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In a world increasingly shaped by technological disruption and climate urgency, Portugal has emerged as an unlikely leader in sustainable innovation. With science at its core, the country is building a future where research, talent, and green technology converge. As Europe intensifies its climate commitments and global scientific priorities shift, Portugal’s welcoming policies, thriving R&D landscape, and sustainable innovation ecosystem offer a compelling new home for researchers and forward-thinking businesses alike, including those affected by the growing brain drain from the US, where scientists and entrepreneurs are seeking more supportive environments for long-term innovation.

Once Portugal explored at large

In the Age of Discovery – a period of extensive maritime exploration from approximately 1418 to approximately 1543 – Portuguese navigators demonstrated that pushing the boundaries of what was possible with ingenuity, curiosity, and open trade could be sustainable. Known as Portugal’s Golden Age, it was marked by major advancements in nautical science and technology, leading to groundbreaking discoveries and expansion. Although navigators at heart, the Portuguese know when to leave the mainland and when to stay put.

Portugal’s Green Tech momentum

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
– Marie Curie, physicist and chemist (1867-1934)

Today, you’ll find Portuguese “explorers” working in R&D labs side-by-side with foreign scientists who’ve recently moved to Portugal. Eyes riveted behind microscopes, electronics scattered across desks, white coats casually opened to a sunny day rising in Almada: at AlmaScience, the journey is the destination. PhD researchers are pushing the boundaries of electronics, with sustainability as the new frontier. The co-lab specializes in green electronics and has spearheaded Portugal’s advance in biotech for almost a decade, supported by an impressive ecosystem of R&D labs for such a small country.

Clear policies on funding, incubator spaces, R&D grants, sustainable electronics consortia, and progressive partnerships have all contributed to a long-term strategy around sustainable biotech innovation, with real business potential. In resonant echoes, this has drawn foreign “explorers” who share the same drive for eco-projects and climate-related science.

Clarity & persistence

Portugal's advancement in the realm of European scientific research stems from several factors: strong government support for science and technology, a skilled workforce at home (and returning), and a growing ecosystem of R&D labs, tech startups, and investors.

No wonder highly educated immigration to Portugal’s hubs and institutions has shown no signs of slowing since 2015. From its shores to its incubators, from Lisbon to Porto and the Algarve, the country is attracting a new generation of researchers and technologists. They’re drawn by sustainable living, green tech focus, a healthy outdoor lifestyle, and (relatively) affordable housing.

In turn, this appeal has sparked foreign investment and a wave of real estate development.

Portugal’s persistence in green innovation

Portugal’s green innovation push and a sustainable economy have helped reverse brain drain. According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, 86% of Portuguese youth reported learning how to care for the environment during education and training, far above the EU average of 72%. Portugal’s engagement in fighting climate change is no mere façade. The country is recognized for preserving its maritime territories, soil, and air.

Just around the corner from AlmaScience’s R&D lab offices, walk along Costa da Caparica’s 15 km stretch of dune-backed sand to see what preserving coastlines means in practice – and policy – for a country long aware of its limited resources.

A bold and welcoming vision

Portugal showed bold vision in welcoming highly educated expats and foreign investment through clever visa programs launched since 2012. Combined with institutional clarity in biosciences and recent tech innovation, these efforts have paid off. Thanks to remote work and tools enabling mobility, more and more scientific minds are returning – or arriving – on Portuguese shores.

Portugal blueprints a new demographic

As many highly educated Portuguese return, remote workers – mostly in tech – have elected Portugal as a top destination. The odds are high that the crème de la crème in science and technology, lured by a Southern European country fluent in English, blessed with a mild climate, preserved nature, and affordable cities, will keep flocking to Portugal.

The impact of geopolitical shifts 

Adding to this momentum, a series of geopolitical shifts turned peaceful Portugal into a sought-after haven during and after COVID-19. Brexit played its part too, redirecting talent away from the UK, and the new international tuition fees imposed on EU students redirected the flow of students to EU countries. In 2021, the number of German students in Portugal rose by 56% compared to the previous year.

The “brain drain” of educated Brazilians is also a known phenomenon. Many in science and academia, hindered by limited funding options in Brazil, seek better opportunities. Portugal, with its shared language, political stability, and research ecosystem, stands out.

The war in Ukraine has displaced thousands. Ukrainians have become Portugal’s second-largest foreign community since 2022, surpassing previous trends.

With its strategic location, low cost of living, and high quality of life, Portugal continues to attract talent and investment. A focus on emerging technologies like AI and a thriving entrepreneurial scene strengthens its position as a tech hub.

EU: scientific archipelago

Portugal and Europe have formed a scientific archipelago of growing appeal, thanks to dynamic institutions, green-focused consortia, and EU programs. These policies have fueled research co-labs with a shared focus on climate change and energy-saving research.

Europe’s gained coherence

Europe may find timely coherence and agility amid recent geopolitical turbulence. Strong nonprofit institutions and a track record in business ethics support its pivot toward autonomy and sustainability. With sustainability now seen as the greatest economic opportunity, Europe is well-positioned for future growth.

