Portugal is going through a defining period and is so rich in potential, full of talent, and attracting growing international interest. As someone who closely follows these developments and attends industry conferences to stay informed and share what is happening in the country’s tech and investment ecosystem, I came away from the SIL Investment Pro this week with mixed feelings. The panels were filled with important reflections on real estate, housing policy, and the future of the market, but honestly, something was missing.

Amid discussions on the housing crisis, financing, and urban policy, there was almost no serious mention of the construction sector’s capacity to provide real, scalable solutions. In a world where modular construction and modern building technologies allow for entire residential blocks to be completed in months rather than years, Portugal still feels stuck in the slow lane. The issue is not that we do not know how to build fast and well, because we have yet exampled like the Portuguese construction company Casais, it is more that we do not use the tools available to us effectively.

Equally absent was a clear message from public officials about long-term solutions or coherent policies that could help Portugal balance the pressure of foreign investment with the urgent need to maintain affordability for Portuguese citizens. With more international buyers arriving, rising demand is inevitable. But where is the plan to ensure that cities do not price out their own residents?

This is not just about real estate; for me, it is about how we shape the Portugal of the future. We need a national strategy that addresses housing, infrastructure, and talent retention in an integrated way. And in my view, one of the biggest missed opportunities right now is the chance to use foreign direct investment (FDI) as a catalyst not only for digital innovation but for wider economic development.

Portugal is already attracting attention in the global tech space. From AI to cloud infrastructure, data centers to startups, we are on the radar. If we manage to create a fiscal and policy environment that encourages both local and international investors to build and scale here, we could see a knock-on effect: higher salaries, better jobs, and greater competition and I am sure this will not be only or not just in tech but across all sectors.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Paulo Lopes;

To make that a reality, we need to reward investment that brings value: jobs, innovation, and infrastructure. That means offering tax incentives, reducing bureaucracy, and supporting companies that commit to Portugal long-term. If we want to keep our talent from leaving, we must make staying worthwhile and not just for developers and engineers, but also for builders, architects, and those who deliver quality housing on a scale.

The truth is, building affordable homes does not have to mean building slowly or cheaply. Other countries have proven that. What it takes is the will to act, the courage to cut through red tape, and the responsibility to prioritize results over ideology. If there is one thing I missed at SIL this year, it was that sense of leadership or the kind that takes ownership of the challenges and lays out a plan, not just for headlines but for the people who live and work here every day.

This is a unique window for Portugal. If we get it right, we can create a balanced ecosystem: welcoming foreign buyers without displacing locals, embracing global capital without losing national identity, and growing tech without widening inequality.

We are not far off. The pieces are here. What we need now is alignment in between government, industry, and citizens. Portugal has the chance to lead by example in Europe, showing how a small country with grandiose ideas can create space for everyone.

Author

Paulo Lopes is a multi-talent Portuguese citizen who made his Master of Economics in Switzerland and studied law at Lusófona in Lisbon - CEO of Casaiberia in Lisbon and Algarve.

Paulo Lopes