Sword Health will invest 250 million euros by 2028 in Portugal to create a global ‘hub’ for artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and will double the number of engineers to 700, the technology company announced this Monday, 3rd.
The company, which is active in the area of healthcare provision through AI, will reinforce its investment in the Portuguese market and double the number of engineers over the next three years, that is, until 2028.
Sword Health “is currently the main European exporter of artificial intelligence in Health, with the objective of this investment to boost the creation of a global ‘hub’ of innovation for the use of artificial intelligence in the health sector, in Portugal”, says in a note the technology company that today was attended by the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, in his office, in Porto.
“Sword Health’s investment focuses on three strategic pillars: qualified human resources, technological infrastructure and research & development, with a focus on training artificial intelligence models”, he added.
This investment “of 250 million euros in Portugal, until 2028, reflects our belief that the country has all the conditions to become a world leader in the area of artificial intelligence” and “also reinforces our vision for a more innovative Portugal, capable of elevating its talent and creating global and world-leading solutions. This is the example that Sword wants to set in the national ecosystem”, said Virgílio Bento, CEO (executive president) and founder of Sword Health, cited in a statement.
The technology has “more than 600,000 patients treated on three continents and nine million AI sessions performed” and expects to “quadruple its business volume by 2027”.
Operational growth “will only be possible through the reinforcement of its structure in Portugal”, says unicorn (‘statup’ valued at more than a billion dollars).
“Global leader in AI Health, with the largest team of engineers dedicated to artificial intelligence in healthcare”, Sword’s annual investment in human resources, until 2028, “will increase from 30 to 60 million euros, following the growth of the team operating in Portugal, which will increase from around 500 to more than 930 people”.
The number of engineers will more than double during this period, from 340 to more than 700, according to the technology company.
“In a sector where the academic qualifications of teams are directly associated with the capacity for innovation and prosperity of companies, the recruitment of professionals with doctorates will also be a priority”, says the company.
Sword Health also states that it plans to “fund and integrate recent graduates and researchers, through the award of more than 60 doctoral and master’s scholarships until 2028, reinforcing Sword’s connection to academia and research.”
The technology will invest “in advanced computing infrastructure in artificial intelligence for the creation and training of ‘foundational models’: 10 million euros from 2026, with the annual value expected to reach 27 million euros in 2028”.
At the same time, “it will continue to focus on developing the infrastructure that supports its solutions, as well as expanding operations in Portugal and Europe”, he says.
According to the company, investment in R&D will double over the next three years, which “aims to reinforce the capacity for scientific and technological innovation, enhancing collaborations with Portuguese universities and research centers”.