Created for micro and SMEs in the North of the country operating in the sectors of commerce, personal services, restoration, and similar, the Accelerate the North initiative aims to support the digital transformation of these businesses.
Running until the end of 2025, the program will support companies from the 8 sub-regions of the North of the country (Alto Minho, Cávado, Ave, Alto Tâmega, Porto Metropolitan Area, Tâmega e Sousa, Douro, and Terras de Trás-os-Montes) through 16 digital commerce accelerator entities and actions that include:
- Free tools for diagnosing the digital maturity of the business
- Support in the development of digital transition plans
- Vouchers up to 2,000 euros for access to digital transition services
- Information sessions, workshops, and training content.
Companies wishing to join the initiative may have different levels of digital maturity, be interested in starting or improving their digital strategy, belong to the Northern region of Portugal, and have activities that fit within CAEs 45, 46, 47, 56, 79, 95, and 95, which correspond to the sectors of Retail, Services, Restoration, and similar.
To date, more than 1,500 companies are already being supported by the Accelerate the North program, which stems from a consortium between the Portuguese Confederation of Commerce and Services (CCP), AEP – Portuguese Business Association, AHRESP – Association of Hospitality, Restoration and Similar of Portugal, and ACEPI – Association of Digital Commerce.
The initiative is funded by the European Union through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and NextGeneration EU, under the Digital Commerce Accelerators measure.
Joining the program is done through the form available on the website aceleraronorte.pt.
