APQ

What APQ does

APQ (Associação Portuguesa para a Qualidade) is a private non-profit association founded in 1969 and recognized as a Portuguese Institution of Public Utility since 1984. It operates as the national reference body for quality management and organizational excellence in Portugal, serving approximately 1,200 individual and collective members across all sectors of the Portuguese economy. The association delivers a diversified portfolio of services including scheduled and in-company training programs (covering ISO standards, internal auditing, food safety, Lean Six Sigma, and postgraduate programs), certification and recognition services (notably EQUASS for social services and EFQM recognitions for organizational excellence), standardization committee participation, publications including the quarterly Revista Qualidade (published since 1970), and a calendar of events led by the annual 49th edition of the Colóquio da Qualidade plus regional quality conferences in Madeira and the Azores. Its underlying technology is non-algorithmic: APQ distributes frameworks, standards, and methodologies rather than software platforms.

The business model combines recurring subscription-like membership dues (collective, individual, student, and honorary categories), transactional training and certification fees (with tiered pricing favoring collective members at ~560 EUR per course versus ~700 EUR for non-members), event registrations and multi-tier sponsorship packages (Bronze at 500 EUR to Platinum at 2,500 EUR), low-margin publication sales, and ancillary facility rental. Distribution is multi-channel: direct sales via the apq.pt website and a course scheduling platform (formacao.apq.pt), five regional delegations (Norte, Centro, Sul, Madeira, Açores) providing nationwide coverage including both island archipelagos, in-person sales at events, and content marketing through the Revista Qualidade, podcast, and newsletter. APQ's go-to-market is hybrid — sales-led for training and certification, event-driven for flagship conferences, and partnership-channel via regional offices. International partnerships with ASQ, EOQ (with APQ's President on the EOQ Executive Board), EFQM, FUNDIBEQ, and EQUASS provide cross-border credentialing and credibility, while a 2025 Manifesto pela Qualidade Portugal initiative co-founded with IPQ and RELACRE repositions APQ as a convener of the national quality agenda.

Name

APQ

Legal name

APQ – Associação Portuguesa para a Qualidade

Website

https://apq.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

APQ (Associação Portuguesa para a Qualidade) is a Portuguese non-profit association, founded in 1969 and recognized as an Institution of Public Utility, that delivers quality management training, EQUASS and EFQM certification, publications, and events to approximately 1,200 individual and corporate members across Portugal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quality Management Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAALAM

Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

SECONDARYEDABAKAD

Quality Management Systems (QMS) & ISO Training (ISO 9001/IATF/AS9100)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Operations, Quality & Lean/Six Sigma Training

SECONDARYEDAGADAD

Professional Licensure & Certification Exam Prep (Bar/CPA/NCLEX/PMP, etc.)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Assessment, Testing & Exam Prep Publishing

Keywords

• Quality management training
• Organizational excellence certification
• ISO standards education
• EFQM recognition services
• EQUASS certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisboa

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training and Formation Services: Revenue from scheduled training courses, in-company training programs, e-learning, and postgraduate programs in quality management. Pricing varies by membership status (collective members, individual members, non-members).
2. Certification and Recognition Services: Revenue from EQUASS certification, EFQM recognition, and other quality certification services provided to organizations.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from collective members (companies and organizations), individual members, subscribers (students), and honorary members. The association has approximately 1200 members.
4. Publications: Revenue from the 'Qualidade' magazine (5 EUR for non-members, free for members) and other publications including books, guides, and studies.
5. Event Participation and Sponsorship: Revenue from event registrations, sponsorship packages (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers), and official dinner tickets for conferences like the Colóquio da Qualidade.
6. Room Rental: Revenue from renting out meeting rooms and facilities at their offices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

APQ delivers professional training programs, quality management certification and recognition services (EQUASS, EFQM, BECX, ONRH, EQTM), and industry events to promote quality and organizational excellence in Portugal. The association also operates a tiered membership program serving approximately 1,200 individual and corporate members, and produces the Revista Qualidade publication. Its services are aimed at Portuguese organizations seeking ISO/EFQM/EQUASS certification, quality professionals pursuing continuing education, and students entering the quality field.

Product overview

APQ (Associação Portuguesa para a Qualidade) is a non-profit organization founded in 1969 that promotes quality and organizational excellence in Portugal. The organization operates as a platform offering training programs (scheduled courses, in-company, e-learning, post-graduation), certification services (EQUASS, EFQM recognitions, BECX), publications (Revista Qualidade magazine since 1970, books, guides), and events (annual Colóquio da Qualidade, regional quality conferences). APQ also provides standardization services through technical committees and awards programs recognizing quality excellence. The offerings are unified under the association's mission to add value to members and contribute to Portugal's sustainable development through quality promotion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formação (Training Programs) Professional training programs covering quality management, internal auditing (ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRC, IFS), and organizational excellence. Offered as scheduled open-enrollment courses, customized in-company training, e-learning, and postgraduate programs. Targeted at quality managers, auditors, consultants, and corporate quality teams.
• Certificação EQUASS (EQUASS Certification) Certification service for social services organizations demonstrating quality in service delivery against EQUASS standards. Provided by APQ under its authorization as Portugal's EQUASS certifier.
• Reconhecimentos EFQM (EFQM Recognition) Recognition and assessment services using the EFQM Excellence Model, awarded to Portuguese organizations pursuing organizational excellence validation.
• BECX (Business Excellence Certification) Business Excellence Certification service for organizations seeking quality validation against APQ's excellence framework.
• ONRH (National Occupational Health and Safety Award) National Occupational Health and Safety Award recognition service for organizations demonstrating strong OHS practices.
• European Quality Trademark (EQTM) European quality trademark certification and licensing service for qualifying products and organizations.
• APQ Awards Annual awards program recognizing excellence and best practices in quality management in Portugal, including portfolios of category-specific prizes.
• Revista Qualidade (Quality Magazine) Quarterly magazine covering quality practices, industry trends, and organizational excellence, published since 1970. Free for APQ members; EUR 5 for non-members.
• Publicações (Publications) Publications portfolio including magazines, books, guides, studies, and conference proceedings covering quality management topics.
• Associativismo (Membership Program) Annual membership program with categories for collective members (companies and organizations), individual members, subscribers (students at reduced rates), and honorary members. Provides access to training discounts, publications, events, and the member network.
• Colóquio da Qualidade (Annual Quality Conference) Annual national quality conference bringing together professionals to discuss quality trends and best practices. The 49th edition is scheduled for November in Évora.
• Jornadas Regionais da Qualidade (Regional Quality Conferences) Regional quality conferences held across Portugal (Norte, Centro, Sul, Madeira, Açores) promoting quality culture and networking, often in partnership with regional government bodies.
• Normalização (Standardization Committees) Technical committees and mirror committees for national and international standards development in quality management, risk management, and governance. Provides Portuguese representation in ISO technical committees.
• Aluguer de Salas (Conference Room Rental) Conference room rental service at APQ facilities (Lisbon Technology Park headquarters) for member organizations and external clients.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, platinum and gold.

• IPQ (Instituto Português da Qualidade)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025IPQ is a founding member of the Manifesto pela Qualidade Portugal initiative led by APQ. IPQ is Portugal's national standards body and a key player in the Portuguese Quality System (SPQ).
• RELACRE (Associação de Laboratórios Acreditados de Portugal)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2025RELACRE is a founding member of the Manifesto pela Qualidade Portugal initiative. RELACRE represents accredited laboratories in Portugal and collaborates on quality promotion initiatives.
• ASQ (American Society for Quality)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerASQ is listed as an international partner of APQ. ASQ is a global community of quality experts and professionals. The partnership enables knowledge exchange and international collaboration in quality management.
• EOQ (European Organization for Quality)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEOQ is listed as an international partner. APQ's President serves on the EOQ Executive Board. The partnership facilitates European-level collaboration on quality standards and professional development.
• EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPQ provides EFQM recognition services in Portugal. EFQM is listed as an international partner and provides the European Excellence Model framework that APQ administers in Portugal.
• FUNDIBEQcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an international partner of APQ. FUNDIBEQ is a foundation focused on quality management and business excellence in the Iberian region.
• EQUASS (European Quality in Social Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationAPQ provides EQUASS certification services in Portugal. EQUASS is listed as an international partner. APQ is authorized to certify social service organizations against EQUASS standards.
• Delta CafésplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerDelta Cafés is a Platinum sponsor of the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade. As a prominent Portuguese company, Delta's sponsorship demonstrates corporate commitment to quality.
• SoftExpertplatinumGTM or Marketing PartnerSoftExpert is a Platinum sponsor of the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade, providing enterprise quality and compliance software solutions.
• AENOR PortugalgoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade. AENOR is a leading certification and standards organization operating internationally.
• APCER GroupgoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade. APCER is a major Portuguese certification and consulting group.
• CERTIFgoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade. CERTIF is a Portuguese certification body.
• CTCV (Centro Tecnológico da Cerâmica e do Vidro)goldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade. CTCV is a technology center serving the ceramics and glass industry.
• FERPINTAgoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade. FERPINTA is a Portuguese industrial company.
• ISQ (Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade)goldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade. ISQ is a major Portuguese technology and quality institute.
• Ordem dos Engenheiros Técnicos (OET)goldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade. OET is the professional association for engineering technicians in Portugal.
• Universidade de ÉvoracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for the 49º Colóquio da Qualidade. Provides venue and academic collaboration for the conference.
• Secretaria Regional da Economia – Direção Regional do Comércio, Indústria e QualidadecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for the X Jornadas Regionais da Qualidade in the Azores. Collaborates on regional quality promotion initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• APCER: APCER is the leading Portuguese certification body, providing ISO certification, audits, and consulting. It directly competes with APQ's EFQM/EQUASS recognition and training services for the same Portuguese enterprise customers, and is also an APQ event sponsor.
• ISQ (Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade): ISQ is a Portuguese technology and quality institute offering certification, training, and laboratory services. It competes with APQ in training and quality-related services and acts as a Gold sponsor of APQ's annual conference.
• EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management): EFQM provides the European Excellence Model framework that APQ administers in Portugal. While partners, EFQM also delivers training and recognition services that could route around APQ in certain engagements.
• AENOR Portugal: AENOR is a major Spanish-origin certification and standards organization with operations in Portugal. It competes directly with APQ on ISO certification and quality training, and serves as a Gold sponsor of APQ's Coloquio da Qualidade.
• ASQ (American Society for Quality): ASQ is the world's largest quality-focused membership association, offering training, certification, and publications. APQ's international partnership with ASQ mirrors its own member-driven quality training and certification model.
• CERTIF: CERTIF is a Portuguese certification body that provides ISO and product certification. It directly competes with APQ in the certification and quality services market and sponsors APQ events.
• EOQ (European Organization for Quality): EOQ is the European umbrella body for quality organizations and a direct partner of APQ (whose president sits on the EOQ Executive Board). EOQ provides similar continental-level quality training, certification, and recognition services.
• EQUASS (European Quality in Social Services): EQUASS licenses APQ to certify social service organizations. The parent entity competes in social-services quality certification at the European level, overlapping with APQ's core EQUASS service offering.

Broad incumbents

• BSI Group: BSI is a major global standards, certification, and training business with strong presence in Portugal. It is a broad incumbent competitor in ISO training and certification, with deeper international delivery than APQ.

Regional players

• FUNDIBEQ: FUNDIBEQ is the Iberian foundation for quality management and business excellence, an international partner of APQ. It provides overlapping training and recognition services across the Iberian market, primarily serving Spain and Portugal.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about APQ