Vasco Da Gama CoLAB
Vasco da Gama CoLAB is a Porto-based non-profit collaborative laboratory developing energy storage and battery technology prototypes — including VRFB systems, sodium-ion batteries, and SiC power electronics — for industrial and energy sector clients, funded by Portuguese and EU public agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersPorto, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Vasco Da Gama CoLAB does
Vasco da Gama CoLAB (VG CoLAB) is a non-profit private association and collaborative laboratory established in 2019 in Porto, Portugal. It is co-funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the National Innovation Agency (ANI), with additional support from EU structural funds. The organization develops system-oriented technological solutions applying energy storage to enable the energy transition, delivering mid-TRL prototypes and business support services to industrial and energy/utilities clients.
VG CoLAB's product portfolio spans the full battery value chain — from raw materials extraction and active materials selection through cell manufacturing, modules and packs, to second-life utilization and materials recycling. Core products include a 50 kW/100 kWh containerised Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system with hot-swappable modules and battery-agnostic management systems, containerised battery systems, sodium-ion battery technology under scale-up, and next-generation RFB electrolytes based on neutral-medium iron chemistry. Supporting power electronics include Silicon Carbide (SiC) three-phase power modules rated 200 kVA at 800 VDC with >98% efficiency, and a Dual Active Bridge DC-DC converter designed for RFBs and electrolysers.
The organization operates through three Porto-based facilities: headquarters on Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, an electrochemistry laboratory at PORTIC, and a power electronics laboratory at UPTEC Asprela I. Its governance and capability base draw on founding partners EFACEC, Universidade do Porto, Instituto Superior Técnico, A400, INESC TEC, and C2C-New Cap, with adherent partners including INL, Simoldes Plásticos, and Universidade de Aveiro. VG CoLAB is also a member of IPCEI EuBatIn, BEPA, BATPOWER (Battery Cluster Portugal), and the EtherCAT Technology Group, anchoring it within the European battery innovation ecosystem.
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vasco Da Gama CoLAB
- Legal name
- Vasco da Gama CoLAB
- Website
- https://energystoragecolab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vasco da Gama CoLAB is a Porto-based non-profit collaborative laboratory developing energy storage and battery technology prototypes — including VRFB systems, sodium-ion batteries, and SiC power electronics — for industrial and energy sector clients, funded by Portuguese and EU public agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy Storage R&D and Battery Technology
- NAICS
- Battery Manufacturing (33591)
- SIC
- Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Battery Management Systems (BMS) & Pack Electronics Manufacturing (EUAFABAJ), Battery Recycling & Management (Lithium-ion, Lead-acid) (BPALAIAF)
Keywords
Where Vasco Da Gama CoLAB is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Porto
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Government Funding and Grants: VG CoLAB is a collaborative laboratory supported by Portuguese Agencies for Science and Technology (FCT) and Innovation (ANI). It receives co-funding from EU structural funds.
- Business Support Services: Deliver mid-TRL prototypes and business support services to industrial and services sector clients, generating revenue from technology development partnerships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vasco da Gama CoLAB is a collaborative laboratory developing innovative system-oriented technological solutions for energy storage. The organization delivers mid-TRL prototypes and business support services spanning the entire battery value chain — from raw materials extraction and cell manufacturing to materials recycling and second-life utilisation — for industrial and services sector clients.
Product overview
Vasco da Gama CoLAB (VG CoLAB) is a collaborative laboratory developing innovative system-oriented technological solutions for energy storage applications. The company operates across the entire battery value chain and offers a portfolio of modular, interoperable energy storage products including containerised battery systems (50 kW/100 kWh), vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) systems, hot-swappable modules with agnostic battery management systems, and sodium ion batteries. Supporting technologies include RFB new electrolytes (neutral medium iron-based), silicon carbide power electronics (SiC 3~ power modules at 200 kVA/800 VDC with >98% efficiency), and Dual Active Bridge DC-DC converters designed for RFBs and electrolysers. VG CoLAB delivers mid-TRL prototypes and business support services scaling up scientific research findings for industrial and services sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Containerised Battery Systems Standardised containerised energy storage solution providing 50 kW / 100 kWh capacity, designed for grid and industrial stationary energy storage applications.
- VRFB System (Vanadium Redox Flow Battery) 50 kW / 100 kWh containerised Vanadium Redox Flow Battery system for stationary energy storage applications, featuring hot-swappable modules and battery-agnostic management systems.
- Hot-Swappable Battery Modules with Agnostic Battery Management Systems Modular battery units with hot-swap capability and battery-agnostic management systems for flexible and scalable energy storage deployments.
- Sodium-Ion Batteries Scaled-up sodium-ion battery technology providing a cost-efficient stationary energy storage alternative to lithium-ion solutions.
- RFB New Electrolytes Redox Flow Battery electrolyte formulations including neutral-medium iron-based chemistries aimed at improved performance and sustainability.
- SiC Power Electronics and Grid Interface Silicon Carbide (SiC) three-phase power modules with a maximum rating of 200 kVA at 800 VDC, achieving efficiency above 98%, designed for power conversion and grid interconnection.
- Dual Active Bridge (DAB) DC-DC Converter Dual Active Bridge DC-DC converter specially designed for reactors including redox flow batteries and electrolysers, enabling integration with energy storage systems.
- Business Support and Prototype Development Services Mid-TRL prototype development and business support services that scale scientific research findings for industrial and services sector clients.
Companies that use Vasco Da Gama CoLAB
Customer profileSegments2 records
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered founding partner and adherent partner.
- EFACECfounding partnerFounding partner of VG CoLAB. EFACEC is an industrial technology company contributing expertise in energy and industrial automation solutions.
- Universidade do Portofounding partnerFounding partner providing academic research excellence and talent from the University of Porto's Faculty of Engineering.
- Instituto Superior Técnicofounding partnerFounding partner from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, contributing research capabilities in engineering and technology.
- A400founding partnerFounding partner contributing industry expertise and commercial application perspective.
- INESC TECfounding partnerFounding partner and associate, providing research and technology transfer capabilities from INESC TEC technology and research institute.
- C2C - New Capfounding partnerFounding partner and associate, bringing expertise in circular economy and new capital approaches.
- INLadherent partnerAdherent partner - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory contributing nanotech research capabilities.
- Simoldes Plásticosadherent partnerAdherent partner - Simoldes Plásticos contributing manufacturing industry expertise and application perspective.
- Universidade de Aveiroadherent partnerAdherent partner - University of Aveiro contributing additional academic research capabilities.
- IPCEI EuBatInMembership in the 2nd Important Project of Common European Interest on Batteries, contributing to European battery ecosystem development.
- BEPAMember of Battery European Partnership Association, contributing to European battery research and innovation strategy.
- BATPOWERMember of Battery Cluster Portugal, contributing to national battery industry ecosystem and collaboration.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tiamat: French sodium-ion battery developer scaling cells for stationary storage and mobility. Directly comparable to VG CoLAB's sodium-ion cell scale-up programme and shares the European non-lithium positioning.
- Fraunhofer IFAM: German applied research institute with major battery materials, cell, and pack development programmes. Comparable mission profile to VG CoLAB: bridging academic research with industrial prototype delivery in energy storage.
- Invinity Energy Systems: UK-listed commercial manufacturer of vanadium redox flow battery systems for stationary storage. Directly comparable to VG CoLAB's 50 kW/100 kWh containerised VRFB product line and targets the same grid-scale and microgrid customer segments.
- Altris: Swedish sodium-ion battery company developing Prussian White cathode materials and cells for energy storage. Closely aligned with VG CoLAB's sodium-ion technology track and the EU battery ecosystem.
- CellCube (Enerox GmbH): Austrian/German vanadium redox flow battery manufacturer offering containerised systems for stationary energy storage. Competes head-to-head with VG CoLAB's VRFB offering in European grid and industrial applications.
- CIC Energigune: Basque Country-based collaborative research centre focused on energy storage (batteries, thermal, hydrogen). Closely mirrors VG CoLAB's CoLAB-style model of academic–industrial collaboration targeting battery R&D and mid-TRL prototypes.
Broad incumbents
- Sumitomo Electric Industries: Large Japanese conglomerate with a commercial vanadium redox flow battery business and grid infrastructure portfolio. Sets the benchmark in commercialised VRFB deployment that VG CoLAB's VRFB programme aspires to reach.
- Northvolt: Swedish battery cell and pack manufacturer building gigafactories in Europe. Operates broadly across the battery value chain VG CoLAB targets, with much larger scale and commercial traction.
- Fluence Energy: Global stationary energy storage integrator (Siemens–AES JV). Represents the end-customer / integrator layer that VG CoLAB's containerised battery systems and SiC power electronics would feed into.
Others
- BATPOWER (Battery Cluster Portugal): Portuguese battery industry cluster in which VG CoLAB holds membership. Ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor, but the cluster shapes access to national battery value-chain partnerships for VG CoLAB.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB social profiles
Digital presenceVasco Da Gama CoLAB financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Vasco Da Gama CoLAB 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 Vasco Da Gama CoLAB
What does Vasco Da Gama CoLAB do?
Vasco da Gama CoLAB is a collaborative laboratory developing innovative system-oriented technological solutions for energy storage. The organization delivers mid-TRL prototypes and business support services spanning the entire battery value chain — from raw materials extraction and cell manufacturing to materials recycling and second-life utilisation — for industrial and services sector clients.
Is Vasco Da Gama CoLAB a public or private company?
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Vasco Da Gama CoLAB founded?
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vasco Da Gama CoLAB based?
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB is headquartered in Porto, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Vasco Da Gama CoLAB make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are business Support Services.
Who are Vasco Da Gama CoLAB's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tiamat, Fraunhofer IFAM, Invinity Energy Systems, Altris, CellCube (Enerox GmbH) and CIC Energigune. Broad incumbents are Sumitomo Electric Industries, Northvolt and Fluence Energy. BATPOWER (Battery Cluster Portugal) is listed as an others.
Does Vasco Da Gama CoLAB have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vasco Da Gama CoLAB.
What industry is Vasco Da Gama CoLAB in?
Vasco Da Gama CoLAB's product category is Energy Storage R&D and Battery Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFABAI, Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly, with a secondary code of IMAGAHAB, Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly). Its NAICS code is 33591 and its SIC code is 3613.