese Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a cooperation agreement to develop a Space Hub on Santa Maria Island in the Azores, which will include facilities for a Space Rider landing site. The Space Rider is Europe’s first reusable space transportation system.
Portugal is best in total start-up exit value
Portugal was recognized as Southern Europe’s leading ecosystem for total start-up exit value in 2025 by StartupBlink’s Ecosystem Awards. The award, received by Startup Portugal, highlights the growth, maturity, and increasing international prominence of Portugal’s startup ecosystem.
What they say
Lisbon offers a unique combination of business opportunity, quality of life, and access to highly skilled professionals - making it the ideal location for our continued growth. Our European presence gives us a scalable talent pool - so we can ramp up teams quickly and flex capacity based on customer needs.Jacob Parsons, CEO Mesh-AI
