Católica Porto School of Business and Economics (Católica Porto SBE) and PwC Portugal brought together government representatives, business leaders and experts to examine the measures proposed in the 2027 State Budget and the challenges facing the Portuguese economy.
The competitiveness of Portuguese businesses, the conditions needed to accelerate economic growth, and the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence were at the heart of the 2027 State Budget Conference, held on 26 October at the Ilídio Pinho Auditorium, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Porto.
The opening session was led by the Pro-Rector of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Isabel Braga da Cruz, who highlighted the importance of this annual initiative, organised since 2011 by Católica Porto School of Business and Economics (Católica Porto SBE), in partnership with PwC Portugal. The Pro-Rector emphasised that the conference "forms part of a longstanding tradition of collaboration that deserves to be recognised and valued", bringing together government representatives, business leaders and experts.
In his opening address, the Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and of State Reform, Gonçalo Saraiva Matias, highlighted three priorities of the 2027 State Budget: improving incomes, supporting economic growth and strengthening public services.
From economic growth to business competitiveness
The Business Panel, moderated by Luísa Anacoreta, Professor and Coordinator of the Double Degree in Law and in Management at Católica Porto SBE, brought together different perspectives on the challenges facing the Portuguese economy. Pedro Siza Vieira, lawyer and Partner at PLMJ and former Minister of the Economy and Digital Transition, emphasised the importance of maintaining macroeconomic stability and strengthening Portugal's ability to attract investment, highlighting skills development, innovation and internationalisation as drivers of growth. The CEO of TMG Automotive, Isabel Furtado, stressed that industrial competitiveness depends on the ability to generate greater value from available resources through technology, production efficiency and collaboration between businesses and universities. Adolfo Mesquita Nunes, Country Co-Chair and Partner at Pérez-Llorca, addressed the challenges associated with adopting artificial intelligence, arguing that efficiency gains must translate into value creation without compromising business autonomy, system oversight and accountability in decision-making processes.
Key tax changes for 2027
The Technical Panel, moderated by Francisco Ancêde, focused on the implications of the tax measures under discussion. Cristina Pinto, Professor at Católica Porto SBE, presented the main proposed changes to direct taxation, including adjustments to personal income tax brackets, reductions in the rates applicable to the first six brackets, extensions to tax incentives and measures relating to housing taxation. Catarina Filipa Cavaleiro, Indirect Tax Manager at PwC Portugal, addressed changes to indirect taxation, focusing on VAT applicable to housing construction and renovation, as well as businesses' tax compliance obligations. Francisco Ancêde also presented Tax Omnibus, a European tax simplification proposal aimed at reducing tax compliance costs and strengthening business competitiveness across the European Union.
Dialogue between government, businesses and academia
The closing addresses began with the Secretary of State for Tax Affairs, Cláudia Reis Duarte, whose participation reinforced the Government's involvement in this discussion on economic and fiscal policy choices for 2027. The conference thus provided a forum for policymakers, business representatives and experts to exchange perspectives on the challenges facing the Portuguese economy.
The conference was closed by the Dean of Católica Porto SBE, João Pinto, who addressed the School's new identity, recently introduced under the name Católica Porto School of Business and Economics. His address marked this new institutional chapter in the context of a conference that, for over a decade, has fostered connections between academic knowledge, the business community and public policy debate.
The 2027 State Budget Conference also marked the beginning of Universidade Católica Portuguesa's Sustainability Week, a nationwide initiative taking place simultaneously across the University's four campuses, featuring more than 70 events organised by the academic community, staff and partners.
