Turning deep-tech research into market-ready solutions.

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Overview.

HiTech is a hands-on programme by HiSeedTech, specifically designed for research teams developing deep-tech projects in Portugal.

Over 18 weeks of training, workshops, and mentoring, HiTech provides research teams with essential knowledge commercialisation skills, empowering them to transform cutting-edge technologies and scientific discoveries into high-growth business opportunities.

Since its launch, more than 900 researchers have participated in the programme, leading to the creation of 63 start-ups and contributing to the success of 44% of Portuguese EIC Accelerator–funded start-ups, which began their journey through HiTech.

HiTech helps research teams to:

Link science and technology to product and market needs.
Communicate scientific results effectively to business and investor audiences.
Evaluate commercialisation strategies to move technologies from the lab to the market.
Align their research with Horizon Europe’s goals to increase impact and improve dissemination and exploitation outcomes.

The 2026 edition featured two complementary tracks:

Market Pull Track: Teams addressed real-world challenges proposed by Quantum Leap and Sonae Arauco , applying their research to industry-driven opportunities.
Technology Push Track: Teams focused on developing and commercialising their own deep-tech projects.

Throughout the programme, participating teams received support to:

Develop a comprehensive business case for a product or service concept based on their research.
Create a compelling pitch presentation that clearly communicated their business case and value proposition to potential investors and industry leaders.
Explore collaboration opportunities with HiSeedTech’s member companies to address industry-specific challenges and potentially form strategic partnerships.

Want to see the programme in action? Watch the testimonials from the HiTech 2025 teams.

Interested in joining HiTech 2027? Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when applications open and receive updates on upcoming programmes, events, and opportunities from HiSeedTech.

Who
Can Apply?

HiTech is open to:

R&D teams from universities and research centres.
Start-ups developing early-stage deep-tech projects.

Eligibility criteria:

Teams must consist of two to five members.
The project must be a deep-tech innovation with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) above 2.

Teams must be affiliated with a Portuguese university, research centre, or start-up.

What
are the costs?

HiTech does not involve any fees for participating teams. The programme is supported by HiSeedTech's member companies as part of their corporate social responsibility commitment to fostering technology-based innovation in Portugal.

However, before applying, teams should consider:

There are organisational costs involved in running the programme, so ensure that you have the time and commitment to participate fully throughout its duration.
Participants are expected to dedicate 6-8 hours per week to programme activities.
There is a 'moral' penalty for teams that withdraw after the programme has started, as doing so prevents another team from taking part in their place.

How
it works?

The HiTech 2026 edition ran from 3 March to 1 July 2026, combining training, mentoring, and continuous feedback to help research teams transform their deep-tech projects into market-ready solutions. It included:

Weekly online sessions (Tuesdays, 14:30-16:00): Focused on business case development, guiding teams step by step to commercialise the technologies they brought to the programme.
Webinars (every other Tuesday, 16:00-17:00): Seven sessions covering key topics such as technology commercialisation, intellectual property, pitching, and funding opportunities.
Weekly assignments: Practical deliverables that allowed participants to apply the concepts learned in each session directly to their projects.
Support sessions (every other Tuesday, 16:00-17:00): Optional sessions offering additional guidance for preparing weekly assignments.
Biweekly mentorship: Each team was supported by two dedicated mentors, who provided personalised business guidance.
Pitch presentations: Each team delivered three pitches—an initial pitch introducing their technology, a mid-programme pitch presenting the value proposition of their deep-tech project, and a final pitch during the HiTech Closing Session.
Advisory Sessions: Held before the mid-term and Closing Sessions to help teams fine-tune their pitches.

Throughout the programme, teams:

Developed a business case for a product, service, or process concept grounded in their technology.
Pitched their projects at the HiTech Closing Session to an audience that included HiSeedTech's member companies, pre-seed investors, and corporate ventures.
Completed the programme with a clear commercialisation pathway.

HiTech 2027 Edition:

Applications for the HiTech 2027 edition will open in the last quarter of 2026.
Stay informed: Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when applications open.

The
concept.

HiTech is the entry-level programme within HiSeedTech's portfolio of initiatives, designed to support the commercialisation of technologies emerging from scientific research while equipping participants with the essential skills required for successful technology commercialisation.

The follow-on initiative to HiTech supports participating teams in further developing their business case and beginning the search for funding from dilutive sources (e.g. venture capital) or non-dilutive sources (e.g. Horizon Europe funding) to advance their projects.

Finally, a subsequent initiative will guide participating teams through the three key pathways to turn their business case into impact: