ITENE
ITENE is a Spanish non-profit technology center founded in 1994, providing applied R&D, ENAC-accredited laboratory testing, consulting, pilot scale-up, and training to 1,000+ industrial clients across packaging, transport, logistics, food, agriculture, chemical, pharma, cosmetics, and e-commerce value chains.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersValencia, Spain
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ITENE does
ITENE (Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística) is a Spanish non-profit technology center founded on May 30, 1994, and headquartered in the Parque Tecnológico de Paterna, Valencia. The organization is constituted as a private association declared of Public Utility (BOE 2004), registered as Innovation and Technology Center No. 63, and recognized as an Associated Unit of CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Spain's largest public research institution. ITENE delivers applied R&D, accredited laboratory testing, technological consulting, pilot scale-up, and specialized training to industrial clients across the packaging, transport, logistics, and environmental monitoring value chains, with more than 81% of activity devoted to R&D. Its 215+ professionals (including ~120 researchers and R&D technicians) operate across approximately 16,342 m² of owned facilities — the original 12,000 m² headquarters, the 3,210 m² ITENE ScaleUp building (2023) dedicated to industrial pre-scaling, and the 2025 main-building expansion plus ITENE Innolab collaborative space.
ITENE's proprietary technology stack spans materials science, biotechnology, digitalization, and environmental assessment, with notable capabilities including enzymatic depolymerization for non-recyclable plastics, reactive extrusion technology for compostable and recycled polymers, colorimetric smart freshness labels, non-thermal food preservation methods, microalgae-based biofuel processes, and soil/plant microbiome bioaugmentation. The organization holds ENAC accreditation (No. 316/LE678 under ISO 17025), ISO 27001, ISO 14001, and UNE 19601 certifications, and runs more than 500 types of tests across 3,000+ m² of laboratories. Through its PACKA accelerator (launched 2015) ITENE has spun out five ventures including SAFE LOAD Testing Technologies and ADBioplastics, the latter holding an exclusive worldwide license to ITENE's patented PLA-Premium biodegradable plastics technology.
The business model is a multi-stream professional services engine: contracted R&D projects funded by European (Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, BBI-JU, PRIMA), national, and regional (IVACE) programs; ENAC-accredited testing and laboratory services; project-based technological consulting; pilot scale-up services via the ScaleUp facility; and specialized training including a master's program with IATA-CSIC. Customer base exceeds 1,000 companies across at least nine verticals (packaging, food and beverage, transport/logistics, agriculture, chemical, waste management, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce). Distribution is sales-led and direct, supplemented by participation in European R&D consortia (over 600 EU project partnerships) where ITENE acts as coordinator or partner, and by its PACKA startup channel. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and pricing is quote-based and project-specific rather than standardized.
ITENE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ITENE
- Legal name
- ITENE - Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística
- Website
- https://itene.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ITENE is a Spanish non-profit technology center founded in 1994, providing applied R&D, ENAC-accredited laboratory testing, consulting, pilot scale-up, and training to 1,000+ industrial clients across packaging, transport, logistics, food, agriculture, chemical, pharma, cosmetics, and e-commerce value chains.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ITENE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Packaging Research and Testing Services
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Certified Compliance & Reporting Services (R2/e-Stewards, Audit, ESG) (BPALAIAL)
Keywords
Where ITENE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Valencia
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ITENE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- R&D and Innovation Projects: European, national, and regional R&D project funding and contracted research services for companies in packaging, transport, logistics, and environmental sectors. R&D represents more than 81% of ITENE's activity.
- Testing and Laboratory Services: More than 3,000 m2 of laboratories and pilot plants performing over 500 types of tests on packaging, transport simulation, and workplace safety. ENAC accredited laboratory (LE678).
- Technological Consulting: Consulting projects for companies in areas related to the entire packaging lifecycle and safety in use and exposure to particles and other agents.
- Specialized Training: Training courses, networking events, customized programs, and a specialized master's program together with IATA-CSIC.
- Pilot Scale Services: Pilot-scale development services for companies looking to scale up new materials and processes developed in R&D projects.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
ITENE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ITENE is a technology center providing R&D, consulting, laboratory testing, pilot-scale services, and specialized training focused on sustainable packaging, transport and logistics, food safety, environmental monitoring, and circular economy. It operates more than 3,000 m² of laboratories and pilot plants offering over 500 types of tests, and participates as coordinator or partner in European R&D projects (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, PRIMA, BBI-JU).
