Portuguese Small and Medium-sized Companies have until April 10th to apply for the 8th edition of the PME Heroes Awards, an initiative promoted by Consulting which, since 2016, has distinguished companies for their growth, resilience and contribution to the national economy.
Over the course of several editions, the initiative has already awarded 65 companies and has been expanding its scope, including areas such as digital transformation, sustainability and internationalization.
More than 100 registrations in the 2026 edition
With registrations open since March 9, this year’s edition has already exceeded 100 registrations. Lisbon and Porto lead in number of participations, followed by relevant growth in the regions of Aveiro and Braga.
The most represented sectors among candidate companies include construction, tourism, transport and the food industry.
Growth reflects evolution of Portuguese SMEs
Yunit Consulting highlights that the growing acceptance of the awards reflects greater mobilization of the business community and broad recognition of the initiative.
This growth is particularly evident in categories such as “Internationalization”, “Digital Transformation”, “Sustainability” and “Startup”, highlighting the adaptation of SMEs to more innovative business models oriented towards global markets.
Among the companies awarded in previous editions are EST, with an established international presence, Destilaria António Cuco (Sharish Gin), ubbu, Twintex and Next Generation Chemistry.
According to Yunit Consulting, these cases demonstrate the impact of recognition on the notoriety, credibility and growth of companies, both nationally and internationally.
Benefits and opportunities for SMEs
Despite the growing number of registrations, the organization considers that there are still many companies with the potential to participate in this edition.
Winning companies will have access to public recognition and a range of benefits, including specialized mentoring, media visibility, consultancy, legal support, training and integration into networking networks.
According to Bernardo Maciel, CEO of Yunit Consulting, “SME Heroes are today much more than a distinction. They are an initiative that gives visibility, recognition and new opportunities to companies that make a difference in the Portuguese economy.”
The person responsible adds that “throughout the various editions, we have closely monitored the impact that this recognition has on the path of the distinguished companies, whether in terms of notoriety, trust with partners or their capacity for growth. With the deadline ending on April 10th, this is a unique opportunity for Portuguese SMEs to give visibility to their stories and join a community that values those who make things happen.”
Gala scheduled for June
Applications can be submitted until April 10th through the initiative’s official website. The 2026 edition includes seven categories, including “General SME Heroes”, “Sustainability”, “Digital Transformation”, “Internationalization” and “Startup”.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for June 26th and will bring together companies, partners and business leaders.
The edition has the support of several entities in the Portuguese business ecosystem, including VICTORIA Seguros, novobanco, Sage, Startup Portugal and CNN Portugal, among others.
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