Make your project a European star!
International Visibility
Increase your project’s visibility at a European level.
Recognition of Excellence
Be recognised for the quality and impact of your project.
What are the European Funds Awards?
This initiative therefore seeks to increase the visibility of European funds in Portugal and to strengthen positive public perception of their use, particularly among the general public and opinion makers.
It also contributes to enhancing the quality of demand by inspiring beneficiaries and potential applicants to develop projects that are more closely aligned with European and Portugal 2030 priorities, in increasingly innovative and impactful ways within their areas and territories of operation.
This initiative is promoted by the Cohesion and Development Agency, I.P., within the framework of the Portugal 2030 Communication Network, with the support and direct involvement of the Managing Authorities that are part of this Network.
Find out more at www.premiosdosfundoseuropeus.pt.
1 ERDF, Cohesion Fund, European Social Fund and EMFF.
Which projects are eligible?
All applications must meet the following eligibility criteria:
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The application must refer to a project that received co-financing from the European Union, within the framework of:
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one of the Portugal 2020 programmes, POAPMC or European Territorial Cooperation Programmes in which Portugal participates, started and completed between 31 January 2014 and the opening date for applications to the 2nd edition of the Awards;
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one of the Portugal 2030 programmes, FAMI 2030 or European Territorial Cooperation Programmes in which Portugal participates, started and completed between 1 January 2021 and the opening date for applications to the 2nd edition of the Awards.
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Projects are considered completed when all planned activities have been carried out, they are physically and financially finalised, have received the respective final financial contribution, and have been formally declared as completed in accordance with the applicable legislation.
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In the Portugal + European Territorial Cooperation category, applicant projects must demonstrate a concrete impact in the national territory.
Applications will not be accepted for projects that have been winners or awarded an Honourable Mention in previous editions, in any category.
How many projects can I submit?
Each beneficiary may submit only a single project in each category, with the exception of the Beneficiaries Responsible for the Implementation of Public Policies (BREPP), who may submit a maximum of three projects per category.
For the purposes of these regulations, BREPP are defined as entities with direct responsibility for the design, implementation or execution of public policies, namely bodies of the central, regional or local Public Administration, as well as entities with delegated powers from the State in these areas.
What will be evaluated?
All applications deemed admissible will be evaluated by the Awards jury based on the following criteria, each evaluated on a scale from 1 to 4 points.
Cohesion
Evaluates the project’s contribution to economic, social and territorial cohesion. The added value generated by the project within its context is analysed.
1 – Limited contribution – The project does not demonstrate, or demonstrates insufficiently, contributions to economic, social or territorial cohesion, showing no or only residual impact, without supporting evidence.
2 – Moderate contribution – The project demonstrates contributions to economic, social or territorial cohesion, with a circumscribed impact of limited scope, supported by adequate evidence.
3 – Significant contribution – The project consistently demonstrates contributions to economic, social or territorial cohesion, with a broad and relevant impact, supported by consistent evidence.
4 – Relevant contribution – The project clearly and robustly demonstrates contributions to economic, social or territorial cohesion, with a wide-ranging, substantial and sustained impact over time, duly supported by robust evidence.
Impact
Takes into consideration the measurable impact of the project at territorial level, namely the concrete changes generated in the area in which it is implemented, as well as, additionally, its impact within the relevant sector of activity. Where applicable, the direct impact on the people concerned must also be demonstrated, based on quantifiable and/or evidenced results.
1 – Residual impact – The project shows residual or no impact on the territory or sector, with minimal changes and no evidence of relevant or measurable results.
2 – Moderate impact – The project shows moderate impact, with identifiable improvements at local or sectoral level, of limited scope and supported by adequate evidence.
3 – Significant impact - The project shows relevant and wide-ranging impact, with significant changes in the region, sector or target community, supported by consistent evidence.
4 – Relevant impact - The project shows transformative, broad and sustained impact, with structural changes in the region, sector or target community, evidenced by robust evidence.