Product overview
ITENE is a technology center offering knowledge and cutting-edge technology for safer and more sustainable packaging, transport, and logistics. The organization provides services across four main areas: sustainable materials and circular economy technologies; packaging design, safety and functionality; environmental monitoring and safety; and logistics and intelligent mobility. Core service offerings include testing (500+ types of assays across 3,000+ m2 of laboratories), R&D and innovation projects, technological consultancy, pilot scale-up, and specialized training. The organization also develops smart packaging solutions including active packaging and colorimetric freshness indicators, and offers recyclability assessments following international standards. Facilities include the main 12,000 m2 headquarters in Paterna Technology Park, the 2023-opened ITENE ScaleUp building (3,210 m2), and the 2025-opened ITENE Innolab collaborative space.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PACKA (Packaging Creativity & Knowledge Accelerator): Startup accelerator launched by ITENE in 2015 to bring innovations to market. Has launched five startups including SAFE LOAD Testing Technologies and ADBIoplastics.
Products and services
- Testing Services (Ensayos)
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% shelf-life extension for fruits and vegetables using non-thermal technologies
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use ITENE
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
ITENE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature8 records
ITENE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas)coreITENE is declared as an Associated Unit of CSIC, enabling scientific collaboration and access to broader research infrastructure.
- ENAC (Entidad Nacional de Acreditación)coreENAC accreditation number 316/LE678 for laboratory testing services, providing third-party verification of testing capabilities.
- PACKNET (Plataforma Tecnológica Española de Envase y Embalaje)coreITENE holds the Technical Secretariat of PACKNET, the Spanish Technology Platform for Packaging, coordinating national packaging innovation efforts.
- REDIT (Red de Institutos Tecnológicos de la Comunitat Valenciana)coreNetwork of technology institutes in the Valencian Community, providing collaborative framework for technology transfer and innovation.
- FEDIT (Federación Española de Centros Tecnológicos)coreSpanish Federation of Technology Centers, representing technology centers at national level and facilitating collaboration.
- EARTO (European Association of Research and Technology Organisations)coreEuropean association representing R&D and technology organizations, enabling participation in European innovation policy and programs.
- ADBioplasticscoreStartup launched through PACKA accelerator with exclusive worldwide license for PLA-Premium technology developed by ITENE for biodegradable plastics.
- SAFE LOAD Testing TechnologiesminorStartup launched through PACKA accelerator focused on research and development of new testing methods and solutions for distribution packaging optimization and validation.
- ENZYCLE Project Consortium (13 partners from 6 European countries)coreEU Horizon 2020 BBI-JU funded project coordinated by ITENE for enzymatic recycling of non-recyclable plastics. Partners include universities (Leipzig, Wageningen, BOKU), research centers (ACIB, Darwin), SMEs (ASA Spezialenzyme, FeyeCon, DAM), and large companies (SOPREMA, Greiner, Aliplast, Indorama).
- FUELGAE Project Consortium (12 partners from 6 countries)coreEU Horizon Europe funded project coordinated by CSIC for microalgae-based biofuels. ITENE leads LCA tasks. Partners include CERTH, VTT, Oulu University, ArcelorMittal, Perseo Biotech, and Helleniq.
- TRIBIOME Project Consortium (13 partners)coreEU Horizon Europe project coordinated by ITENE for microbiome integration in food systems. Partners include universities (Bologna, Burgos, Pretoria), research centers (CSIC, Luke), and companies (Fertiberia, Valgenetics).
- ZeroW Project Consortium (46 partners from 16 countries)coreEU Horizon 2020 project coordinated by ICP for zero food waste supply chains. ITENE leads SILL 2 for fish packaging innovation. Includes universities, research centers, SMEs, and large companies across Europe.
- Waste4Soil Project Consortium (28 partners from 10 countries)coreEU Horizon Europe project coordinated by CERTH for converting food waste into soil improvers. ITENE leads logistics monitoring device development and thermochemical valorization tasks.
