Portuguese climate tech is having a breakout moment – and investors are taking note: 'The opportunity is kind of insane'
31 mars 2026
09:48
For years, Portugal has watched as its best scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs flock to northern Europe seeking bigger markets and higher wages.
But something is slowly shifting – diaspora founders are coming back, international startups are setting up shop, and venture funding for climate and deep tech is at near-record levels.
Whether the ecosystem can hold onto that momentum is the million-dollar question.
But something is slowly shifting – diaspora founders are coming back, international startups are setting up shop, and venture funding for climate and deep tech is at near-record levels.
Whether the ecosystem can hold onto that momentum is the million-dollar question.
Luísa Cruz left Portugal in her twenties with a biochemistry degree and a feeling that the country didn't quite have a place for her yet. She spent 14 years in the Netherlands – earning her PhD, then working at a large industrial biotech company – before an opportunity drew her back to her home country. In 2022, she returned to Lisbon as co-founder and CTO of MicroHarvest, a Hamburg-and Lisbon-based startup developing a bacteria-based protein using precision fermentation technology.
"It's much, much easier to find qualified talent in Portugal than in Germany," Cruz tells Impact Loop. "Much easier."