Portugal - Recovery and Resilience Plan
The European Commission endorsed the Portuguese plan on 16 June 2021. The plan will invest a total of €16.6 billion, consisting of €13.9 billion in grants and €2.7 billion in loans. Out of this budget, 22.1% (approximately €3.7 billion) of the plan will support digital objectives, placing Portugal above the 20% target, required by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation.
Main actions on digital skills
The plan prioritises actions targeting children and young people: investment will be pooled to create more jobs for young people and improve the quality of education and its provision. Actions will support teachers in integrating digital technologies and using digital resources in the classroom, including upskilling teachers’ digital competences, and enhancing digital infrastructure in schools (such as EdTech laboratories with technologies like programmable robots). Under one investment, more than 600.000 tablets and computers will be delivered to students across Portugal from disadvantageous background.
An investment of €521 million is dedicated to support VET systems, secondary schools, and professional centres for training. Investments will also aim to improve overall levels of digital literacy for everyone, with a focus on adult learning with the aim of addressing both basic and advanced digital skills. In 2019, 48% of people in Portugal lacked basic digital skills, and 26% possessed no digital skills at all. Another factor is the low share of ICT graduates (2.2% in 2018), which is below the EU average (3.8%). Planned initiatives will aim to increase the number of students enrolled in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and IT education by offering annual stipends to students and participating universities. Higher education institutions, research organisations, companies and digital skills stakeholders will receive support to form collaborative networks and develop innovative education and short-time postgraduate courses for those looking to re- and up-skill. More than 20.000 students are expected to benefit from this measure by 2025.
Portugal will launch tailored coaching initiatives for SMEs and their workers on digital skills will be launched to help businesses make the most out of digital technologies. The plan foresees an investment of €650 million to support the digitalisation of SMEs and their workforce and lend a hand to companies in adopting advanced technologies within business and operational processes. More than 30.000 companies and SMEs are expected to benefit from the coaching programmes. With this reform, the Portuguese government hopes to tackle the overall low digitalisation maturity of businesses (51% compared to EU average of 60%) and increase the number of businesses going digital across the country. Several components support upskilling SME employees in particular, such as activities to ensure facilitated and more centralised access to finance and offering digital skills trainings for employees at all levels. Measures include investments in developing both basic and advanced digital skills, increasing access to quality education and training, and boosting business competitiveness through upskilling and mentorship opportunities.
Investing in digital skills
Portugal spends €1.359 million on Human Capital, or around 37% of its digital budget (well above the EU average of 17%). The European Commission estimates that 0.3% (around 47 million) of the budget will be dedicated to advanced digital skills, including digital R&D, placing Portugal well below the EU average of 1.4% and at the 17th position amongst EU Member States.
Reforms and investments in the target the digital skills of the general population – with a focus on basic digital skills and on increasing the number of graduates in STEM subjects. Measures include investments in developing both basic and advanced digital skills, increasing access to quality education and training, and boosting business competitiveness through upskilling and mentorship opportunities. The Commission estimates that the plan could increase the Portuguese GDP by 1,5% to 2,4% by 2026: the main contributions to both growth and employment are expected to come from investments and reforms in innovation, education, including digital skills and vocational training and the digitalisation of various sectors.
Strategy Details
Portugal spends €1.359 million on Human Capital, or around 37% of its digital budget (well above the EU average of 17%). The European Commission estimates that 0.3% (around 47 million) of the budget will be dedicated to advanced digital skills, including digital R&D, placing Portugal well below the EU average of 1.4% and at the 17th position amongst EU Member States.
The Portuguese plan was drafted based on an extensive series of consultations with a variety of stakeholders from the public and the private sector, as well as other social partners, trade associations, and not-for-profit organisations. Ministries and government agencies that played a key role during the plan’s consultation, will continue to monitor and implement activities and measures proposed in the plan. Some of the main partners in this area include: the national VET and Public Employment Services agency (IEFP), education and training institutions, organisations active in the area of social protection, and others.
A National Monitoring Commission is expected to ensure the effective and impactful participation of key institutional, economic and social representatives in the monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan.