Innovation
Evaluates the innovative nature of the project, in line with the category to which it is submitted: what is new, what has not been done before, and the type of innovation introduced (operational, economic, social and/or environmental).
1 – Limited innovation – The project does not demonstrate, or demonstrates insufficiently, innovation, presenting a non-existent or limited degree of novelty, with no differentiation from existing practices and no identifiable added value.
2 – Moderate innovation – The project demonstrates innovation in some components, with a moderate degree of novelty, partial differentiation from existing practices and identifiable added value.
3 – Significant innovation – The project demonstrates innovation consistently, with a high degree of novelty, clear differentiation from existing practices and relevant and well-demonstrated added value.
4 – Relevant innovation- The project demonstrates high, pioneering or disruptive innovation, with a very high or unprecedented degree of novelty, marked differentiation in context and high added value, with transformative potential.
Sustainability/Longevity
Evaluates the project’s potential for continuity, both in environmental and economic terms. Efforts to ensure its continuation and development beyond its initial duration should be clearly demonstrated.
1 – Reduced sustainability – The project demonstrates little or no capacity to endure after the funded period, presenting environmental, economic or organisational weaknesses that hinder its continuity.
2 – Moderate sustainability - The project demonstrates conditions to endure in the medium term, although risks or external dependencies remain that may compromise its continuity or growth.
3 – Significant sustainability - The project presents a consistent and well-structured plan to ensure its continuity, with resources, partnerships or economic models that enable stability after funding.
4 – Relevant sustainability - The project demonstrates a high capacity to sustain itself and expand, with concrete evidence of economic viability, strategic partnerships or mechanisms that ensure sustainable long-term growth.
Community Engagement
Assesses the involvement of the project’s target audiences, including, for example, civil society, in the development and/or implementation of the project.
1 – Low involvement – The project demonstrates low or no community involvement, with non-existent or merely formal participation, with no range of stakeholders and no influence on the development or implementation of the project.
2 – Moderate involvement – The project demonstrates community involvement in relevant activities, with regular but not continuous participation, a moderate range of stakeholders and partial influence on the development or implementation of the project.
3 – Significant involvement – The project demonstrates consistent community involvement, with active and continuous participation, a broad range of stakeholders and relevant influence on the development and implementation of the project.
4 – Relevant involvement – The project demonstrates high community involvement, with structured and intense participation, a wide and diverse range of stakeholders and decisive influence on the development and implementation of the project.
Transferability
Examines the project’s potential to be replicated in other organisations or regions, or to be scaled up for nationwide implementation.
1 – Limited transferability – The project presents highly specific local-context characteristics, which hinder its replication or scaling to other regions without substantial modifications.
2 – Reasonable transferability – The project shows potential for replication, provided that adaptations are made to different regional or sectoral contexts, making it possible to extend its reach with appropriate adjustments.
3 – Significant transferability – The project includes structured and sufficiently flexible solutions to be replicated across multiple regions, with evidence that the model works in different contexts.
4 – Relevant transferability – The project provides concrete evidence that it can be successfully scaled or replicated, having already been tested in other territories or demonstrating a model that is clearly replicable at national level.
Assuming equal weighting across all evaluation criteria, the jury of each category may, given the distinct nature of the categories in competition, decide to assign an additional 5 percentage points to one evaluation criterion, offset by an equivalent reduction in another criterion.
What are the competition categories?
The Awards are granted across six thematic categories, and also include a category for the public’s choice:
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A Smarter Portugal – supports initiatives that strengthen research and innovation, accelerate digitalisation, enhance business competitiveness and internationalisation, and develop skills aligned with smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship.
Some examples of projects may include:
▪ Creation, transfer and valorisation of knowledge;
▪ Digitalisation of businesses and Public Administration;
▪ Competitiveness, growth and internationalisation of SMEs;
▪ Implementation of research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation and collaborative governance;
▪ Digital connectivity.
