Digitalization has boosted Portugal’s GDP by 13%, according to a new study on the Impact of the Digital Economy in Portugal by ACEPI and GoingNext, in partnership with Porto Business School. The research also shows a 19% rise in employment and a 13% increase in wages, confirming that digital transformation is not limited to technology companies but extends across all industries - from manufacturing and retail to agriculture, logistics, and tourism.
The digital sector now supports 3 million jobs, generates €90 billion in gross value added, and contributes €30 billion in tax revenue. Within it, the “pure digital sector” - including core tech activities - already represents 500,000 jobs and €17 billion in value, with a multiplier effect of 2.7 on the national economy. “Digital is no longer just a sector; it’s a cross-cutting engine of modernization and structural growth,” said Filipe Grilo, scientific coordinator of the study and professor at Porto Business School.
According to Grilo, Portugal “is no longer structurally behind in terms of access to technology - we have networks, software, and infrastructure.” The remaining challenge, he said, is deep integration: “Technology is often adopted but not fully embedded in business models and internal processes.” He pointed to management quality and organizational competence as critical gaps. Meanwhile, Gabriel Coimbra, partner at GoingNext, noted that AI is now the main driver of productivity and economic disruption, with 77% of companies using it already reporting tangible gains. “Portugal has the talent and infrastructure to lead the next phase of digital innovation,” he said, “but accelerating adoption and value creation must remain a priority.”
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