ISPUP | Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto

What ISPUP | Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto does

ISPUP (Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto) is a public health research institute formally established on July 14, 2006, and embedded within the University of Porto in Porto, Portugal. The institute operates as an integrated platform combining population-based research infrastructure, accredited educational programs, occupational health services, and community engagement. Its core research assets include the Generation XXI birth cohort study (initiated April 2005), which has followed over 8,600 children and approximately 8,500 mothers across five public maternities in the Porto Metropolitan Area for two decades, an associated Biobank, the EPIUnit epidemiology research unit, and the ITR Associated Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, which together coordinate multiple specialized research laboratories and dozens of national and European projects. The institute delivers a full educational stack spanning the Bachelor in Public Health, postgraduate courses, the CESP Specialization Course, and recurring intensive short courses, and runs an in-house publishing imprint, ISPUP Edições. It also provides occupational health services to regional employers, citizens' engagement channels including a Citizens' Corner, and a cultural program (Science and Art, CineISPUP, Painel Gallery).

ISPUP generates revenue through a non-commercial mix of public research grants (FCT, European Commission programs such as those underlying IMAGINE EURO, ATHLETE, EUCAN-Connect, and VANGUARD, plus Portugal's Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência and Compete 2030), tuition and program fees from its educational offerings, fees from occupational health service contracts with regional organizations, and limited publishing income (mostly free digital content with a small premium segment). Its customer base is fundamentally horizontal: students and the research community consume educational and academic outputs; organizations purchase occupational health services; policy makers and the Portuguese public are served through advisory work, public bulletins (notably daily COVID-19 bulletins co-produced with Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João), and free scientific publications. WHO Collaborating Centre status granted in February 2023 and ASPHER presidency held by President Henrique Barros give the institute institutional reach across European and global public health governance. Headcount stands at 136, and the institute celebrated its 20th anniversary in July 2026.

Name

ISPUP | Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto

Legal name

Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto

Website

https://ispup.up.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ISPUP is a public health research institute affiliated with the University of Porto, operating longitudinal population cohorts, biobank infrastructure, accredited public health education programs, occupational health services, and a publishing imprint, serving researchers, students, policy makers, and the Portuguese public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Research and Education

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Data, Vital Statistics & Population Health Informatics (BPAIAJAM)

Keywords

• Public health research
• Epidemiology studies
• Health education programs
• Occupational health services
• Biobank infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Porto

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: As a university-affiliated research institute, ISPUP receives funding through national and international research grants including funding from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), European Commission research programs, and Portuguese government initiatives such as Plano de Recuperação e Resiliencia (PRR) and Compete 2030.
2. Educational Programs: Revenue generated from postgraduate courses, intensive courses, the Bachelor in Public Health degree, and the Public Health Specialisation Course (CESP).
3. Occupational Health Services: Direct service provision of occupational health services to organizations, generating revenue through professional health assessments and workplace health programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ISPUP is a university-affiliated public health research institute that conducts population-based epidemiological research through longitudinal cohort studies (notably Geração XXI) and biobank infrastructure, delivers accredited educational programs from bachelor to specialization level, provides occupational health services to organizations, and engages communities through science communication and public health initiatives. The institute operates as a WHO Collaborating Centre and coordinates the ITR Associated Laboratory for integrative and translational research in population health.

Product overview

ISPUP (Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto) is a public health research institute affiliated with the University of Porto, established in 2006. The institute operates as a platform of interconnected services rather than a single commercial product. Its core offerings include: (1) ISPUP Edições, a publishing house producing books, e-books, and scientific reports; (2) Educational programs including a Bachelor's in Public Health, Postgraduate Courses, the Specialization Course in Public Health (CESP), and Intensive Short Courses; (3) Research infrastructure comprising EPIUnit (Epidemiology Research Unit), ITR (Associated Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research), the Geração XXI birth cohort, a Biobank, and multiple specialized research laboratories; (4) Community engagement services including the Citizens' Corner, Science and Art program, School Community initiatives, and public health challenges; (5) Digital knowledge products such as the COVID-19 Publication Bulletins. The institute serves as a WHO Collaborating Centre and coordinates the Associated Laboratory ITR, fostering national and international research collaborations in public health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISPUP Edições: Publisher of ISPUP creating educational content for health professionals and the general public, including books and scientific reports on public health topics
• EPIUnit
• ITR
• Geração XXI
• Biobanco
• Rede de Rastreio Comunitária