- NOVAFOODIES Project Consortium (27 members)coreEU Horizon Europe project for functional food from marine and freshwater resources. ITENE works on value chain optimization, traceability systems, and IoT/blockchain technologies.
- SEEDS Project Consortium (16 partners from 7 countries)coreEU PRIMA project for digitalization of cereal supply chains in MENA region. ITENE leads supply chain risk identification and digitalization tasks.
- SUREFISH Project Consortium (13 partners from 6 countries)coreEU PRIMA project for Mediterranean fish traceability and authenticity. ITENE leads traceability solutions work package using blockchain, QR codes, and time-temperature indicators.
- SHEALTHY Project Consortium (21 partners from 7 countries)coreEU Horizon 2020 project for non-thermal food processing technologies. ITENE led active packaging development, traceability, and sustainability assessment tasks.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ITENE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organization operating across circular economy, materials, food, and logistics. Overlaps with ITENE in circular packaging, food safety, and logistics innovation but on a much larger, multi-domain scale.
- Intertek: Global TIC provider offering packaging testing, sustainability verification, and supply chain assurance. Comparable to ITENE on the testing and certification side, with broader geographic reach and a commercial (for-profit) operating model.
- SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company with significant packaging and materials testing capacity. Competes with ITENE's accredited testing services for industrial accounts but operates at vastly greater global scale.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish applied research center covering bioeconomy, sustainable materials, and food solutions. Comparable to ITENE in industrial biotech and circular materials work, but at substantially greater scale and broader sectoral coverage.
Regional players
- CETIM (Centre Technique des Industries Mécaniques): French technical center providing R&D and testing services to mechanical and process industries. Comparable to ITENE's R&D-and-testing technology-center model, but focused on mechanical industries rather than packaging specifically.
Others
- CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas): Spain's largest public research institution. ITENE is a registered Associated Unit of CSIC, making CSIC both a strategic partner and an ecosystem anchor rather than a direct competitor; relevant as an enabler/parent-like entity in the Spanish research landscape.
Direct peers
- Smithers: Global testing, consulting, and compliance services company with a strong packaging testing practice. Comparable to ITENE's accredited packaging testing lab and recyclability/compliance services, but operating as a commercial for-profit provider.
- Fraunhofer IVV (Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging): German Fraunhofer institute specializing in food packaging, polymer processing, and packaging-related testing. Comparable to ITENE in its focus on packaging materials, food safety, and process engineering R&D, though operating as part of a much larger applied-research network.
- Tecnalia: Spanish applied research and technology center covering materials, manufacturing, and sustainability. Overlaps with ITENE in materials science, sustainability, and B2B R&D services, and is a direct competitor for Spanish and EU consortium work.
- AIMPLAS: Spanish Plastics Technology Centre based in Valencia, providing R&D, testing, training, and technical assistance on plastic materials and packaging. Directly comparable to ITENE in mission, geography, and customer base, with a similar non-profit technology center structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ITENE social profiles
Digital presenceITENE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
ITENE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ITENE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
ITENE subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
ITENE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ITENE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ITENE
What does ITENE do?
ITENE is a technology center providing R&D, consulting, laboratory testing, pilot-scale services, and specialized training focused on sustainable packaging, transport and logistics, food safety, environmental monitoring, and circular economy. It operates more than 3,000 m² of laboratories and pilot plants offering over 500 types of tests, and participates as coordinator or partner in European R&D projects (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, PRIMA, BBI-JU).
Is ITENE a public or private company?
ITENE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ITENE founded?
ITENE was founded in 1994. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ITENE based?
ITENE is headquartered in Valencia, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does ITENE make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. R&D and Innovation Projects are the primary driver. The others are testing and Laboratory Services, technological Consulting, specialized Training and pilot Scale Services.
Who are ITENE's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research), Intertek, SGS and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. CETIM (Centre Technique des Industries Mécaniques) is listed as a regional player. CSIC (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Smithers, Fraunhofer IVV (Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging), Tecnalia and AIMPLAS.
Does ITENE have an API?
No public API is recorded for ITENE.
What industry is ITENE in?
ITENE's product category is Packaging Research and Testing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAEAHAN, Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO), with a secondary code of BPALAIAL, Certified Compliance & Reporting Services (R2/e-Stewards, Audit, ESG). Its SIC code is 8734.