INEGI

What INEGI does

INEGI (Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial) is a Portuguese private non-profit research and technology institute founded in 1985 and headquartered on the campus of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) in Porto, Portugal. The institute employs 350+ staff, including 120+ researchers with doctoral degrees, and generated a reported €23M+ in business volume in 2025, serving 760+ clients across aerospace, energy, industrial manufacturing, maritime, transport, healthcare, and sustainability sectors. INEGI coordinates the LAETA Associated Laboratory (Energy, Transports and Aeronautics) and holds 9,400+ m2 of specialized infrastructure including experimental factories, composite manufacturing labs, additive manufacturing capabilities (SLM and LWAM), and advanced engineering simulation tools.

The institute operates across three service pillars: medium-term Innovation and Technology Transfer projects (12-24 months, €19.3M executed in 2024) that deliver functional prototypes, validated processes, and engineering designs to industrial clients; Research and Development services producing new models, algorithms, and proofs of concept largely funded through national and European programmes (€1.3M+ in FCT projects, 126 active FCT projects); and short-term Industry Services (3-6 months, €3.6M+ executed in 2025) covering consulting, laboratory testing, validation, and advanced training. Its technical differentiation is anchored in 30+ years of composite materials expertise — including the only composite cryogenic fuel tank capability in Portugal — AI-driven process optimization and digital twins, structural health monitoring, and additive manufacturing. INEGI's go-to-market is sales-led and project-based, combining direct enterprise engagement with consortium participation in European frameworks (Horizon Europe, LIFE, COMPETE 2020, Portugal 2030, FCT).

Notable strategic positioning includes selection for the €15.65M VLEO-DEF European Defence Agency programme (2026), a €3.5M European Research Council grant (April 2024), partnership with the European Space Agency on structural batteries for satellites, leadership of the VIRIATO sub-orbital vehicle cryogenic fuel tank project, and participation in the 27-entity NerveRepack consortium for brain-controlled prosthetics. INEGI has produced 6 spin-off companies currently in market, filed 3 patents (2025), and counts 20 researchers in the World's Top 2% Scientists ranking by Stanford and Elsevier. The customer base spans named industrial logos including Airbus, Volkswagen Autoeuropa, EDP, ABB, ACCIONA Energía, Medway, Vista Alegre, Tekever, Omnidea, Copefi, Neutroplast, LIPOR, and MSC, with no single customer appearing to dominate revenue.

Name

INEGI

Legal name

INEGI - Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial

Website

https://inegi.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

INEGI is a Portuguese non-profit research and technology institute (founded 1985, Porto) that delivers applied R&D, technology transfer, and consulting across composite materials, additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and energy, serving 760+ industrial clients including Airbus, EDP, and Volkswagen Autoeuropa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Research and Technology Transfer Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Process Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Consulting, Advisory & Technology Transfer (AM Adoption) (IMAAAJAK), Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM), Industrial Manufacturing (EDABALAP)

Keywords

• Mechanical engineering research
• Technology transfer services
• Applied industrial R&D
• Advanced composite materials
• Additive manufacturing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Porto

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Innovation and Technology Transfer Projects: Medium-term collaborative projects (12-24 months) with industrial clients, combining applied research, advanced engineering, and real-world validation. Revenue generated through direct client contracts for tailored technological solutions. Reported 19.3M€ executed value in innovation projects with industry (2024).
2. Services for Industry (Consulting, Laboratory, Training): Short-term consulting engagements (3-6 months) delivering technical studies, analyses, simulations, validations, and engineering recommendations. Laboratory testing and certification services. Advanced training programmes customized to client needs. Reported 3.6M€+ executed value in services (2025).
3. Publicly Funded Research (FCT, EU Programmes): R&D projects funded by national programmes (Portugal 2030, COMPETE 2020, Norte 2030) and European frameworks (Horizon Europe, LIFE programme, FCT). INEGI coordinates the LAETA associated laboratory and participates in initiatives such as the VLEO-DEF satellite programme and NerveRepack brain-controlled prosthetics project. Reported 1.3M€+ executed value in FCT research projects (126 projects, 41 FCT projects).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INEGI is a private non-profit research and technology institute delivering applied research, technology transfer, and engineering consulting services in mechanical and industrial engineering. It provides medium-term innovation projects (12-24 months), short-term consulting engagements (3-6 months), laboratory testing, and advanced training programmes to industrial clients across aerospace, energy, automotive, maritime, and healthcare sectors. Its offerings span composite materials development, additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0 solutions, biomechanics, and energy decarbonization, combining proprietary manufacturing technologies with a 120+ doctoral researcher workforce.

Product overview

INEGI (Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial) is a research and technology institution that operates as a service-oriented organization rather than a product company. Its offerings are organized into three main pillars: (1) Innovation and Technology Transfer Services (medium-term projects 12-24 months developing prototypes, engineering designs, and validated processes); (2) Research and Development Services (scientific research projects producing new models, algorithms, and proofs of concept); and (3) Industry Services including Consulting, Laboratory Services, and Advanced Training (short-term projects 3-6 months). These services are applied across thematic areas including Composite Materials, Additive Manufacturing, Industry 4.0 Solutions, Biomechanics, Product Development, Manufacturing Processes, Energy and Decarbonization, and Sustainability and Circularity. Notable research projects include structural batteries for ESA satellites, cryogenic fuel tank prototypes for the VIRIATO sub-orbital vehicle, and various AI-driven solutions for industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovation and Technology Transfer Services Medium-term collaborative projects (12-24 months) with industrial clients combining applied research, advanced engineering, and real-world validation. Delivers functional prototypes, engineering designs, validated processes, models, or algorithms ready for integration, helping clients reduce technological risk and accelerate new solutions to market.
• Research and Development Services Scientific research projects focused on advancing products, technologies, or algorithms beyond state of the art. Produces new models, algorithms, methodologies, proofs of concept, and intellectual property outputs, executed under European and national R&D programmes such as Horizon Europe, FCT, and COMPETE 2020.
• Industry Services (Consulting, Laboratory Services, Advanced Training) Short-term consulting engagements (3-6 months) delivering scientific consulting, specialized engineering, technical studies, analyses, simulations, validations, and engineering recommendations. Includes laboratory testing, characterization, validation, certification services, and customized advanced training programmes for industrial clients.
• Composite Materials Development Development of new materials, semi-products, hybrid materials, and intelligent materials using new fibers, polymer matrices, and nanomaterials. Over 30 years of experience developing composite manufacturing processes including FLASHCOMP zero-defect/zero-waste framework, Automated Fiber Placement (AFP), and applications in aerospace, automotive, and marine sectors. Includes the 800L, 31kg cryogenic fuel tank prototype.
• Additive Manufacturing Services Selective Laser Melting (SLM) for metallic 3D printing and Laser Wire Additive Manufacturing (LWAM) for complex metal components, with capabilities in polymer and metal matrix composites. Services include prototyping, validation, and small/medium series production for industrial clients.
• Industry 4.0 Solutions Sensorization, IoT, AI-based process optimization and control, computer vision for inspection and quality assurance, and autonomous process optimization solutions for smart factories. Includes AI-based defect detection systems (Vista Alegre ceramic plates case study) and digital twins for industrial presses and logistics optimization.
• Biomechanics Solutions Development of medical devices, prosthetics, orthotics, sports equipment optimization, human motion analysis, medical image processing, and surgical planning tools for clinical and industrial applications. Includes the NerveRepack brain-controlled prosthetics project (Horizon Europe) and hospital collaborations with Hospital de São João and Hospital de Santo António.
• Energy and Decarbonization Services Solutions for energy transition and industrial decarbonization including renewable energy integration, waste heat recovery, green hydrogen assessment (Sonorgás project), carbon capture, and energy recovery plant decarbonization (LIPOR project). Also includes the Portugal-Spain hydrogen roadmap initiative.
• Structural Health Monitoring Services Permanent sensorization and IoT-based monitoring systems for critical infrastructure including the movable bridge of Leixões (APDL project), wind turbines, and railway wagons (Medway project). Uses sensorization and IoT solutions to enhance safety and enable predictive maintenance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 47.5% reduction in production time, 18.5% weight reduction, 75% reduction in manufacturing operations for automotive glass guide component (INEGI-Copefi project)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• VLEO-DEF Consortium (led by Sener)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026INEGI is one of 17 industrial partners and research organisations in the €15.65M VLEO-DEF project selected by the European Defence Agency to develop Europe's first defence satellite concept for very low Earth orbit (250-350 km altitude). Consortium jointly funded by Spain, France, Luxembourg, Portugal and Slovenia. Project addresses atmospheric drag and propulsion requirements for future in-orbit demonstration missions.
• NerveRepack ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024European consortium of 27 entities developing bidirectional implantable electrodes for connection of the human nervous system with mechatronic devices (exoprostheses and exoskeletons). INEGI contributes mechatronics development including actuator blocks for prosthetic movement. Project co-funded by Horizon Europe and FCT. Kick-off meeting held in Bucharest, Romania in July 2024.
• LAETA - Laboratório Associado de Energia, Transportes e AeronáuticacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINEGI coordinates LAETA, an Associated Laboratory in Energy, Transports and Aeronautics. LAETA brings together researchers from multiple institutions working on energy, transport, and aerospace research. INEGI researchers affiliated with LAETA have contributed to the World's Top 2% Scientists ranking, with 126 FCT projects and 24 PhD theses produced. LAETA represents INEGI's core institutional research partnership structure.
• OmnideaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOmnidea is the lead partner in the VIRIATO (Veículo Inovador Reutilizável para Investigação e Alavancagem de Tecnologia Orbital) project — a Portuguese consortium developing a sub-orbital vehicle to validate and test technologies for future micro-satellite launchers. INEGI developed the cryogenic fuel tank prototype for this initiative, to operate from the future spaceport of Santa Maria in the Azores. Project co-funded by COMPETE 2020 and the European Union.
• Tekever SpacecoreTechnology or IntegrationTekever Space is a partner in the VIRIATO project and a client of INEGI for composite materials development. INEGI developed a retractable landing gear in composites for a new Tekever drone, approximately 10% lighter than existing market alternatives.
• CEiiA - Centro de Engenharia e DesenvolvimentocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEiiA is a partner in the VIRIATO project, contributing to Portugal's emerging micro-satellite launch capabilities. Collaboration with INEGI focuses on space technology development within the Portuguese consortium.
• Spin.WorkscoreTechnology or IntegrationSpin.Works is a partner in the VIRIATO sub-orbital vehicle project and a client of INEGI for composite materials and space technologies.
• +AtlânticominorStrategic or Co-development Partner+Atlântico is a partner in the VIRIATO project contributing to the Portuguese micro-satellite launcher initiative.
• ISQ - Instituto de Soldadura e QualidadecoreTechnology or IntegrationISQ is a partner in the VIRIATO project, providing quality assurance and testing expertise for the sub-orbital vehicle programme.
• Universidade do PortocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Porto (specifically FEUP - Faculty of Engineering) is a partner in the VIRIATO project and is closely affiliated with INEGI, which is located on the FEUP campus. Many INEGI researchers hold dual affiliations with the university.
• Universidade de ÉvoraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Évora is a partner in the VIRIATO project for the Portuguese sub-orbital vehicle initiative.
• APREN - Associação Portuguesa de Energias RenováveiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINEGI partners with APREN to produce the annual 'Wind Parks in Portugal' report. The 2025 report documents 2,861 wind turbines and nearly 6GW of installed wind power capacity in Portugal, providing key industry data and intelligence.
• ESA - European Space AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Space Agency selected INEGI as a partner (2024 March newsletter). INEGI is developing next-generation batteries for ESA satellites and structural battery integration for satellite chassis. ESA also awarded INEGI a prize for studying the impact of long-duration spaceflights on astronauts.
• SmartenergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmartenergy partnered with INEGI to launch a fellowship programme for the 8th edition of Technologies and Hydrogen training, supporting hydrogen skills development in Portugal.
• LIPORcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIPOR partnered with INEGI for the decarbonisation of its energy recovery plant in Maia, Portugal. INEGI is evaluating and developing solutions including waste heat recovery, energy efficiency, carbon capture, and carbon dioxide reuse alternatives.
• Copefi S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCopefi partnered with INEGI to develop an automotive glass guide component using sustainable multimaterial composites. The resulting MultiMat project (co-funded by Portugal 2020) achieved 47.5% reduction in production time, 18.5% weight reduction, and 75% reduction in manufacturing operations. Project led by Copefi with INEGI providing materials and process expertise.
• NeutroplastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeutroplast partnered with INEGI to develop mechanical recycling solutions for pharmaceutical plastic packaging waste. INEGI created recovery processes that enable formulations with 100% recycled materials and 90% production surplus reintegrated into the production process, promoting circular economy in pharmaceutical packaging.
• HORIS Consortium (EU LIFE Programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINEGI participates in the HORIS digital One Stop Shops project funded by the EU LIFE programme, launched in Italy, Spain, and Portugal to help consumers access tailored advice and vetted service providers for energy retrofits.
• Cluster Portuguese CircularityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINEGI is a founding member of the Portuguese Circularity Cluster, contributing to the circular economy transition in Portugal.
• FLASHCOMP ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLASHCOMP project partners (including INEGI) published a paper in Sustainability presenting an eco-efficiency assessment framework for zero-defect and zero-waste manufacturing in the composites industry, combining environmental, operational, and economic metrics.

Scale indicators31 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organization with ~€600M revenue focused on applied science and technology transfer to industry. Comparable in mission, structure, and revenue mix; provides similar industry-research interface but with a broader national mandate and larger international footprint.
• ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute): Taiwanese applied research organization with US$1B+ budget and global operations, serving as a comparable non-profit R&D platform model. Much larger scale and broader scope, but a useful structural analogue for a public-purpose research organization operating commercially.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organization with 76 institutes and €3B+ annual budget. Directly comparable as a public/non-profit applied research institute conducting contract research, technology transfer, and innovation services for industry across mechanical engineering, composites, manufacturing, and aerospace — but at substantially greater scale and geographic reach.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state-owned applied research centre with ~€270M revenue, comparable in non-profit/government-linked structure. Competes with INEGI in additive manufacturing, composites, and Industry 4.0 research, with a much larger budget and broader technology portfolio.

Direct peers

• Tecnalia Research & Innovation: Spanish applied research centre with ~€110M revenue, ~1,500 employees, and comparable focus on manufacturing, energy, and Industry 4.0. Closest geographic and scale comparable, operating similar mixed model of innovation projects, lab services, and EU programme participation.
• CETMA (European Research Area): Italian non-profit research organization focused on advanced materials, composites, and product engineering — directly comparable to INEGI's composite materials and industrial engineering work. Similar size and structure, with shared participation in European collaborative programmes.
• CATEC (Centre for Advanced Aerospace Technologies): Andalusian technology centre specializing in aeronautics, unmanned systems, and aerospace composites — closely comparable to INEGI's aerospace, space, and defence vertical. Operates similar non-profit model serving industrial clients and participating in EU R&D programmes.
• Fundación AIMEN: Galician (northwestern Spain) technology centre focused on materials, manufacturing processes, and Industry 4.0 — directly comparable focus areas to INEGI including laser-based manufacturing, joining technologies, and applied R&D for industrial clients, with similar non-profit association structure.
• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique): Swiss non-profit applied research organization active in precision manufacturing, digitalization, and Industry 4.0 — comparable as a multi-disciplinary R&D service provider to industrial clients with similar revenue model combining contract research, EU programmes, and technology transfer.
• IDEKO (member of Mondragon Corporation): Basque Country technology centre specializing in advanced manufacturing, machine tools, and Industry 4.0 — comparable in size, mission, and non-profit structure to INEGI, with similar focus on transferring applied R&D to industrial clients in northern Spain/Iberia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inegi_portugal
• Facebookfacebook.com/inegi.portugal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about INEGI