Arditi

What Arditi does

ARDITI — Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação — is the regional research and development agency of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal, constituted under the Regional Government of Madeira and headquartered at Madeira Tecnopolo in Funchal. Rather than selling commercial products, ARDITI operates a portfolio of platforms, programs, and grant-funded research projects. Its flagship initiative is the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira (OOM/ORAM), a multi-institutional ocean observation platform with a stated objective of building a digital twin of the ocean around Madeira, supported by two SeaSonde high-frequency oceanographic radars (the first such system in Macaronesia, covering ~75 km offshore), ROV operations in partnership with EMEPC's ROV Luso (6,000 m depth capability), animal-borne bio-logging sensors across Macaronesia, and the DiveReporter citizen science platform for bioindicator species monitoring. ARDITI coordinates funding flows into research units including MARE-Madeira, CQM, ITI/LARSyS, ISOPlexis, M-ITI, and CIIMAR-Madeira.

The organization's revenue model is entirely non-commercial, relying on regional government allocations, EU structural and investment funds (FEDER via Madeira 14-20 and Madeira 2030, PRR), national science funding (FCT), and competitive EU programs (Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe, INTERREG Atlantic Area, INTERREG MAC, EEA Grants, LIFE). Annual project portfolio budget exceeds €4 million, up from ~€300K pre-ARDITI. Beneficiary segments include research units and universities, regional government departments, schools (over 6,500 students across 65 schools reached via OOM education), and regional SMEs in aquaculture and marine tourism. Active programs and projects include ROV4ALL (educational robotics across Madeira, Azores, Lisbon, Algarve), Whale Tales (cetacean research), MEMEX (H2020 AI/AR digital storytelling, ~€4M global budget), GoJelly (H2020 microplastic filtration, ~€6M global), BIG-Blockchain (ERA Chair, €2.5M), and the forthcoming ARIES project (Madeira 2030, AI-coordinated autonomous ocean observation, 2026–2029). Distribution occurs through direct institutional engagement, public tender processes, EU co-financed project delivery, and science communication channels including newsletters, the "Bastidores da Ciência" podcast series, and documentary productions.

Name

Arditi

Legal name

ARDITI - Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação

Website

https://arditi.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ARDITI is a Madeira-based public regional development agency that funds, coordinates, and operates marine and interdisciplinary research — anchored by the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira (OOM/ORAM) platform — serving researchers, schools, regional government, and SMEs across Macaronesia through EU, national, and regional public funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Development Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

NEPA/EA/EIS & Public Consultation (EUAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

EIA/ESIA Documentation & Technical Studies (Air/Water/Noise/Traffic) (EUAHAAAC)

Keywords

• Ocean observation infrastructure
• Marine research platforms
• Research funding management
• Blue economy development
• Citizen science platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Funchal

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding and Grants Management: ARDITI is a public regional development agency primarily funded through regional government budget allocations, EU structural and investment funds (FEDER, Madeira 14-20, PRR), national science funding (FCT), and competitive EU program funding (Horizon Europe, INTERREG Atlantic Area, INTERREG MAC, EEA Grants, LIFE). ARDITI distributes funding to research units, manages projects, and supports innovation ecosystems in Madeira. Annual project portfolio budget exceeds 4 million euros. Revenue is entirely non-commercial, comprising public funds and EU grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ARDITI is a public regional development agency that funds, coordinates, and supports research, technology, and innovation projects in Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira. Its flagship offering is the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira (OOM/ORAM), a technological platform providing high-resolution scientific oceanographic data for Madeira's Exclusive Economic Zone, complemented by citizen science, educational, and EU-funded research project management services. All activities are non-commercial, funded through regional government budgets, FEDER, and competitive EU research programs.

