Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisboa)

What Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisboa) does

ISR-Lisboa (Institute for Systems and Robotics) is a non-profit academic research institution established in 1992 and hosted at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) within the University of Lisbon. It conducts fundamental and applied research across marine, aerial, terrestrial, and space robotics, alongside computer vision, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), autonomous multi-agent systems, and optimization/planning under uncertainty. The institute is staffed by approximately 98 faculty members, researchers, and PhD students and serves the academic community, EU and Portuguese public-sector funders, and industrial research partners through collaborative research projects, doctoral training, and limited technology transfer.

ISR-Lisboa's research output spans deep learning–based computer vision (notably CNN-based breast-cancer screening, the precursor to spin-off BreastScreening-AI), reinforcement learning and model-predictive control for autonomous navigation, multi-robot coordination, neuroadaptive BCI systems, and LLM-augmented robotics planning. Notable funded programs include the euROBIN European robotics network, NOISyS (Petri-net planning, ~€249K), HOTSPOT (extreme-scale SLAM benchmarking, ~€100K), and Deep Mutation (CNN medical imaging, ~€50K). The institute maintains recurring research collaboration with DLR, KIT, INRIA, CEA, EPFL, ETH Zurich, Volkswagen, and Siemens, and has signaled first Latin American outreach via a 2026 visit to SENAI Brazil.

The institute's business model is non-commercial: revenue is sourced entirely from competitively awarded public-sector research grants — primarily the Portuguese FCT and EU programs (Horizon Europe, MSCA, EIC) — rather than product sales or licensing. Technology transfer occurs through academic publication, doctoral training, and selective spin-off creation (e.g., BreastScreening-AI). Visible project-level allocations to ISR total roughly €694K across four recent grants, while broader participation in multi-partner EU consortia implies an aggregate annual operating budget in the low-to-mid eight figures (Euros). ISR-Lisboa's profile is that of a publicly funded R&D platform, not a revenue-generating commercial entity, and any investment angle is necessarily tied to its spin-off pipeline and grant-funded research output rather than top-line product sales.

Name

Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisboa)

Legal name

Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisboa)

Website

https://isr.tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ISR-Lisboa is a non-profit robotics research institute at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, employing around 98 faculty, researchers, and PhD students. It conducts publicly funded research across marine, aerial, terrestrial, and space robotics, computer vision, brain-computer interfaces, and multi-agent AI, serving academic, EU, and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Robotics Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM)

Keywords

• Robotics research
• Multi-robot systems
• Computer vision research
• Brain-computer interfaces
• Marine robotics

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Project Funding: Funded through competitive EU research programs (Horizon Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions), national funding from FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), and international research collaborations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ISR-Lisboa is an academic research, development, and innovation institution that conducts fundamental and applied research in robotics and information processing with applications across neurosciences, big data, marine, terrestrial, aerial, and space robotics. It delivers outputs through funded research projects (e.g., euROBIN, HOTSPOT, NOISyS, Deep Mutation), doctoral training programs at Instituto Superior Técnico, academic publications, and technology transfer via spin-off startups. The institute does not sell commercial products; instead, it competes for and executes publicly funded research programs and industry collaborations.

