Grants · Madeira · Hospitality

What grants exist for cafés and restaurants in Madeira in 2026 — how much and how to apply?

There are several grants open or opening for hospitality in Madeira: energy-efficient equipment, digitalisation, opening a new venue, and hiring. The State can cover a significant part of the investment — but each programme has its own call, deadline and rate.

📍 Madeira · Portugal — a guide for café and restaurant owners (hospitality / HoReCa). Not Spain, not mainland-only schemes.

Updated 25 Jul 2026 · Sources: Madeira 2030 — budget & deadlines; ACIF-CCIM — rates & eligibility; call text M2030-2026-21 — ceilings. Rate scale, minimums and ceilings: official IDE, IP-RAM presentation (July 2026). Always confirm in the current call.

Quick answer

If you run a café or restaurant in Madeira and plan to invest in equipment, energy or technology, don't buy anything before knowing which grant covers it. Some programmes refund up to half (or more) of the eligible investment. Below are the ones relevant in 2026.

The grants, by type of investment

Open until 10 Sep 2026

Energy-efficient equipment — SIEED

Incentive System for Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation (SIEED) – Energy Efficiency 2030, call M2030-2026-21. For refrigeration, climate control, lighting and equipment that cuts energy use.

50% of eligible costs for SMEs in operations outside buildings (ACIF-CCIM); for works on the building itself the base rate is 30%, plus 20 percentage points for micro and small firms (10 points for medium-sized) and a further 15 points (SME) where the building’s energy performance improves by at least 40% in primary energy — the top of the scale is 65%. Up to €300,000 per project — €450,000 in tourism (call text). Open to micro, small, medium and large firms in any eligible sector with organised accounting. Applications until 17:00 on 10 September 2026 (Madeira 2030).

Mind the minimum: the project’s eligible spend must be at least €50,000 — the filter that surprises most people. A single replacement rarely reaches it; a package of measures in one application does.

Digitalisation — check window

POS, website and online ordering

Under Madeira 2030 / Portugal 2030 there are SME digitalisation grants — sales systems, online presence and digital ordering/payment. This is where pre-order with upfront payment fits. The rate and application window depend on the call; confirm the regional (RAM) version on the portal before deciding.

Opening a new venue

Innovation & productive investment (IDE)

For opening a new café or restaurant there are innovation/investment lines run by IDE, with a rate that varies by firm size and location. ⚠ Costs incurred before submission are not eligible — plan the application before investing.

Hiring staff

Employment support (IEM)

Fixed-term and permanent contracts, internships and youth-hiring incentives have their own support from Madeira's employment institute. They stack with equipment and digitalisation investment.

Golden rule (the mistake that loses grants): do not buy equipment or sign contracts before submitting the application. As a rule, anything bought before submission stops being eligible. Apply first, invest after.

How to move, in 4 steps

1. Define the investment. 2. Find which programme covers it and whether the window is open. 3. Gather company documents (clear tax/social-security status, SME certificate, quotes/proformas — not invoices). 4. Submit before you buy. An independent consultant can run this; the State grant covers the investment, the guidance is separate.

FAQ

What grants exist for a café or restaurant in Madeira in 2026?

Several. For energy-efficient equipment there is SIEED – Energy Efficiency 2030 (call M2030-2026-21), open from 17 July to 10 September 2026. For digitalisation (POS, website, online ordering) there are grants under Madeira 2030 / Portugal 2030. For opening a new venue and for hiring there are separate lines. Rates and ceilings depend on each call.

Can a small café apply too?

Yes. SIEED, for example, is open to micro and small firms with organised accounting. What matters is the type of investment and a clear tax/social-security status.

How much does the State actually pay?

It depends on the programme. SIEED is 50% of eligible costs for SMEs (up to €300k, or €450k in tourism). Other programmes cover part of the cost — the exact figure is always in the current call.

Is café automation (pre-order, upfront payment) grant-eligible?

SME digitalisation is a supported cost under Portugal 2030 / Madeira 2030 programmes. So the same solution that brings revenue upfront can sit inside the co-funded spend. Note the distinction: software, licences and sensors for energy monitoring and management are eligible under SIEED; POS and pre-ordering are not. Always confirm the window and rate in the call.

Where do I confirm current figures?

In the call text and on madeira.portugal2030.pt / IDE. This guide always points to the primary source and does not replace reading the call.

What is the most common mistake that loses the grant?

Buying equipment or signing contracts before submitting the application. As a rule, spending incurred before submission is not eligible. Apply first, buy afterwards.

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