Joaquim Pedro Lampreia, Partner in the Tax practice area, is quoted by Jornal de Negócios in an article on the changes to the Tax Incentive System for Business Research and Development (SIFIDE) proposed by the Government as part of the revision of the Investment Tax Code.

The VdA Partner explains that the draft law introduces new restrictions on the accumulation of public support, preventing companies with R&D projects financed by SIFIDE funds from simultaneously benefiting from other national or European incentives for the same expenses — an issue that had not previously been regulated and which now strengthens the legal certainty of the regime.

He adds that, with this amendment, SIFIDE funds can now finance companies that have completed R&D projects but have never received funding from these vehicles, thereby extending the scope of eligible investment.

The proposal also provides for the simplification of procedures, namely through the elimination of the requirement for prior suitability recognition by the National Innovation Agency (ANI), a measure which, according to the VdA Partner, removes a bottleneck that often delayed the implementation of projects.

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