An informed future

Support for the European Union is at an all-time high. Published by Reuters, a March 2025 Eurobarometer poll showed that 74% of EU citizens believe their country benefits from EU membership – the highest level since the question was first asked in 1983.

For voters heading to the polls in June 2024 to elect a new European Parliament, top concerns included health, jobs, defense, and security, with climate change ranking above emigration, especially among younger voters.

US: brain exodus

Though official data are still emerging, a brain exodus from the US is underway. As the American government scales back scientific funding under ideologically driven narratives, researchers may shift toward more innovation-friendly regions. Europe, quick to seize the moment, has responded with smart investments in science.

Protecting our forests, protecting our biodiversity, protecting our seas and oceans is just a way for us European humanists to measure that we know how to count to three: the generation before us, the generation after us and our own; and that our Europe is a treasure that we have inherited and that we are going to pass on.
– President Emmanuel Macron speaking at La Sorbonne, emphasizing the need for independence in science, research, and sustainable innovation

AlmaScience: at the helm of Green Tech

Back at the AlmaScience sustainable tech incubator, nestled beside the surf-magnet beach of Costa da Caparica, where indoor research and outdoor living merge seamlessly, it is hard to see how anti-intellectualism, anti-immigration policies, and anti-climate science can be fertile grounds for innovation or business models aligned with environment preservation and a brighter scientific future. And according to a recent article in the Times, brain drain might reverse amid these changes:

In 2024, the United States spent nearly $1 trillion – roughly 3.5 percent of total economic output – on research and development. When it came to the kind of long-term basic research that underpins American technological and scientific advancements, the government accounted for about 40 percent of the spending.
That’s the reason political, education, and business leaders in advanced countries and emerging economies have long fretted over a brain drain from their own shores. Now they are seizing a chance to reverse the flow.
– Patricia Cohen, New York Times (May 14, 2025)

Conclusion

Investments in science and research have positioned Portugal as the Southern darling of a new generation of scientists – those fleeing conservatism, political instability, or closed systems.

Portugal offers a favorable and stable environment for green innovation, and an entry point to Europe’s most enduring scientific institutions. These institutions stand for education, facts, intellectual property rights, business ethics, and the rule of law.

Portugal’s Golden Visa. While several European countries have retracted or restricted their residency-by-investment programs, Portugal’s Golden Visa remains active and continues to attract global investors. Portugal’s Golden Visa program distinguishes itself within Europe through its remarkable flexibility, efficient route to citizenship, and broad range of investment opportunities.

Science is not formal logic – it needs the free play of the mind in as great a degree as any other creative art. It is true that this is a gift which can hardly be taught, but its growth can be encouraged in those who already possess it.
– Max Born, physicist and mathematician

Further reading

“If you love freedom, come and do research here”.
French president Emmanuel Macron, in his speech at La Sorbonne on May 5, 2025, inviting scientists to “Choose Europe for Science”.
Half a billion euros worth of incentives are aimed at scientists coming to Europe. In his speech, Macron credits the project “Friends of Science” for having generated 30 000 connections, with about a third from the US. Watch the video (full speech in French) or read the transcript in English.

Europe Makes a Pitch to Attract Scientists Shunned by the US
The continent’s leaders are hoping to benefit as the Trump administration cuts research support and threatens universities such as Harvard and Columbia with the freezing of federal funds. Source: New York Times (May 5, 2025)

Trump and the US scientific community: key facts

• NSF leadership exit: Sethuraman Panchanathan, head of the National Science Foundation (NSF), resigned after the Trump administration cut over 400 active NSF research awards and proposed halving the agency’s $9 billion budget.
• Widespread cuts: Since taking office, Trump has reduced or frozen funding for the NIH, CDC, NASA, and other science agencies. Thousands of federal research positions have been eliminated.
• Defunded research areas: Grants in areas such as AIDS, pediatric cancer, solar physics, black lung, and pandemic preparedness have been discontinued. A $3.5 billion space observatory remains unfunded for launch.
• Political criteria in funding: Projects containing terms like "climate," "diversity," "trans," and "women" have been cut. Some were rejected due to DEI statements or ideological concerns.
• Immigration impact: The administration’s immigration policies have affected foreign scientists, such as the detention of Harvard researcher Kseniia Petrova. Some international academics now avoid US conferences. Interest in leaving the US has risen among American researchers.
• Redefining scientific boundaries: The NSF will no longer fund studies aimed at countering misinformation. RFK Jr., as Health Secretary, seeks to revive discredited vaccine-autism research. Public datasets on environment and geology have been removed. The Justice Department has criticized scientific journals for perceived political bias.
• Project 2025 influence: This policy agenda calls for reducing the power of federal science agencies, replacing expert review with citizen input, and framing researchers as part of a liberal elite.
• Broader implication: The administration’s approach is seen as an effort to delegitimize expert knowledge and promote political control over scientific inquiry.
  