Product overview

ARDITI (Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação) is a regional research and development agency for the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal. Rather than a single commercial product, ARDITI operates a portfolio of research platforms, programs, and services. The flagship platform is the Observatório Oceânico da Madeira (OOM/ORAM), a technological oceanographic platform providing high-resolution scientific data of the Madeiran maritime zone, with the goal of creating a digital twin of the ocean. Complementing it is the DiveReporter citizen science marine monitoring platform. ARDITI also runs educational programs such as ROV4ALL (underwater robotics for school students), the Whale Tales Project (marine education and cetacean research), and the HR Excellence in Research process. Research projects like MEMEX (AI/AR for inclusive digital storytelling), GoJelly (jellyfish-based microplastic filtration), and ARIES (AI-coordinated autonomous ocean data collection) represent active innovation initiatives. ARDITI additionally supports scientific publications and operates newsletters and funding archives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Observatório Oceânico da Madeira (OOM/ORAM) A technological oceanographic platform that provides high-resolution scientific data of the Madeiran Exclusive Economic Zone for public, private, scientific, and general users. Its long-term objectives include stimulating sustainable Blue Economy development, creating a digital twin of the ocean around the RAM, and increasing systematic data collection using state-of-the-art equipment.
• ROV4ALL An educational robotics program in which students from 9th grade through secondary education in Madeira, Azores, Lisbon, and Algarve build their own underwater robots (ROVs) from kits, with support from ROV technicians, engineers, marine science researchers, and teachers.
• DiveReporter Marine Monitoring Platform A marine monitoring citizen science platform developed by ARDITI and validated in Madeira and Porto Santo, engaging diving operators in recording conservation, invasive, and commercial bioindicator species. Expanded to the Macaronesian region through the DIVEREPORTER-MAC project.
• Whale Tales Project
• ARIES Project An integrated cooperative system for real-time oceanographic data collection combining aerial, surface, and underwater autonomous vehicles coordinated through a common AI-supported platform (Programa Regional da Madeira 2021-2027, May 2026 - April 2029).
• GoJelly Project An H2020 project (~6 million euros total, ~400,000 euros for Madeira) developing gelatinous solutions from jellyfish aquaculture to filter microplastics from oceans, led in Portugal by João Canning-Clode and Carlos Andrade from OOM.
• MEMEX Project An H2020 project (global budget ~4 million euros) that uses AI and augmented reality for inclusive digital storytelling, promoting visibility and integration of vulnerable communities through immersive experiences and digital narratives.
• HR Excellence in Research Process

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,500 students engaged in ocean science education across 65 schools in Madeira
• +4 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

AI capability10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• ITI/LARSyS – Instituto de Tecnologias Interativas / Laboratório de Robótica e Sistemas de EngenhariacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019ITI/LARSyS is an Associate Laboratory conducting research in robotics and engineering systems. ARDITI hosts and collaborates with ITI/LARSyS researchers including Nuno Nunes (President of ARDITI's Board), Valentina Nisi, and others on projects including MEMEX, BIG-Blockchain, COVID-19 data platform, and digital storytelling initiatives. ITI/LARSyS is co-located within ARDITI/Madeira Tecnopolo.
• MEMEX Consortium (H2020)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019MEMEX – Memórias e Experiências for inclusive digital storytelling is an H2020 project (~4M euros total) promoting social inclusion of vulnerable communities through AI and augmented reality. Coordinated by IIT (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) in Genoa, with ARDITI/ITI/LARSyS as the Portuguese partner. ARDITI researchers lead community engagement and digital storytelling activities.
• GoJelly Consortium (H2020)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018GoJelly – 'A gelatinous solution to plastic pollution' is an H2020 project (~6M euros total EU funding) developing jellyfish-based microplastic filters. ARDITI/OOM leads Portugal's participation, with researchers João Canning-Clode and Carlos Andrade leading the jellyfish aquaculture and sustainable capture task. Attracted ~400,000 euros to Madeira. First Madeira participation in Horizon 2020 Blue Economy.
• ROV4ALL ConsortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017ROV4ALL (ref: FA_06_2017_047) is a marine education project enabling students in Madeira, Azores, Lisbon, and Algarve to build educational ROVs. Partners include: ARDITI (promoter, via OOM), IMAR-Açores, IPMA (Instituto do Mar e da Atmosfera), Instituto para a Qualificação IP-RAM, Observatório do Mar dos Açores (OMA), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), and collaboration from Escola Secundária Francisco Franco. Also linked to PLOCAN for the INTERTAGUA project.
• OOM (Observatório Oceânico da Madeira) ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014The OOM consortium brings together public and private entities to aggregate people and data on Madeiran marine science in a common platform. Public members include: Câmara Municipal do Funchal (via Estação de Biologia Marinha and Museu de História Natural), Direção Regional de Pescas (via Direção dos Serviços de Investigação and Centro de Maricultura da Calheta), Município de Machico (via Museu da Baleia da Madeira), Parque Natural da Madeira, and Universidade da Madeira. Private members include: AREAM, CIIMAR-Madeira, MARE-Madeira, Madeira WindBirds, Marisland, Ventura do Mar, Portos da Madeira (APRAM), and SPEA. Funded by FEDER via Madeira 14-20, managed by IDR.
• EMEPC – Estrutura de Missão para a Extensão da Plataforma ContinentalflagshipTechnology or IntegrationEMEPC operates the ROV Luso (capable of 6,000m depth) which was deployed in OOM expeditions, enabling the discovery of deep-water coral plains at ~2,000m off Madeira. This partnership provided access to deep-sea exploration capabilities critical to marine biodiversity research.
• Rebikoff-Niggeler FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rebikoff-Niggeler Foundation provided the LULA1000 submersible for deep-sea expeditions in OOM campaigns, enabling research at depths exceeding 1,000m. Their equipment was essential for observing and collecting deep-water coral samples at ~2,000m depth during the 2018 expedition off Madeira.
• Portugal Space / ptspacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortugal's national space agency. The Autonomous Region of Madeira secured observer status in Portugal Space in December 2019. ARDITI President Nuno Nunes led a delegation including Chiara Manfletti (President of Portugal Space) and Secretary Regional Jorge Carvalho to discuss LARSyS/ARDITI collaboration in space-related research. ARDITI/OOM participates in AMADEE-20 Mars simulation mission through the MEROP experiment.
• Whale Tales ProjectflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhale Tales Project, conducted by MARE-Madeira and OOM researchers including Filipe Alves, Ana Dinis, and Rita Ferreira, studies sperm whale health and ecosystem function. Activities include educational outreach 'Mergulhando com o cachalote', an exhibition at FNAC Madeira ('Cachalote – O embaixador dos oceanos'), and a photo-identification catalog for pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins. Marine tourism companies participated in data collection.
• Ciência Viva / Science AlivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCiência Viva is Portugal's national science engagement agency. ARDITI collaborates on annual Ciência Viva no Verão (Summer Science) programs offering free science activities for families, typically running July-September. ARDITI and OOM contribute 6+ activities per year across marine science, oceanography, and biodiversity themes.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CNR (Italian National Research Council): Italy's largest public research organization, hosting marine and oceanographic institutes that partner with ARDITI (e.g., via IIT/LARSyS in MEMEX). Comparable as a publicly-funded, multi-disciplinary research umbrella — though at far greater scale.
• Ifremer: France's national research institute for ocean science, operating deep-sea ROVs (e.g., Nautile), HF radar networks, and large-scale ocean observation platforms. A direct functional comparator for ARDITI's ROV and HF radar capabilities, but at vastly greater institutional scale.
• VLIZ (Flanders Marine Institute): Belgian marine data and research institute operating the Integrated Marine Information System and managing pan-regional research coordination. Comparable to ARDITI's role as a regional marine observatory coordinator but at significantly larger scale and with a more established data-platform mandate.
• AZTI: Spain-based marine and food research center operating a much larger-scale oceanographic research and blue-economy agenda. Comparable as a regional applied marine research institute, though AZTI serves the Basque region with broader commercial and industrial partnerships.
• Marine Institute Ireland: Ireland's national marine agency delivering research, monitoring and advisory services for sustainable ocean governance. Comparable as a publicly-funded, mission-driven marine research and innovation body participating in EU programs and Atlantic-area research.
• IEO (Instituto Español de Oceanografía): Spain's national oceanographic institute operating oceanographic time-series stations, fleet vessels and data services. Comparable as a public marine research organization contributing to EU ocean observation, though as a national rather than regional agency.

Direct peers

• IMAR - Instituto do Mar (Azores): Marine research institute in the Azores (another Macaronesian outermost region) with overlapping focus on deep-sea ecology, ocean observation, and EU project participation — including joint ROV4ALL activities with ARDITI.
• PLOCAN (Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias): Public consortium in the Canary Islands (Spain) operating a similar offshore observatory platform with deep-sea observation, autonomous vehicles, and coastal radar infrastructure. Closest functional peer to ARDITI's OOM/ORAM — same outermost-region institutional model applied to a neighboring Macaronesian territory.

Emerging players

• Mercator Ocean International: EU-affiliated non-profit providing global ocean forecasting and digital-twin ocean services. Comparable mission overlap with ARDITI's digital twin ocean ambition but operating at global scale with EU Copernicus program backing.
• Ocean Networks Canada: University of Victoria-affiliated organization operating cabled ocean observatories with continuous, real-time ocean data. Comparable as a regional observatory operator with strong data-platform infrastructure, though distinct governance and funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCK5JUciQdyA1Ivlh8wMriDg
• Facebookfacebook.com/arditimadeira
• LinkedInpt.linkedin.com/company/oom-pt
• Instagraminstagram.com/oom_madeira

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Arditi