Products and services

• Licenciatura em Saúde Pública (Bachelor in Public Health) Undergraduate degree program in Public Health offered by ISPUP as part of its educational mission within the University of Porto system, for students seeking accredited higher education in public health.
• Curso de Especialização em Saúde Pública (CESP) Specialization course in Public Health supported by the Moodle platform for learning materials and assessments, designed for professionals seeking advanced specialization in public health practice.
• Pós-Graduações (Postgraduate Courses) Postgraduate programs offered by ISPUP for continuing education in public health and related fields, targeting professionals seeking to advance their expertise.
• Cursos Intensivos (Intensive Short Courses) Intensive short courses covering specialized public health topics such as non-tuberculous mycobacteria and tuberculosis updates for occupational health professionals.
• Saúde Ocupacional (Occupational Health Services) Occupational health research and direct services addressing work-related health issues, including professional health assessments and workplace health programs provided to organizations and employers.
• ISPUP Edições (Publishing House) Publishing arm of ISPUP producing books, e-books, reports, and scientific content developed by institute researchers, available for free download or purchase (e.g., 'Viver a Prematuridade' at 10 EUR) to support health professionals and the general public.
• COVID-19 Response Tools Digital tools and resources developed during the COVID-19 pandemic including infection forecasting applications, the STAYAWAY COVID exposure notification app, telephone helpline, forums, and the daily Boletim de Publicações COVID-19 bulletin created in partnership with Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João.
• Boletim de Publicações COVID-19 Daily publication bulletins summarizing the most relevant scientific publications on COVID-19 for the medical and academic community, created in partnership with the Infectious Diseases Service of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 8,600 children and 8,500 mothers followed longitudinally across 20 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISPUP holds official status as a WHO Collaborating Centre, enabling participation in WHO initiatives, global health research collaborations, and international policy development in public health.
• ASPHER (Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISPUP President Henrique Barros serves as President of ASPHER, positioning the institute at the forefront of European public health education and research coordination.
• Health Cluster PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISPUP is a member of Health Cluster Portugal, a strategic initiative to promote Portugal's health sector including biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries.
• ProChild CoLABmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISPUP collaborates with ProChild CoLAB, a multidisciplinary laboratory focused on challenges facing children and adolescents in areas such as child poverty and social inclusion.
• Right PLUSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISPUP is a member of Right PLUS, an initiative related to Coalition PLUS focusing on global health and community-based approaches to HIV, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections.
• Centro Hospitalar Universitario de Sao JoaocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Infectious Diseases Service of Centro Hospitalar Universitario de Sao Joao for COVID-19 response including daily publication bulletins and collaborative research during the pandemic.
• Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto (FBAUP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Painel Gallery art exhibition program, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration between public health research and contemporary art.
• Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos (GAT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Community Screening Network project for rapid HIV, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infection testing in community-based organizations.
• WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health (Trieste, Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational coordination of IMAGINE EURO project on maternal and newborn healthcare quality during COVID-19, led by Marzia Lazzerini.
• ARS AlgarveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional health authority partner in IMAGINE EURO project for Portuguese participation in European maternal health study.
• Universidade EuropeiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in IMAGINE EURO project for Portuguese participation in European maternal health study.
• Associacao Portuguesa pelos Direitos da Mulher na Gravidez e no PartominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil society partner in IMAGINE EURO project representing maternal health rights in Portugal.
• EUTIMIAminorOthersMember of EUTIMIA network related to mental health initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: The largest school of public health globally, with extensive cohort research (e.g., NHANES-like assets), degree programs, and policy engagement that set the competitive benchmark ISPUP operates against.
• Karolinska Institutet: Sweden's medical university with a major public health sciences department conducting longitudinal epidemiology and global health research, overlapping with ISPUP on cohort science and EU-funded consortia.
• Erasmus MC (Department of Public Health): Large Dutch academic medical center with a strong public health, epidemiology, and cohort research portfolio (e.g., Generation R, Rotterdam Study) that directly competes with ISPUP's life-course cohort agenda.
• London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM): World-leading public health and tropical medicine university combining epidemiology, longitudinal research, and global health teaching that competes with ISPUP for the same EU grant pools and scientific talent.
• Institut Pasteur: International biomedical research institute with epidemiology, infectious disease, and cohort capabilities, plus training programs that overlap with ISPUP's infectious disease and biobank work.

Direct peers

• Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp (ITM): University-affiliated Belgian institute focused on tropical and public health research, postgraduate training, and clinical services, structurally similar to ISPUP's research-plus-education-plus-service offering.
• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH): University-affiliated institute in Switzerland conducting epidemiology, public health research, and postgraduate education with similar cohort, laboratory, and international collaboration structures as ISPUP.
• ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health): University-affiliated public health research institute in Spain that combines epidemiology, cohort research, and global health policy engagement, mirroring ISPUP's integrated research-education model in a closely comparable European context.
• Imperial College London School of Public Health: UK-based school combining epidemiology, population health research, and postgraduate education with strong EU and WHO funding ties, directly comparable to ISPUP's scope and target student audience.

Regional players

• Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP, Universidade Nova de Lisboa): Portugal's other major public health school and research unit, the most direct national peer competing with ISPUP for Portuguese students, FCT funding, and policy influence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISPUP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_qtWTGcuHFXAIsZl1bQ8AA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISPUP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ispup---instituto-de-sa%C3%BAde-p%C3%BAblica-da-universidade-do-porto
• Instagraminstagram.com/ispup_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ISPUP | Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto