Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta

What Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta does

Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta (CCVFloresta) is a Portuguese non-profit association (Associação Centro Ciência Viva de Proença-a-Nova) operating an interactive science museum and interpretive center dedicated to forest ecology, opened on 21 July 2007 in Proença-a-Nova, Castelo Branco district. The center sits within a municipality of 73.6% forest coverage and is the only one of Portugal's 22 national Centros Ciência Viva themed around the forest. Its core offering is a permanent exhibition ('Floresta, Fonte de Bem-estar, Vida e Riqueza') spanning more than 40 interactive modules covering forest floor decomposition, dendrochronology, carbon cycle, water cycle, wildfire simulation, virtual reality experiences, Portuguese Sign Language accessibility, and a wine analysis laboratory operational since July 2012. Infrastructure includes a ~1700m² two-floor main building, the Casa da Floresta (hybrid photovoltaic-wind powered wooden building), greenhouse, outdoor ponds, and a 74-seat rentable auditorium.

The business model blends earned and non-earned revenue. Earned streams include ticketed admission (€2-€4 per person, €10 family ticket), structured school programs at €1.50-€2.50 per student, science-themed birthday party packages (€120-€220), auditorium rental to companies and institutions, an inclusive café (Cafetaria Officinalis, Tuesdays and Thursdays), and wine analysis services (€1.50-€2.50 per test, maturation packages €4-€5). Non-earned revenue derives from European structural funds (Portugal 2030, PESSOAS 2030), national programs under Ciência Viva - Agência Nacional para a Cultura Científica e Tecnológica, and the Prêmio Capacitar 2023 from BPI Fundação 'la Caixa'. Outreach extends via the Ciência sem Idade program (senior residences and day-care centers), Amicos Silvestris mycological community (hundreds of members since 2011), Clubes Ciência Viva na Escola, and an itinerant school-visit service ('CCV Visita a Escola').

The center serves a diversified segment mix: school groups (pre-school through secondary) as the primary use case, families and individual visitors, senior citizens via outreach, regional wine producers (small cellars in Beira Baixa), a mycology community, and corporate/institutional clients renting event space. The center has cumulatively hosted 277,884 visitors since opening and operates Tuesday to Sunday, 09h00-18h00, with a small team of 9 staff.

Name

Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta

Legal name

Associação Centro Ciência Viva de Proença-a-Nova

Website

https://ccvfloresta.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta is a Portuguese non-profit interactive science center in Proença-a-Nova dedicated to forest ecology, operating since 2007 as part of the national 22-center Ciência Viva network, serving school groups, families, seniors, regional wine producers, and corporate clients through exhibitions, educational programs, and a wine analysis laboratory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Interactive Science Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• Interactive science center
• Forest education
• Environmental science exhibits
• School science programs
• Wine analysis services

Headquarters

HQ city

Proença-a-Nova

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Visitor Admission Tickets: Ticketed entry to the permanent exhibition. Adults €4, children/seniors/students €3, family ticket €10 (up to 2 adults + children under 18). Free entry for children up to 2 years and on special national days. School groups pay €2 per student with free teacher accompaniment.
2. School Educational Programs: Per-student fees for structured educational activities. Exposure visit 1h30 at €2/aluno. Activities priced from €1.50 to €2.50 per student depending on type. Visit to school ('CCV Visita a Escola') priced at €0.45/km travel expenses plus tolls and accommodation.
3. Birthday Parties: Package pricing for science-themed birthday parties for children aged 5-12. Base packages from €120 (up to 10 children) to €220 (21-25 children). Optional face painting and additional activities. Includes snacks, games, and monitor-led activities.
4. Cafetaria Officinalis: Inclusive café operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Part of the BioAromas LIIS social inclusion project. Generates revenue through café meals and serves as social inclusion workspace for project participants.
5. Auditorium and Space Rental: 74-seat auditorium available for rental to companies and entities. Includes full AV equipment, projector, screen, microphones, conference table, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. Bar and esplanade also available for events.
6. Wine Analysis Services: Laboratory services for wine and must analysis. Individual tests range from €1.50 to €2.50. Maturation control packages from €4-5. Revenue supports local wine producers and regional viticulture ecosystem.
7. EU Project Funding (PESSOAS 2030 / Portugal 2030): Co-funded projects including MAIS3 (+ Pessoas + Ciência + Inclusão) and others. EU structural funding supports staff, activities, and capital investments in accessibility and digital infrastructure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta operates an interactive science museum and interpretive center dedicated to forest ecology and environmental science, featuring over 40 hands-on exhibit modules, a permanent exhibition, and outdoor scientific installations in Proença-a-Nova, Portugal. It delivers curriculum-aligned school programs, science workshops, birthday parties, community outreach for seniors, an inclusive café, auditorium rentals, and a wine analysis laboratory serving regional producers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Escola Ciência Viva: Educational program where 1st cycle students attend the center for a week, combining practical science education with the center's museum environment.
• Clubes Ciência Viva na Escola
• Amicos Silvestris
• BioAromas LIIS
• Cafetaria officinalis
• Laboratório de Análises de Vinhos

Products and services

• Permanent Exhibition - Floresta, Fonte de Bem-estar, Vida e Riqueza

Quantifiable outcome

• 277,884 cumulative visitors since opening in 2007, demonstrating sustained public engagement.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Câmara Municipal de Proença-a-NovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta. Issued the original challenge to create the center and provides ongoing municipal support. Joint partner in the Escola Ciência Viva educational program. The municipality's 73.6% forest coverage makes the center's forest theme integral to the partnership.
• Instituto Pedro NunescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner invited to develop the center's physical space and content during its establishment. Contributed expertise in science communication and interactive museum design.
• Ciência Viva - Agência Nacional para a Cultura Científica e TecnológicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational agency created in 1996 that created the Centro Ciência Viva network. Provides the institutional framework, brand, national programs (Ciência Viva no Verão, Clubes Ciência Viva na Escola), and co-funding through national science communication initiatives. Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta is one of 22 centers in the national network.
• Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (IPCB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partnership evidenced through logo display and involvement of Escola Superior de Educação do IPCB in science café sessions and educational programs.
• Geopark Naturtejo - Geopark Mundial da UNESCOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeopark partnership for field trips, fossil-related activities, and geological education. The center is located within the Geopark territory and coordinates activities with it. Co-organizes outings and workshops.
• Direção-Geral de Educação (DGE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rede de Clubes Ciência Viva na Escola is a joint project between DGE and Ciência Viva. CCVFloresta provides support and resources to science clubs in schools under this framework.
• Rede de Centros Ciência Viva (Other Centers)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCooperation with other Centro Ciência Viva including Alviela, Constância, and Vila do Conde through the MAIS3 project for cross-regional scientific activities, promoting territorial cohesion and sharing of best practices.
• Bombeiros Voluntários de Proença-a-NovaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration with local volunteer fire brigade for the 'Bravos do Quartel' (Firefighter Experience) school activity, where firefighters demonstrate their equipment and daily routines.
• Farmácia Roda (Proença-a-Nova)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVisit from new owners of Farmácia Roda to the BioAromas LIIS inclusive social space, indicating community partnership between the center and local businesses.
• Câmara Municipal de Idanha-a-NovaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer of the XXV Amicos Silvestris Spring Meeting (April 11) together with União de Freguesias de Monsanto e Idanha-a-Velha, Naturtejo-Geopark, Geocakes, and Quinta da Pedra Grande.
• Liga para a Proteção da Natureza (LPN)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe center's 'Ciência Viva em Casa' program links to LPN's pedagogical resources for exploring the natural world, providing additional educational content to visitors.
• Universidade de Coimbra (Herbarium COI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTemporary exhibition 'Seeds of Beauty' features photographs by Ana Coelho from the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra, using seeds from the Herbarium's collection.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pavilhão do Conhecimento - Centro Ciência Viva: Lisbon-based flagship of the same 22-center national Ciência Viva network. Direct peer running interactive science exhibitions, school programs, and temporary exhibitions with similar operating model and pricing structure.
• Centro Ciência Viva do Alviela: Another member of the same Ciência Viva network focused on karst geology and underground ecosystems. Operates with similar association structure, ticketed admission, school bookings, and itinerant outreach programs.
• Centro Ciência Viva de Lagos: Sister center in the same national network with comparable association governance, EU co-funding, and interactive exhibition model. Differs only in marine/coastal theme rather than forest.
• Centro Ciência Viva de Tavira: Same national network with similar operating structure (association, EU funding, school programs, ticketed exhibitions). Themed on tidal ecosystems but functionally equivalent as a science center.
• Centro Ciência Viva de Estremoz: Network peer in the Alentejo focused on astronomy and geology, operating under identical Ciência Viva operational framework, association structure, and co-funding mechanisms.
• Expolab - Centro Ciência Viva dos Açores: Network peer serving a regional archipelago with the same association model, school booking system, and EU-funded programming. Comparable in scale and operational complexity.

Broad incumbents

• Natural History Museum (London): Global incumbent in natural history interpretation with comparable mission of public education on forests, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Operates at vastly larger scale but provides benchmark for nature-themed visitor engagement.
• La Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie: Major European interactive science center with school booking systems, temporary exhibitions, and EU-funded programming. Functions at much larger scale but applies similar science communication model.
• Science Museum (London): Incumbent interactive science museum with school programs, temporary exhibitions, and venue rental. Comparable in mission and audience (schools, families) but with vastly larger infrastructure and budget.
• Deutsches Museum: One of the world's oldest interactive science museums with hands-on exhibits across multiple disciplines. Provides benchmark for deep exhibit content libraries and international visitor programming.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CCVFloresta
• Instagraminstagram.com/ccv_floresta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Centro Ciência Viva da Floresta