Eurostat: Only 11.5% of Portuguese Businesses Use AI

The numbers

According to the Eurostat report published on 11 December 2025, 20% of EU enterprises with 10 or more employees use artificial intelligence technologies — a significant jump from the 13.5% recorded in 2024 (an increase of 6.5 percentage points in one year).

Portugal, at 11.5%, fell below the EU average, although it grew from 8.6% in 2024 — an increase of 2.9 percentage points.

What explains the gap

Several factors contribute to Portugal's position:

• Business fabric of micro and small enterprises — over 95% of Portuguese companies have fewer than 10 employees. AI adoption is consistently lower in smaller businesses across Europe
• Unawareness of available supports — programmes like SIFIDE II and the Digital Training Voucher could fund adoption, but most SMEs don't know they're eligible
• Perception of complexity — many business owners still associate AI with complex, expensive projects, when in practice accessible tools already exist for automating common processes

The European context

The European Commission launched the Apply AI strategy in 2025, aiming to accelerate AI adoption in industrial and public sectors, with special focus on SMEs. The strategy leverages 251 European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) across Europe — 80% of which already offer AI-focused services — as direct support points.

In Portugal, the AI4PA_Portugal EDIH, coordinated by AMA (Agency for Administrative Modernisation), provides support to public entities and SMEs in adopting AI solutions, including testing, training and compliance advice for the EU AI Act.

What it means for SMEs

There are two ways to read these numbers. The negative reading: Portugal is behind. The pragmatic reading: there is a window of opportunity. Companies that adopt AI now — while 88.5% of national competitors have not yet done so — gain direct competitive advantage.

The cost of inaction is also changing. Since February 2025, the EU AI Act requires AI literacy from all companies using AI systems. Enforcement begins in August 2026. Companies will have to deal with AI regardless — the question is whether they do so reactively or strategically.