Portugal Digital Strategy: 10 measures with a direct impact on people and businesses lives

Portugal has taken another step forward in the country’s digital transformation. The Council of Ministers approved the 2026–2027 Action Plan of the Portugal Digital Strategy (PDS), with the ambition of positioning Portugal among the most advanced European countries in innovation and digital transformation by 2030.

The Action Plan sets out a series of concrete measures to accelerate the modernisation of the State, strengthen business competitiveness and ensure that all citizens can benefit from the digital transition in an inclusive, sustainable and ethical way.

Within the framework of this strategy, three complementary instruments were also presented: the Action Plan of the Portugal Digital Strategy, the National Artificial Intelligence Agenda, and the Digital Skills Pact.

What is the Portugal Digital Strategy

The Portugal Digital Strategy is a priority of the XXV Constitutional Government Programme and defines Portugal’s vision for the digital decade. The objective is clear: to place Portugal in the top 10 European countries for digital transformation by 2030, through public policies capable of responding to rapid technological change and to the needs of citizens, businesses and institutions.

The strategy is based on seven guiding principles:

• Security
• Sustainability
• Ethics
• Inclusion
• Trust
• Efficiency
• Collaboration

Its implementation covers four fundamental dimensions: People, Businesses, the State and Infrastructure.

10 measures with a direct impact

1. Business Digital Wallet
   Portugal becomes the first European Union country to provide this solution, allowing business owners to store all documentation required for business activity on a single digital device, with European interoperability.

2. LicencIA – Licensing Simplification Platform
   A new artificial intelligence-based platform that will act as a single entry point for urban, industrial and environmental licensing processes, significantly reducing response times.

3. Building Digital Wallet
   All documents associated with a property will be available in digital format, simplifying buying, selling, management and certification processes.

4. Mobile training and public service units
   Mobile teams will travel across different regions of the country, particularly inland areas, to support citizens who face greater difficulties accessing digital services.

5. Digital skills training for SMEs
   Specific programmes will be launched to equip small and medium-sized enterprises with digital and artificial intelligence skills, boosting their competitiveness.

6. Strengthening PhD scholarships in AI
   Increased investment in scientific research and advanced training to develop national talent in artificial intelligence.

7. Accelerated AI training in Public Administration
   Upskilling public sector workers to speed up the modernisation of public services and the integration of new technologies.

8. Sectoral AI Centres and an AI Centre of Excellence
   Creation of specialised hubs to promote the application of artificial intelligence in strategic sectors and in the Public Administration.

9. AI startup acceleration programme
   Support for the national innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to stimulate the creation of new artificial intelligence-driven technology companies.

10. Virtual Citizen’s Shop
    Initial availability of 225 public services online, accessible 24 hours a day, including video call assistance. The goal is to achieve 100% of public services digitised by 2030.

Targets for 2030

The Portugal Digital Strategy sets clear objectives for the coming decade:

• 90% of SMEs digitised;
• 80% of the population with basic digital skills;
• Nationwide 5G coverage;
• 75% of businesses using artificial intelligence and cloud services;
• 100% of public services available in digital format;
• 6 million users of the Digital Mobile Key.

The six strategic pillars of the Plan

The 2026–2027 Action Plan operationalises the Portugal Digital Strategy through 20 actions, organised into six pillars:

1. Technological Reform of the State;
2. Data and Interoperability;
3. Digital Public Services;
4. Digital Economy and Regulation;
5. Digital Skills;
6. Artificial Intelligence.

Monitoring and funding

The implementation of the Plan will be supported by continuous monitoring mechanisms, with biannual assessments of progress against the defined targets. Funding will be primarily ensured through European funds, with execution dependent on budgetary availability.