The president of the Commission for Coordination and Regional Development of the Algarve (CCDR Algarve), José Apolinário, defended the creation of a regional chapter in the next Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union for the period 2028-2034, during a workshop promoted by PLANAPP in partnership with CCDR Algarve, which took place at the University of Algarve and brought together representatives from academia, businesses and the regional research and innovation ecosystem. Apolinário argued that the future of European cohesion policy cannot be built only with national programmes, and should effectively involve regions, municipalities, universities, businesses and civil society organizations.
One of the main targets presented by the president of CCDR Algarve is to raise annual investment in research and development in the region to more than 80 million euros, mainly through greater business involvement. Over the last ten years, the Algarve recorded annual R&D investment between 45 and 50 million euros, with this value increasing over the last three years to 62 to 64 million euros. Apolinário also advocated for greater proximity between universities, research centres, businesses and municipalities, in order to translate investment into new products, services, qualified employment and greater innovation capacity.
CCDR Algarve also presented the claim to change the state aid map, intending to increase the proportion of the Algarve area covered by category c) of regional aid from approximately 1% to 1.5% of the resident population in Portugal for the period 2028-2034. According to José Apolinário, this review would allow increasing grants, supporting new businesses and modernizing existing ones, stimulating private investment in R&D and creating qualified employment in the region.
Economic diversification was another of the challenges pointed out by José Apolinário, who recognizes the need to increase the weight of higher added-value economic activities beyond tourism. Among the sectors considered strategic by CCDR Algarve are the blue economy, health, technologies and digitalization, endogenous resources, agro-industry and cultural and creative industries. The president of CCDR Algarve also advocated for more funding for projects with advanced levels of technological maturity, allowing testing and applying solutions in areas such as water efficiency, renewable energy, agriculture and mobility.