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A Greener Portugal –for projects that contribute to tackling climate change, support the green transition, improve energy efficiency, expand the use of renewable energy, and promote innovation, the circular economy and sustainable mobility.
Some examples of projects may include:
▪ Decarbonisation of the economy;
▪ Energy and climate transition;
▪ Circular economy;
▪ Sustainability of natural resources;
▪ Protection of biodiversity and the ocean;
▪ Sustainable mobility;
▪ Climate risk resilience.
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A more Connected Portugal –dedicated to projects that facilitate mobility and enhance territories, making them more cohesive, attractive and competitive at both national and international levels.
Some examples of projects may include:
▪ Strengthening railway competitiveness;
▪ Modernisation and sustainability of the port system;
▪ Modal shift and intermodal integration;
▪ Digitalisation and logistics efficiency.
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A more Social Portugal –for projects that develop skills, ensure equal access to health and education, and promote quality employment and social inclusion.
Some examples of projects may include:
▪ Equal access and transition to sustainable employment;
▪ Equal access and success in education and training;
▪ Adaptation of workers and businesses to change;
▪ Upgrading of facilities and accessibility to higher education;
▪ Lifelong learning and adult (re)skilling;
▪ Active inclusion and social innovation;
▪ Promotion of gender equality and equal opportunities;
▪ Access to quality services and social care responses;
▪ Resilience and equal access to health and education;
▪ Combating material deprivation.
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Portugal Closer to citizens – for projects that enhance local development, promote social and territorial cohesion, and contribute to more sustainable cities.
Some examples of projects may include:
▪ More attractive, green and digital cities;
▪ Valorisation of local resources;
▪ Creation of economic activity and employment in the territory;
▪ Urban networks.
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Portugal + European Territorial Cooperation – aims to recognise projects developed under European Territorial Cooperation (ETC/Interreg) that promote partnerships between Portuguese entities and organisations from other Member States. This category includes initiatives carried out within cross-border, transnational, interregional or outermost regions strands, which contribute to addressing common challenges, sharing knowledge, developing innovative solutions and strengthening European integration.
Eligible projects may arise from Territorial Cooperation Programmes, involving public authorities, education and research institutions, companies, associations or other relevant entities, and must demonstrate a tangible impact at national level, value creation through networking, and potential for replication in other regions.
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Public choice – all finalist projects are automatically included in this category, where the public can vote for the project they consider most relevant, regardless of its category. Voting is purely quantitative, with no jury evaluation involved. In this category, voting is purely quantitative, and no evaluation of the projects by the jury will be considered.
Who can apply?
Applications must be submitted by the beneficiary or, where applicable, by the main beneficiary/lead applicant of the project being submitted.
In the case of European Territorial Cooperation projects, the application must be submitted by the Portuguese partner(s) (main beneficiary or beneficiaries if the main beneficiary is not Portuguese) and only projects that have at least one Portuguese beneficiary (not necessarily the project leader) will be considered.
What will be required during the application process?
When completing the application form, the following information will be requested:
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Competition category
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Basic information
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Project name;
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Project location (the corresponding NUTS III region must be identified, or, if not geographically identifiable, the location of the beneficiary’s registered office);
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Financing operational programme:
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Project start and end date (month and year);
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Eligible amount, EU funding amount and co-financing rate;
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Beneficiary name;
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Representative and contact details (email and telephone) of the beneficiary – this representative will act as the focal point throughout the entire application process;
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Beneficiary address;
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Website and social media of the beneficiary or the project, where applicable.
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Project description
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Project summary – a brief description of the project and its objectives, with a maximum of 2,000 characters;
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Project impacts and results – a summary of the project’s main results, duly evidenced by indicators and quantitative and/or qualitative data, with a maximum of 2,000 characters;
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Most distinctive and innovative features of the project – presentation of the innovation and differentiation factors that make the project unique in its context, with a maximum of 1,500 characters;
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Demonstration of how the project will be environmentally and economically sustainable in the future – description of the model that ensures the project’s continuity and environmental and economic sustainability, with a maximum of 1,500 characters;
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Intervention or engagement of audiences with the project – description of the strategy for mobilising and engaging target audiences, with a maximum of 1,500 characters.
