With the purpose of clarifying the national strategic orientation for SME, giving entrepreneurs integrated solutions to support them in the modernization of their companies, which are structured in the eight great priorities of the National Strategy for SME, more specifically:

Four strategic guidelines to SME:

1. To create and to enterprise
2. Qualify to Manage
3. Growth and Innovation
4. Export and Internationalization

Four typologies of key instruments:

1. Financing
2. Market Access
3. Support Institutions
4. E-Government and Simplification

The SIM Portal is aligned with the framework defined for the National Policy for SME, more specifically:

• It reflects the priorities of the European Strategy for SME
• It substantiates and frames the Technological Plan initiatives for SME
• It gives SME orientation in their applications to the QREN Incentives System

The SIM Portal represents the beginning f a new cycle that involves:

• SME modernization
• Simple Access to programs and supports to the companies
• Selectivity to guarantee an optimal use of the available resources
• The Technological Plan as inspiring guideline to companies modernization
• Alignment with the European Policies for the sector

The SIM Portal is an initiative of the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Development and of its most important institutions, involving the Cabinet of Coordination of the Technological Plan and the Secretary of State of Administrative Modernization, aiming to an integrated awareness of the various instruments made available by the public entities to the SME.

 The National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF/QREN) has as its main strategic designation the qualification of all Portuguese men and women, seeking to emphasise the value of knowledge, science, technology and innovation, as well as to promote the higher, sustained levels of economic and socio-cultural development and national improvement within a framework valorising equal opportunity and thus, the increase in efficiency and quality of public institutions.


The incentives earmarked for the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF/QREN) 2007-2013 will endeavour to strengthen the business fabric in Portugal. Instruments will focus on strengthening business productivity and competitiveness, as well as their performance in the global market, and will promote new development potential.

With its dual goal of providing SMEs with an effective advantage in access to financing and contributing to the quality and sustainability of business projects, INOFIN is set up in such a way as to support public policies along three distinct planes of activity:
 

1. Business Environment – the objective is to promote those conditions necessary for:
• Bolstering the efficiency of banking processes through recourse to mutual guarantee, securitisation of credit and other means promoting direct cooperation with credit institutions;
• Stimulate the expansion of capital markets, both public and private, focusing on the dynamisation of the risk capital industry.

2. Economic Priorities– the objective is to build and contract partnerships that will bring together the necessary resources to sustain active policies of promotion for economic development, spurring a greater supply of financing to those businesses whose dynamics, activities and investment generate externals or compete directly, namely in terms of entrepreneurialism and innovation, competitiveness and internationalisation, and jobs and cohesiveness of the country.

3. Business Dynamics – the objective is to focus on well defined strata of businesses and contribute to bestowing greater financial capacity, stimulating these companies at various times in their life cycles.

As part of the scope of Inofin, three programmes were created to give access to financing,  each one directed at a specific phase in a company’s life cycle.

 FINICIA Programme

http://www.iapmei.pt/iapmei-art-02.php?id=234&temaid=9
The FINICIA Programme aims to promote the realisation of new innovative projects, facilitating the access of entrepreneurs and small businesses to financing in the initial stages of the firm’s existence.

FINCRESCE Programme

http://www.iapmei.pt/iapmei-mstplindex.php?msid=6
The FINCRESCE Programme aims to contribute to the optimisation of conditions for financing businesses that follow strategies for growth and the strengthening their competitive base.

FINTRANS Programme

The FINTRANS Programme aims to stimulate the processes of success and/or the re-framing of assets into new value links, causing regeneration in the economic fabric, with the intent to support the market for the transmission of companies. This programme is still in the development stage.