OpenCOMPETE 2030COMPETE2030-2026-8

INOV CONTACTO - International Internships for Young Professionals

COMPETE 2030 — Programa Inovação e Transição Digital

In plain words

This notice is a direct invitation for AICEP to secure funding to manage the INOV Contacto program. If you are a qualified young professional up to 29 years old from Norte, Centro, or Alentejo, this program funds your training stipend, travel, and housing costs during an international internship.

You can use this support to:

✓Provide training stipends and accommodation allowances to interns
✓Fund round-trip travel to destination countries
✓Cover costs for health insurance, workplace accident insurance, and visas
✓Organize mentoring and monitoring programs for participants
✓Offer training and psychological support for cultural adaptation

Technical summary

This call, structured as an invitation, provides funding for the INOV CONTACTO program, with AICEP as the sole eligible applicant. The support aims to promote international skills development and employability for highly qualified young adults up to 29 years old residing in the Norte, Centro, or Alentejo regions. The total budget allocation is 3,500,000 euros funded by ESF+, with a maximum co-financing rate of 85%. It covers international internships, mentoring, Networkcontacto network promotion, impact assessment, and psychological and cultural adaptation support. Applications are open from 02/11/2026 to 07/01/2027 at 17:00 via Balcão dos Fundos.

Support conditions

Type of support: Grant (non-repayable)
Maximum funding rate: 85%
Support per application: —
Total call budget: €3,500,000

Who it's for

Beneficiaries: Institution
Geographic scope: Regional
Regions: Norte, Centro, Alentejo
Sectors: No restriction stated
Personal conditions: Aged up to 29

This summary helps you identify the call, but it does not replace the official call and regulation. Always confirm every condition at the source before applying.