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Project transferability potential – capacity for replication and transfer of results to other entities or regions, with a maximum of 1,500 characters;
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Managing Authority declaration, certifying the project’s support and compliance with all applicable rules. This declaration must be requested by the beneficiary from the relevant Managing Authority, indicating the project code. The Managing Authority must complete, sign and return it to the beneficiary;
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In addition to the previous point, in the case of the Portugal + European Territorial Cooperation category, the Portuguese beneficiary submitting the application must also provide a declaration confirming the support of the partnership;
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Supporting multimedia materials – all multimedia materials that may support the assessment of the application.
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The request for the Declaration of support and compliance to the Managing Authority must be submitted by email to one of the addresses below, depending on the programme funding the project:
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PO ISE or PO CH or POAPMC or PESSOAS 2030: geral@pessoas2030.gov.pt
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COMPETE 2020 or COMPETE 2030:
info@compete2030.gov.pt -
PO SEUR or SUSTENTÁVEL 2030:
sustentavel2030@sustentavel2030.gov.pt -
MAR 2020 or MAR 2030:
info@mar2030.pt -
NORTE 2020 or NORTE 2030:
gabinete.comunicacao@ccdr-n.pt -
CENTRO 2020 or CENTRO 2030:
centro2030@ccdrc.pt -
LISBOA 2020 or LISBOA 2030:
lisboa2030@ccdr-lvt.pt -
ALENTEJO 2020 or ALENTEJO 2030:
alentejo2030.gabcd@ccdr-a.gov.pt -
CRESC ALGARVE 2020 or ALGARVE 2030:
algarve2030@ccdr-alg.pt -
AÇORES 2020 or AÇORES 2030:
comunicacao.DRPFE@azores.gov.pt -
MADEIRA 14-20 or MADEIRA 2030:
comunicacao@idr.madeira.gov.pt -
FAMI 2030:
fami.geral@fami2030.gov.pt -
Interreg ATLANTIC AREA:
ma@atlanticarea.eu -
Interreg POCTEP:
programa@poctep.eu -
Interreg SUDOE:
scsudoe@interreg-sudoe.eu -
Interreg EUROMED:
programme@interreg-euro-med.eu -
Interreg EUROPE:
i.astrauskaite@interregeurope.eu -
Interreg URBACT:
j.koutsomarkou@urbact.eu -
Interreg MAC:
irene.ruiz@pct-mac.org
Who will evaluate the projects?
After submission, the projects will undergo a pre-validation stage to verify compliance with the eligibility criteria.
The evaluation of applications will be carried out by a jury appointed by the Portugal 2030 Communication Network, upon proposal from the Cohesion and Development Agency, in its capacity as the coordinating body of this Network.
Each award category will have a jury composed of three recognised experts with strong reputation and merit in the relevant fields, including at least one journalist covering European funds and/or related topics.
The jury decides on the award of the winning project in each category, as well as on the possible granting of an honourable mention. Where justified, or in the absence of applications, the prize may not be awarded.
The jury’s decision is final and not subject to appeal. However, applicants may request access to the evaluation assigned to each of the criteria. The evaluation is carried out anonymously by each jury member.
What are the benefits of participating in these Awards?
All finalists will benefit from:
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Visibility in the communication campaign carried out throughout the Awards process;
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Association of their brand/project with a recognised mark of excellence in European funds, becoming national references in the use of these funds in Portugal;
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Exposure to European institutions involved in these initiatives;
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Access to a national and European networking network.
What is the validity of the regulations?
The rules set out in these regulations shall remain in force until the end of the 2nd edition of the European Funds Awards.
Future editions will have their own regulations, incorporating adjustments based on lessons learned from previous editions.