AZTI
AZTI is a non-profit marine and food research foundation based in the Basque Country, Spain, providing scientific research, technology transfer, and consulting services across ten research lines to food sector companies, fisheries, maritime operators, and public agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersDerio, Spain
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AZTI does
AZTI (Fundación AZTI – AZTI Fundazioa) is a non-profit research and technology foundation founded in 1981 and headquartered in Sukarrieta in the Basque Country, Spain, with additional research and operational facilities in Pasaia and Derio. The organization specializes in marine and food science, operating across ten research lines that span climate change, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, operational oceanography, marine environmental management, biotechnology, food sustainability and eco-efficiency, food quality and safety, personalized nutrition and health, new foods and technologies, and consumer behavior. Its workforce of 251-500 employees is highly credentialed, with 69% holding doctoral degrees, and the organization maintains unique ocean observation infrastructure with participation in European research networks including JERICO, Copernicus Marine Service, and EuroGOOS.
The organization generates revenue through contracted applied research, technology transfer, and consulting services delivered to enterprise clients in the food sector, fisheries and aquaculture industry, maritime and port infrastructure, offshore energy, and public administration, supplemented by participation in publicly funded European, national, and regional research programs. Its commercial offerings include proprietary tools such as the Blue Fishing Index, consumer behavior and neuromarketing analytics, an open-access scientific repository (AZTI Data), the INKUBA SAREA 2 cross-border FoodTech accelerator, the annual AZTI Summer School, and recurring events such as UHINAK, EATendencias, and the BTEM food innovation awards. AZTI holds ISO 9001/14001/27001/45001 and UNE 166002 certifications plus Gold Q and Gold Recognition from Euskalit, and is a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA) and EARTO, anchoring its positioning as a trusted applied research partner for Basque, Spanish, and European public-sector and industrial clients.
AZTI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AZTI
- Legal name
- Fundación AZTI – AZTI Fundazioa
- Website
- https://azti.es
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- AZTI is a non-profit marine and food research foundation based in the Basque Country, Spain, providing scientific research, technology transfer, and consulting services across ten research lines to food sector companies, fisheries, maritime operators, and public agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AZTI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine and Food Research Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Geospatial Data Management & Enterprise GIS (Geodatabases, Web GIS, Spatial Analytics) (EUAHAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD), Field Mapping, GIS & Remote Sensing Analytics (AFAAAFAB)
Keywords
Where AZTI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Derio
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
AZTI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Research contracts and technology transfer services: AZTI generates revenue through contracted research projects with industry clients in the food, fisheries, and maritime sectors, as well as technology transfer and consulting services to companies and public organizations.
- Public research funding: The organization participates in publicly funded research programs including European, national, and regional research initiatives.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
AZTI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AZTI is a non-profit marine and food research center that conducts applied scientific research, technological development, and specialized consulting services across ten research lines including sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, operational oceanography, biotechnology, food quality and safety, and personalized nutrition. It delivers contracted research projects, technology transfer, and proprietary tools such as the Blue Fishing Index to food, fisheries, maritime, offshore, and public-sector clients, and operates the AZTIdata open scientific repository.
Product overview
AZTI is a marine and food research institute that provides scientific research, technological development, and consulting services. The organization operates through ten research lines covering climate change, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, operational oceanography, environmental management, biotechnology, food sustainability, food quality and safety, personalized nutrition, new foods and technologies, and consumer behavior. AZTI offers sector-specific consulting services for food, fisheries, maritime infrastructure, offshore, health, ingredients, Technology 4.0, and innovation management sectors. Additional offerings include scientific publications through its data repository, professional training via the annual Summer School, events such as UHINAK conferences and EATendencias, and the INKUBA SAREA 2 cross-border FoodTech accelerator program. AZTI also developed the Blue Fishing Index for sustainable fisheries assessment and manages the BTEM food innovation awards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Applied scientific research and technological development (Investigación y desarrollo científico-técnico) Contracted applied scientific research and technology development services delivered across ten research lines (climate change, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, operational oceanography, marine and coastal environmental management, biotechnology, food sustainability, food quality and safety, personalized nutrition, new foods and technologies, and consumer behavior). Targeted at enterprise clients in food, fisheries, maritime, offshore, and public-sector buyers seeking scientific evidence and innovation support.
- Sector consulting and advisory services (Consultoría y servicios sectoriales) Specialized consulting services for food companies, fisheries and aquaculture operators, port and maritime infrastructure operators, offshore companies, food and health businesses, ingredient manufacturers, Technology 4.0 providers, industrial machinery manufacturers, and innovation management clients. Includes regulatory compliance support, sustainability assessments, market intelligence, neuromarketing, sensory analysis, and innovation management advisory.
- Blue Fishing Index Proprietary scientific indicator tool developed by AZTI to assess and advance sustainable fishing practices, providing metrics that support fisheries management decisions. Targeted at fisheries managers, regulators, and sustainability officers in the fishing industry.
Quantifiable outcome
- 380+ active research projects demonstrating extensive research engagement
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AZTI
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
AZTI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
AZTI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Euskalmet (Basque Meteorology Agency)coreStrategic alliance with the Basque Meteorology Agency for operational meteorology and environmental monitoring services.
- JERICO Research InfrastructurecoreParticipation in the JERICO European research infrastructure for coastal observatories and marine monitoring.
- Copernicus Marine ServicecoreParticipation in the European Copernicus program providing marine observation and data services.
- Algakin (Basque Algae Ecosystem)minorCollaboration in the Basque algae ecosystem development initiative.