Product overview

ISR-Lisboa is a research, development, and innovation institution focused on robotic systems and information processing, established in 1992. As an academic research institute at Instituto Superior Técnico, it does not offer commercial products but conducts fundamental and applied research across multiple domains including robotics, artificial intelligence, computer vision, and biomedical engineering. The institute develops various research platforms (such as Space CoBot, Chico the Robot, and FeedBot robotic arm) and conducts funded research projects in areas such as marine robotics, aerial robotics, brain-computer interfaces, and autonomous vehicles. Research outputs include publications, doctoral programs, and spin-off startups rather than commercial product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• euROBIN - European Robotics and AI Network European Robotics and AI Network coordinating knowledge transfer between robots, tasks, research groups, and application domains across 30+ European partners.
• HOTSPOT - Human-robOt TeamS without PrecoOrdinaTion Research project on ad hoc teamwork enabling robots to cooperate with unknown agents without predefined coordination strategies or communication protocols.
• NOISyS - Neuroadaptive Systems for Brain Restoration Neuroadaptive system combining brain-computer interfaces with virtual reality for brain restoration and rehabilitation applications.
• Deep Mutation CNN - Genetic Mutation Prediction CNN-based deep learning model to predict genetic mutations in melanoma patient medical images for diagnostic support.
• Doctoral Programs at Instituto Superior Técnico Doctoral training programs in robotics, AI, and related fields hosted at Instituto Superior Técnico, with scholarships funded through FCT, MSCA, and other programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• BreastScreening-AI selected among ~70 out of 1000+ applicants for EIC Pre-Accelerator
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability12 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SENAI Institute of InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Technical visit from SENAI Institute of Innovation (Brazil) to establish potential research partnerships. Based in Joinville, Brazil, focused on Manufacturing Systems.
• Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt EV (DLR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Coordinator of euROBIN (European Robotics and AI Network) project. DLR leads a consortium of 30+ European partners working on transferability of robotics skills and software between robots, tasks, research groups, and application domains.
• Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Partner in euROBIN project focusing on boosting physical interaction capabilities for robotics, increasing safety, reliability, and energy efficiency in robot systems.
• Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et Automatique (INRIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Partner in euROBIN network contributing to machine learning research for robots to acquire new behaviors and adapt to novel situations.
• Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022euROBIN partner contributing to robotics research in manufacturing applications for circular economy.
• École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Partner in euROBIN focusing on enabling robots to represent, exchange, query, and reason about abstract knowledge.
• Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zurich)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022euROBIN partner contributing to human-centric design paradigm research making AI-enabled robots accessible, usable, and trustworthy.
• Teknologisk InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022euROBIN partner from Denmark contributing to robotics applications for industry and civil society.
• Volkswagen AktiengesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Industry partner in euROBIN project applying robotics research to manufacturing and automation.
• Siemens AktiengesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022euROBIN partner contributing to robotic manufacturing applications for circular economy.
• LARSyS - Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated research laboratory integrated with ISR-Lisboa, part of the broader research ecosystem at Instituto Superior Técnico.
• Instituto Superior TécnicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution of ISR-Lisboa, providing academic framework, facilities, and doctoral programs.
• INESC-ID / INESC / IST / ULisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating institution for HOTSPOT project on human-robot teamwork without precoordination.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ETH Zurich - Autonomous Systems Lab: ETH Zurich's Autonomous Systems Lab conducts research in robotics, computer vision, and learning for autonomous systems. It is a direct peer and an euROBIN consortium partner of ISR-Lisboa, competing for European robotics funding and talent.
• MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL): MIT CSAIL is a premier academic robotics and AI research lab. It is directly comparable to ISR-Lisboa as both conduct fundamental and applied research in robotics, multi-agent systems, and AI, and compete for top faculty, PhD students, and EU/US research funding.
• INRIA (French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology): INRIA is France's national public institute for digital science research, with substantial robotics and AI activity. It is a direct peer and an euROBIN consortium partner of ISR-Lisboa, operating under a similar public-research-institute model with national and EU funding.
• Stanford Robotics Lab: Stanford Robotics Lab conducts research in manipulation, locomotion, and autonomous systems. It is directly comparable to ISR-Lisboa as a top academic robotics research institution, competing globally for talent and funding.
• Italian Institute of Technology (IIT): IIT is a public Italian research foundation focused on robotics, neuroscience, and computational sciences. It is directly comparable to ISR-Lisboa in scope (humanoid robotics, brain-computer interfaces, marine robotics) and funding model (national + EU grants).
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT): KIT is a leading German technical university with significant robotics and AI research. It is a direct peer and euROBIN partner of ISR-Lisboa, operating under comparable public-university research-institute structures.
• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne): EPFL hosts leading robotics and AI research groups with strong ties to EU networks. It is a direct peer and euROBIN consortium partner of ISR-Lisboa, with comparable research scope and similar EU project-based funding model.
• Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI): Oxford Robotics Institute conducts research in autonomous systems, multi-robot coordination, and field robotics. It is directly comparable to ISR-Lisboa in research areas (multi-robot systems, autonomy) and in competing for UK/EU robotics funding.
• Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute: CMU Robotics Institute is one of the world's largest and most influential academic robotics research centers. It is directly comparable to ISR-Lisboa in research scope (multi-robot systems, field robotics, AI) and competes globally for talent and research grants.
• DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics: DLR's robotics institute conducts research in space robotics, autonomous systems, and human-robot interaction. It is a direct peer and coordinator of euROBIN alongside ISR-Lisboa, with similar national-agency funding structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ISRLisboa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-systems-and-robotics-isr-lisboa-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisboa)