Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa

What Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa does

Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (ESB) is a faculty within Universidade Católica Portuguesa, located on the Porto campus in Portugal, founded in 1984. It delivers a tiered academic portfolio spanning undergraduate degrees (Bioengineering with optional Food, Environmental, and Biomedical Engineering specializations, Nutrition Sciences, Microbiology, and Liberal Sciences), master's programs (Biotechnology and Innovation, Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy, Food Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Microbiology, and the European Master BiFTec-FOOD4S), doctoral programs (Ph.D. in Biotechnology; Ph.D. in Science and Technology in Food and Nutrition), and four postgraduate certificates plus an online advanced course (Deep Tech Innovators). Its primary customers are prospective students at each academic level, served through a centralized UCP Porto Candidaturas admissions portal, open days, online consultations, WhatsApp/phone/email support, and digital channels (YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter/X). ESB also houses the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), an Associated Laboratory since 2004 that conducts research across food and nutrition, biomedicine, microbiology, environment, and chemistry and engineering.

ESB generates revenue primarily through tuition fees (recurring, with exact amounts undisclosed), supplemented by Portuguese government social grants (DGES), interest-free institutional loans, and a multi-tiered scholarship system covering disabled students, academic excellence, family reductions, and named awards (e.g., Caixa Geral de Depósitos €1,000 master's award). Additional revenue derives from research projects and scientific services funded through national and European programs (FCT, PRR, Portugal 2020, EU funds) and industry partnerships. The institution maintains a faculty of 98 specialized members and operates a network of 100+ strategic partners spanning industry (Nestlé, Super Bock, GSK, Allmicroalgae, Sonae, B. Braun, Cerealis, Frulact), universities (Wageningen, TU Munich, Imperial College, University of Twente), and research institutes (Institut Pasteur, i3S), which collectively support 1,000+ international internships and graduate placement. As a privately governed faculty within UCP, ESB operates under the university's administrative structure without independent external investors or capital-raising events.

Name

Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Legal name

Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Website

https://esb.ucp.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ESB is a biotechnology faculty within Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto, offering undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and postgraduate programs in bioengineering, nutrition, microbiology, and food science, serving prospective students and partner employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH)

Keywords

• Biotechnology education
• Higher education research
• Bioengineering degree programs
• Food science training
• Microbiology undergraduate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Porto

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees: Revenue is generated primarily through tuition fees charged to undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students. The institution also receives government social grant funding (DGES) and institutional financial support. Additional revenue derives from research projects, scientific services, and partnerships with industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ESB is a higher education institution offering undergraduate degrees, master's programs, doctoral programs, postgraduate certificates, and advanced training courses in biotechnology, bioengineering, microbiology, nutrition sciences, and biomedical engineering. The institution houses the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), an Associated Laboratory conducting research in food, nutrition, biomedicine, microbiology, environment, and chemistry. Programs are delivered through face-to-face and online modes, complemented by international internships and industry thesis partnerships.

Product overview

Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa (ESB) is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate degrees (Bioengineering, Nutrition Sciences, Microbiology, Liberal Sciences), master's programs (Biotechnology and Innovation, Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy, Food Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Microbiology, European Master BiFTec-FOOD4S), doctoral degrees (Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Ph.D. in Science and Technology in Food and Nutrition), postgraduate certificates, and advanced training courses. ESB also houses the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), an Associated Laboratory conducting research since 2004. The institution provides educational programs in biotechnology, food science, nutrition, microbiology, and biomedical engineering through face-to-face and online delivery modes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina: Research centre affiliated with ESB focusing on biotechnology and fine chemistry

Products and services

• Degree in Bioengineering A three-year undergraduate degree (180 ECTS) with optional specializations in Food Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, preparing graduates for professional life or master's studies.
• Degree in Microbiology Undergraduate degree focusing on microbiology principles and applications in various industries and research contexts.
• Degree in Nutrition Sciences A four-year undergraduate degree (240 ECTS) preparing graduates as nutritionists for clinical, community, food industry, and research settings.
• Degree in Liberal Sciences Liberal arts undergraduate degree providing interdisciplinary education across sciences and humanities.
• Master in Biotechnology and Innovation Master's program focused on biotechnology and innovation, available through ESB's graduate offerings.
• Master's in Biotechnology for the Bioeconomy Master's program covering biotechnology applications in the bioeconomy sector.
• Master's in Food Engineering Master's program focused on food engineering principles and applications.
• Master's in Biomedical Engineering Master's program covering biomedical engineering applications in healthcare and medical technology.
• Master in Applied Microbiology Master's program specializing in applied microbiology for various industrial applications.
• European Master of Science in Sustainable Food Systems Engineering, Technology and Business (BiFTec-FOOD4S) European joint master's program in sustainable food systems engineering, technology and business.
• Ph.D. in Biotechnology Doctoral program in biotechnology research.
• Ph.D. in Science and Technology in Food and Nutrition Doctoral program in food and nutrition science and technology.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Food Innovation Non-degree professional qualification in food innovation, 12-month duration, available in Portuguese.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Pediatric Nutrition Non-degree professional qualification in pediatric nutrition, 12-month duration, available in Portuguese.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Nutrition and Aging Non-degree professional qualification in nutrition and aging, 12-month duration, available in Portuguese.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Nutrition, Psychology and Health Non-degree professional qualification in nutrition, psychology and health, 12-month duration, available in Portuguese.
• Deep Tech Innovators - Online Advanced Course Online advanced course in deep tech innovation.
• Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF) ESB's research center recognized for excellence in biotechnology, holding Associated Laboratory status since 2004, conducting research in biotechnology and fine chemistry across food and nutrition, biomedicine, microbiology, environment, and chemistry and engineering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 international internships facilitated through Erasmus and other programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• A PoveiraminorOthersFood industry partner collaborating with ESB on student internships and thesis projects.
• ADVIDminorOthersPartner entity collaborating with ESB on research and student placement activities.
• Aguas do NorteminorOthersWater management company partnering with ESB for student internships and industry projects.
• AllmicroalgaecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotechnology company focused on microalgae production, collaborating with ESB on research projects, student internships, and thesis work in biotechnology innovation.
• AmorimminorOthersCork industry leader partnering with ESB for student placements and industry-academia collaboration.
• B. BraunminorOthersMedical technology company collaborating with ESB on student internships.
• CerealisminorOthersFood industry partner working with ESB on student thesis projects and internships.
• CUFminorOthersHealthcare group partnering with ESB for student placements in clinical and research settings.
• DeltaminorOthersCoffee company collaborating with ESB on student internships and industry projects.
• EURESTminorOthersContract catering company partnering with ESB for student internships.
• FrulactminorOthersFruit-based food ingredients company partnering with ESB for student projects and placements.
• IPO Porto (Instituto Português de Oncologia)minorOthersPortuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto collaborating with ESB for student internships and research.
• Mendes GonçalvesminorOthersFood products company collaborating with ESB on student internships.
• Nestlé PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal food and beverage company partnering with ESB for student internships, thesis projects, and joint research initiatives in food science and biotechnology.
• Portugal FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese food industry cluster partnering with ESB for collaborative projects, student placements, and industry-academia knowledge transfer.
• SonaeminorOthersPortuguese retail and food conglomerate collaborating with ESB on student internships.
• Soja de PortugalminorOthersSoy-based food company partnering with ESB for student placements.
• SograpeminorOthersWine and beverages company collaborating with ESB for student projects.
• Super Bock GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Portuguese beverage company partnering with ESB for student internships, thesis work, and recruiting graduates for roles in production, quality control, and R&D.
• Unicer BebidasminorOthersBeverage company partnering with ESB for student internships.
• Wageningen University (Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Dutch agricultural and biotechnology university hosting ESB students for Erasmus internships and research exchanges in biotechnology and food science.
• Technical University of Munich (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious German technical university hosting ESB students through Erasmus exchanges in biotechnology and related fields.
• University of Twente (Netherlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch university hosting ESB bioengineering students for international internships and master's thesis work.
• Instituto Pasteur (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-renowned French research institute hosting ESB students for research internships in microbiology and biotechnology.
• Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne (Switzerland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Nestlé research facility in Switzerland hosting ESB students for international internships and research collaborations.
• Imperial College London (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious UK university hosting ESB students for Erasmus and research exchanges in biomedical engineering and biotechnology.
• i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do PortocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese health research institute partnering with ESB for student internships and joint research projects in biomedical sciences.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ETH Zurich: Swiss federal institute of technology with leading biotechnology and food science departments. Comparable as a top-tier European technical university with strong bioengineering programs.
• Imperial College London: UK university with prominent biomedical engineering and biotechnology programs. Hosts ESB students through Erasmus and offers a comparable mix of undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs in bioengineering.
• Technical University of Munich (TUM): Major German technical university with strong biotechnology and biomedical engineering programs. Partners with ESB via Erasmus and is a comparable European peer in technical/engineering higher education.

Regional players

• Universidade Nova de Lisboa: Portuguese public university with biotechnology and life sciences programs. A regional peer competing for the same national student base.
• Universidade do Porto: Portugal's largest public research university with biomedical and biotechnology programs. A direct regional peer in Porto's higher-education ecosystem, competing for the same Portuguese student pool.
• Universidade de Lisboa (Faculty of Sciences): Portugal's largest university with extensive biotechnology and life sciences programs. A regional peer offering competing degrees in the same national student market.

Direct peers

• University of Twente: Dutch technical university with bioengineering and biomedical engineering programs. Hosts ESB students for Erasmus internships and is a close peer in technical biotechnology education.
• i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde: Portuguese health research institute affiliated with Universidade do Porto. Partner of ESB for joint research and student internships in biomedical sciences — a peer in Portuguese biotech research and training.
• Institut Pasteur: World-renowned French research institute specializing in microbiology and biotechnology. Hosts ESB students for research internships and is a direct peer in applied microbiology research and training.
• Wageningen University & Research: Dutch university specializing in life sciences, food technology, and biotechnology — a leading European biotech university that already partners with ESB through Erasmus. Highly comparable in biotechnology, food engineering, and nutrition scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BiotecCatolica
• YouTubeyoutube.com/biotecnacatolica
• Facebookfacebook.com/catolicaportobiotecnologia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/esb-ucp
• Instagraminstagram.com/catolica.porto.biotecnologia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa