SIDER – System of Incentives for the Regional Development of the Azores

SIDER instituted four different support measures: Subsystem of Support for Local Development, Subsystem of Support for the Development of Tourism, Subsystem of Support for Strategic Development, and Subsystem of Support for the Development of Quality & Innovation.

Click here to download the Regional Legislative Decree that created SIDER.

SIDER doesn’t support investments for the production or transformation of the products mentioned in the Annex I of the Treaty of the European Union.

Local Development

Local development has a wide range of applications, from commerce to industry, civil construction, restaurants and services. This support measure aims to boost competitiveness in different areas throughout those sectors.

For existing companies in food commerce and industry and restaurants, this measure also supports investments for food safety and quality.

Also in the commerce sector, Local Development accepts applications for interventions in urban areas. These projects include not only intervention at company-level, but also on the surrounding public areas, and the promotion of the affected area.

Click here to access the applicable legislation (SIDER and the applicable regulation).
Applications are submitted all-year round, through an electronic form.

Development of Tourism

This support measure accepts two types of applications: investment projects – tourist accommodation (hotels, apartment-hotels, rural tourism, etc.) and tourist animation businesses (whale watching, trail riding and hiking, scenic tours, etc.); and tourist entertainment and tourism promotion events. For more information on the latter, please contact the Regional Directorate for Tourism.

Click here to access the applicable legislation (SIDER and the applicable regulation).
Applications are submitted all-year round, through an electronic form.

Strategic Development

Strategic Development supports several types of specific investment projects, with high impact in social and economical development.

This support measure aims to boost production of goods destined to foreign trade, but also promotes investments that take advantage of endogenous resources (golf courses, theme parks, or tourism developments with thermal spas or other wellbeing services with use of natural resources).

New business areas, traditional in the public sector, are now supported through Strategic Development (private schools, health establishments, assisted residencies and nursing homes for the elderly, waste-management operations, or the use of renewable energy sources for the production of biofuel or replacement of fossil fuel.

Click here to access the applicable legislation (SIDER and the applicable regulation).
Applications are submitted all-year round, through an electronic form.

 
Development of Quality & Innovation

Development of Quality & Innovation has two different measures: Measure 1 – Quality supports investment projects for the inclusion in businesses of methods, tools, and a general culture for quality, and also for the implementation of quality certification and quality management systems; and Measure 2 – Innovation supports investment projects for the inclusion in businesses of methods, tools, and a general culture for innovation, aimed at promoting productivity, competitiveness, and participation at global market-level. This measure favors projects for partnerships between companies, between companies and R&D institutions, projects for technologically innovative solutions, energy efficiency, and projects that create highly qualified jobs.

Click here to access the applicable legislation (SIDER and the applicable regulation).
Applications are submitted all-year round, through an electronic form.