- FAGOMA (Red Española de Bacteriófagos)minorCollaboration in the Spanish bacteriophage network for antimicrobial resistance solutions.
- PhageEUminorEuropean network collaboration on bacteriophage research applications.
- AMR (Conexión Resistencia Antimicrobianos)minorParticipation in the antimicrobial resistance connection network coordinated by CSIC.
- RedBAL (Red Española de Bacterias Lácticas)minorCollaboration in the Spanish lactic acid bacteria research network.
- INDAGA (Innovación e Investigación aplicada a la Gastronomía)minorCollaboration in the thematic network on innovation and research applied to gastronomy.
- TecnaliacoreCollaboration with the Basque applied research and technological development center.
- UPV-EHU (University of the Basque Country)coreAcademic partnership including collaboration through the Plentziako Itsas Estazioa (Plentzia Marine Station).
- CTN (Centro Tecnológico Naval y del Mar)coreCollaboration with the Naval and Maritime Technology Center.
- E3S (European Sensory Science Society)minorCollaboration in the European sensory science network.
- EuroGOOS (European Global Ocean Observing System)coreParticipation in the European global ocean observing system network.
- EATIP (European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform)coreCollaboration in the European aquaculture technology and innovation platform.
- Basque Food ClustercoreActive partnership in the Basque food industry cluster organization.
- Basque Energy ClusterminorCollaboration in the Basque energy sector cluster.
- EIT FoodcoreParticipation in the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Food initiative.
- EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)coreCollaboration with the European Food Safety Authority on food safety research.
- Food4Life Spain (Plataforma Tecnológica Española)coreCollaboration in the Spanish food technology platform.
- PTEPA (Plataforma Tecnológica Española de la Pesca y la Acuicultura)coreCollaboration in the Spanish technology platform for fisheries and aquaculture.
- EARTO (European Association of Research and Technology Organisations)coreMembership in the European association of research and technology organizations.
- BTWC (Bermeo Tuna World Capital)minorCollaboration in the tuna world capital initiative centered in Bermeo.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AZTI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CSIC (Spanish National Research Council): Spain's largest public research institution, covering marine, food, and biological sciences. AZTI already collaborates with CSIC's AMR network; CSIC is a broader incumbent with deeper capacity across AZTI's research lines.
- Wageningen University & Research: Dutch research institute and university specializing in food, nutrition, and agricultural sciences. Overlaps heavily with AZTI's food quality, food innovation, personalized nutrition, and sustainable food research lines, but operates at significantly larger scale and global reach.
- Institute of Marine Research (IMR, Norway): Norway's largest marine research institute, providing advice on fisheries management, aquaculture, and marine ecosystems. Comparable mission to AZTI's fisheries and oceanography lines, with greater scale and international standing.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state-owned applied research organization with broad coverage including food, biotechnology, and Industry 4.0. Comparable as a large European applied RTO with mixed public funding and commercial contract revenue, though broader and more diversified than AZTI.
Direct peers
- NEIKER (Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development): Basque regional agrifood RTO also part of the BRTA alliance. Direct peer in geographic scope, governance model (regional applied research institute), and overlapping food/agriculture research capabilities.
- IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea): France's national marine research institute, conducting applied oceanography, fisheries science, and marine biotechnology. Most directly comparable European marine RTO to AZTI, with overlapping capabilities in ocean observation, sustainable fisheries, and aquaculture research.
- Tecnalia: Basque applied research and technological development center and fellow BRTA member. Direct peer in regional RTO positioning, applied-industry service model, and collaborative project structure with overlapping marine and food capabilities.
- SINTEF Ocean: Norwegian applied research center focused on marine and fisheries science, aquaculture, and ocean technology. Comparable to AZTI in operating model (applied RTO serving industry and public sector), scale, and blue-economy portfolio.
- DTU Aqua (National Institute of Aquatic Resources): Denmark's national institute for aquatic resources research, covering fisheries management, aquaculture, and marine ecology. Closely comparable to AZTI's fisheries and aquaculture business unit in mission, applied research model, and policy advisory role.
- IRTA (Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology): Catalonia's agrifood research institute, covering food technology, aquaculture, and sustainable production. Highly comparable as a Spanish regional applied RTO serving food industry and fisheries, with similar governance and funding model to AZTI.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AZTI social profiles
Digital presenceAZTI compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
AZTI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AZTI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
AZTI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AZTI 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 AZTI
What does AZTI do?
AZTI is a non-profit marine and food research center that conducts applied scientific research, technological development, and specialized consulting services across ten research lines including sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, operational oceanography, biotechnology, food quality and safety, and personalized nutrition. It delivers contracted research projects, technology transfer, and proprietary tools such as the Blue Fishing Index to food, fisheries, maritime, offshore, and public-sector clients, and operates the AZTIdata open scientific repository.
Is AZTI a public or private company?
AZTI is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was AZTI founded?
AZTI was founded in 1981. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is AZTI based?
AZTI is headquartered in Derio, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does AZTI make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Research contracts and technology transfer services are the primary driver. The others are public research funding.
Who are AZTI's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), Wageningen University & Research, Institute of Marine Research (IMR, Norway) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Direct peers are NEIKER (Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development), IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), Tecnalia, SINTEF Ocean, DTU Aqua (National Institute of Aquatic Resources) and IRTA (Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology).
Does AZTI have an API?
No public API is recorded for AZTI.
What industry is AZTI in?
AZTI's product category is Marine and Food Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAKAC, Geospatial Data Management & Enterprise GIS (Geodatabases, Web GIS, Spatial Analytics), with a secondary code of EUAHAKAD, Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.