UNINOVA

What UNINOVA does

UNINOVA (Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias) is a multidisciplinary, independent, non-profit research institute headquartered in Caparica, Portugal, and institutionally affiliated with NOVA FCT (Universidade Nova de Lisboa). Founded in 1986 and employing around 150 staff, UNINOVA pursues scientific research, technical development, advanced training, and education across the CTS (Centro de Tecnologias e Sistemas) research unit's ten scientific domains, including micro-nano electronics design, microelectronics materials and processes, reconfigurable and embedded systems, signal processing and communications, energy efficiency, intelligent control and decision support, computational intelligence, collaborative networks, and robotics and automation.

The institute's core technological capabilities center on advanced analog and mixed-signal integrated circuit design — notably Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) circuits for 5G/6G at above 100 Gbps, Time-Interleaved ADCs targeting 12-bit at 8Gs/s, physically unclonable functions (PUFs) combining printed electronics with CMOS, and Laser-Induced Processing for sustainable electronics on biopolymer substrates. It also runs applied AI projects in satellite-based water management and neuroimaging-based infant development research. Industry collaboration spans Synopsys (SerDes co-design), Renesas Portugal, ARM, PETsys, PowerTools, Aura Semiconductor, and STFC, alongside academic coordination through the POEMS Microelectronics Academy and seasonal schools awarding up to 6 ECTS micro-credentials.

UNINOVA is funded almost entirely through public grant programs — including FCT, Lisboa2030/Portugal2030, PRR (Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan), Horizon Europe, and H2020 — and does not sell commercial products. Its revenue model is project-based, with grants allocated by national and European funding agencies and supplemented by collaborative R&D agreements with industry partners. Customer segments therefore consist of public funders, European research consortia, semiconductor industry partners, and municipal-government entities (such as SMAS Almada) that serve as pilot sites for applied research.

Name

UNINOVA

Legal name

Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias

Website

https://uninova.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UNINOVA is a Portuguese non-profit research institute affiliated with NOVA FCT that conducts microelectronics, nanotechnology, embedded systems, and applied AI research, funded by national and EU grants and collaborating with industry partners on semiconductor design and training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Research and Development Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

Keywords

• Microelectronics research
• Embedded systems design
• Semiconductor research
• Nanoelectronics design
• Scientific research institute

Headquarters

HQ city

Caparica

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

UNINOVA is a non-profit, multidisciplinary research institute that conducts scientific research, technical development, advanced training, and education through its CTS (Centro de Tecnologias e Sistemas) research unit, covering micro-nano electronics design, microelectronics materials and processes, embedded systems, signal processing, energy efficiency, intelligent control, computational intelligence, collaborative networks, and robotics. The institute delivers collaborative R&D projects funded by national and European grants, technology transfer to industry partners, and specialized training programs in semiconductor and integrated circuit design.

Product overview

UNINOVA (Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias / Institute for the Development of New Technologies) is a university-affiliated research institute at NOVA FCT (NOVA Faculty of Science and Technology) in Caparica, Portugal. It is not a product company but rather conducts scientific research, technical development, advanced training, and education across multiple technology domains. The institute participates in national and European research projects, collaborates with industry partners (Renesas Portugal, Synopsys, ARM, PETsys, PowerTools, Aura Semiconductor, STFC), and hosts educational programs including the POEMS Semiconductor Spring School and Seasonal School on Advanced Analog and Mixed-Signal IC Design. The institute organizes its research through the CTS (Centro de Tecnologias e Sistemas / Center for Technology and Systems) R&D unit, covering areas such as micro-nano electronics design, microelectronics materials and processes, reconfigurable and embedded systems, signal processing, energy efficiency, intelligent control and decision support systems, computational intelligence, collaborative networks, robotics and automation. UNINOVA does not offer commercial products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Collaborative R&D and Technical Development Services Multidisciplinary research and technical development services covering micro-nano electronics design, microelectronics materials and processes, reconfigurable and embedded systems, signal processing and communications, energy efficiency, intelligent control and decision support systems, computational intelligence, collaborative networks, interoperability and complexity systems, and robotics and automation systems. Delivered to industry partners (Synopsys, Renesas Portugal, ARM, PETsys, PowerTools, Aura Semiconductor), European research consortia, and government entities via grant-funded collaborative projects.
• POEMS Semiconductor Spring School Specialized training program organized by POEMS (Academia de Microeletrónica) jointly operated by NOVA FCT and UNINOVA, targeting students and professionals seeking semiconductor skills development and industry-recognized micro-credentials.
• Seasonal School on Advanced Analog and Mixed-Signal (AMS) IC Design Specialized training program in advanced analog and mixed-signal integrated circuit design, delivered by UNINOVA with contributing instructors from Renesas Portugal, PETsys, PowerTools, Aura Semiconductor, ARM, and STFC, aimed at students and professionals seeking CMOS technology and IC design expertise.
• Scientific Publications and Open Research Output Scientific publications, conference presentations, and open access research outputs disseminated globally across microelectronics, embedded systems, signal processing, energy efficiency, intelligent control, computational intelligence, and related domains.

Quantifiable outcome

• SerDes market opportunity of US$1 billion with >10% annual growth
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• SynopsyscoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on SerDes circuit design projects; Synopsys provides semiconductor design tools and expertise; joint research with NOVA FCT on advanced integrated circuit development; collaboration on European Chips Act aligned initiatives
• Renesas PortugalcoreTechnology or IntegrationContributing instructors to UNINOVA's Seasonal School on Advanced Analog and Mixed-Signal IC Design; industry expertise for training programs; collaboration on CMOS technologies
• ARMcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner contributing expertise to training programs; collaboration on semiconductor technologies and chip design initiatives
• NOVA FCT - NOVA Faculty of Science and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for UNINOVA; joint hosting of Seasonal Schools and training programs; shared research facilities and personnel; coordinated doctoral programs
• ISEL - Instituto Superior de Engenharia de LisboasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CTS Centro de Tecnologias e Sistemas research unit; joint project implementation on SMAIS and other initiatives
• SMAS Almada - Serviços Municipalizados de Água e Saneamento de AlmadasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal water utility partnering on SMAIS AI project for water leak detection and consumption optimization
• PETsyssecondaryTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner contributing to Seasonal School on Advanced AMS IC Design; semiconductor expertise for training programs
• PowerToolssecondaryTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner contributing to Seasonal School on Advanced AMS IC Design; providing technical expertise for training programs
• Aura SemiconductorsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner contributing to Seasonal School on Advanced AMS IC Design; semiconductor technology expertise for training
• STFC - Science and Technology Facilities CouncilsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationInternational research partner contributing experts to Seasonal School programs; providing specialized technical knowledge
• POEMS - Academia de MicroeletrónicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicroelectronics Academy jointly operated by NOVA FCT and UNINOVA; organizes Semiconductor Spring School and Seasonal School programs; consortium for semiconductor skills development in Europe

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IMEC: Belgium-based leading microelectronics R&D center operating across semiconductor process, design, and systems — the closest functional peer to UNINOVA's CTS research unit in scope, funding model (public/private mix), and industry partnerships.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems (IMS): German applied-research institute running contract R&D in microelectronics, sensors, and integrated circuit design for industry partners — directly comparable to UNINOVA's project-based R&D and industry collaboration model.
• CEA-Leti: French R&D institute specializing in micro/nanotechnologies and integrated circuit design with deep industry and EU funding ties — highly comparable to UNINOVA in research domains, partner profile, and grant-funded operating model.
• Tyndall National Institute: Ireland-based ICT research institute with microelectronics, photonics, and systems integration programs — comparable in scale, public funding dependency, and university affiliation (University College Cork).
• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Électronique et de Microtechnique): Swiss applied research center covering microelectronics, systems engineering, and digitalization with industry co-funding — comparable scope and operating model to UNINOVA's CTS activities.

Broad incumbents

• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Multi-domain Finnish applied-research organization with significant microelectronics and embedded systems programs — broader in scope than UNINOVA but comparable in grant-funded applied R&D and industry partnerships.
• ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute): Taiwanese applied research organization with deep semiconductor R&D capabilities — broader in scale and commercialization, but comparable in mission of bridging academic research and industry deployment in microelectronics.

Regional players

• Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT): Portuguese private non-profit research institute with wireless, signal processing, and embedded systems programs — the closest Portuguese peer to UNINOVA, sharing national funding channels and an academic affiliation model.
• INESC MN (Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores — Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias): Lisbon-based Portuguese R&D institute focused on MEMS, micro/nanotechnologies, and instrumentation — directly comparable to UNINOVA in micro/nano fabrication, national/EU funding model, and university hosting structure.
• NOVA FCT: Host university for UNINOVA and partner on POEMS and Seasonal Schools — comparable in STEM research and training scope, but operating as a public university rather than an independent research institute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uninova

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UNINOVA