O IAPMEI actua sob a tutela do Ministro da Economia e tem como missão facilitar e assistir as PME nas suas estratégias de crescimento inovador e internacional, de aumento da produtividade e da competitividade, de reforço de competências e da capacidade de gestão e de acesso aos mercados financeiros, a par da promoção do empreendedorismo. ________________ IAPMEI is a specialised public agency within the Portuguese Ministry for the Economy, created to provide technical and financial support to enterprises, in particular to SMEs. Along its 40 years’ experience, IAPMEI has developed into a stable, efficient and well-known organisation with a staff of around 350, 12 regional offices and a wide range of controlling interests in associate organisations (both private and state-owned) involved in SME support schemes in Portugal. IAPMEI’s main mission is to actively participate in the design and implementation of integrated strategies for the support of Portuguese corporate activity, with a special focus on SMEs and with a view to modernisation, innovation and international competitivity in the industrial, trade and services sectors.