  

Major scientific research centers & foundations in Portugal
While exact numbers fluctuate, Portugal hosts numerous specialized laboratories across its research institutions. For instance, INESC TEC alone comprises 13 R&D centers, each with dedicated labs in areas such as biomedical engineering and telecommunications. Similarly, IPN operates six Research and Technological Development (RTD) laboratories covering diverse technological fields. These facilities underscore Portugal's commitment to fostering research and innovation in biochemistry, electronics, and beyond.

Here are some of the major scientific research centers in Portugal:

• INESC-ID: Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering – Research and Development. Specializations: Electronics, Energy, Telecommunications, and Information Technologies. Location: Lisbon.
• INESC TEC: Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science. Focus Areas: Information Technologies, Telecommunications, Electronics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering, and Renewable Energies. Structure: Comprises 13 R&D centers and one associate unit, employing over 700 researchers, including approximately 350 PhDs. Location: Porto, Braga, and Vila Real.
• Instituto de Medicina Molecular (iMM). Focus: Human genome research, disease mechanisms, diagnostics, and therapeutic development. Location: Lisbon.
• International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL): Established by Portugal and Spain. Research Areas: Nanobiotechnology, Nanoelectronics, Nanomedicine, and Materials Science at the nanoscale. Capacity: Designed to host up to 440 scientists and staff. Location: Braga.
• Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN). Role: Technology transfer institute supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. Facilities: Houses six RTD laboratories specializing in Automatics, Materials, Informatics, Phytopathology, Electroanalysis, and Geotechnics. Location: Coimbra.
• Instituto Superior Técnico (IST). Reputation: Recognized as Portugal's leading engineering institution, with top national rankings in multiple engineering disciplines. Location: Lisbon.
• Taguspark – Science and Technology Park. Function: Hosts R&D labs, startups, and business incubators in fields like IT, telecommunications, electronics, and biotechnology. Partnerships: Collaborates with institutions such as IST. Location: Oeiras, Greater Lisbon.
• Biochemistry Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon. Research Focus: Membrane and endothelial biology, drug-membrane interactions, and blood-brain barrier models. Role: Provides biochemistry education across various health-related programs. Location: Lisbon.
• Instituto de Medicina Molecular (iMM). Research Areas: Molecular pathobiology, immunology, and infectious diseases. Objective: Advancing understanding of disease mechanisms and developing innovative therapeutic strategies. Location: Lisbon.
• Optical and Electronic Technologies Research Laboratory (INESC TEC). Specializations: Optical and microwave communications, optoelectronic devices, and RF/microwave circuits. Applications: Cognitive radio, THz communications, and biomedical sensing. Location: Porto.
• Power Electronics Laboratory (Instituto de Telecomunicações – IST). Focus Areas: High-frequency converters, power quality, contactless energy transmission, and integration with renewable energy sources. Purpose: Supports R&D in power electronics and collaborates with other scientific institutions.
• Electrical Engineering Laboratory (CeDRI – Polytechnic Research Institute of Bragança). Facilities: Equipped for practical classes and research in electronics, instrumentation, digital systems, and microcontrollers. Location: Bragança.

And here are some recent scientific consortia and other initiatives established in Portugal:

• Universidade Católica Portuguesa and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation initiated a four-year partnership to establish the Católica Biomedical Research Centre (CBR) within the IGC campus in Oeiras. This collaboration provides CBR researchers with access to IGC's advanced facilities and scientific support units, fostering research in virology, chromosome dynamics, and host-microorganism interactions.
• The Ocean Campus project is a collaborative effort involving the Port of Lisbon, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and the Champalimaud Foundation. This initiative aims to create a 64-hectare hub for science, technology, and innovation in Lisbon and Oeiras. The Gulbenkian Foundation plans to establish a center focused on environmental changes and their effects on human health and ecosystems. The Champalimaud Foundation will develop an Advanced Center for Artificial Intelligence.
• Oeiras – ERC Frontier Research Incentive Awards: The Municipality of Oeiras, in collaboration with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, has launched the “Oeiras – ERC Frontier Research Incentive Awards.” This program provides up to €240.000 per two-year project to support high-quality research proposals that narrowly missed European Research Council funding, thereby promoting scientific excellence within the municipality.
• Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM). In October 2024, the Gulbenkian Institute of Science (IGC) merged with the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) to form the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM). This new entity aims to pioneer research from fundamental discoveries to innovative healthcare solutions, enhancing Portugal's scientific landscape.
• Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. Established to recognize significant contributions to combating climate change, this €1 million prize has been awarded to individuals and organizations such as Greta Thunberg (2020) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2022.
• The Botton-Champalimaud Pancreatic Cancer Centre in Lisbon stands as a pioneering institution, the first center in the world exclusively dedicated to both the research and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Established through a €50 million donation from Mauricio and Charlotte Botton, this center is a collaboration with the Champalimaud Foundation.

And, of course, there is AlmaScience, a Portuguese collaborative laboratory (CoLab) and innovation incubator specializing in sustainable electronics, smart packaging, and cellulose-based technologies, established by key players in Portuguese academia and industrial realms. With a multidisciplinary team of around 30 PhDs and experts in chemistry, materials science, printing technology, electronics, and biology, AlmaScience focuses on transforming natural materials like cellulose into functional electronic devices using eco-friendly, low-waste production methods.