Laboratório Associado LSRE-LCM

What Laboratório Associado LSRE-LCM does

Laboratório Associado LSRE-LCM is a publicly funded, non-profit Associate Laboratory hosted at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), operating since 2016 as a partnership between the Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering (LSRE) and the Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LCM). The unit conducts fundamental and applied research across five Chemical Engineering domains: Cyclic Adsorption/Reaction Processes, Product Engineering, Carbon Materials and Catalysis, Photo-Electro-Chemistry and Nature-Inspired Systems, and Environmental Engineering. Core technical capabilities include Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Network Modelling, Process Design and Simulation, proprietary NETmix mesostructured reactor/mixer technology, thermodynamic equation-of-state parameterization, Reaction Injection Moulding (RIM) technology, and heterogeneous catalysis development.

The laboratory does not sell commercial products. Revenue is generated through competitive research grants from Portuguese national funds (FCT), the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), European Commission programs (including H2020/Next Generation EU), industry consulting contracts (EFACEC, A4F-Algae for the Future, SECIL, TOTAL S.A., PETROGAL, HEIQ Materials, SEDACOR), and technology transfer via spin-off companies (Fluidinova, MICE-molds, I-Sensis) and CoLAB collaborative laboratories (NET4CO2, BioRef CoLAB, MORE CoLAB, SF CoLAB). Research outputs are disseminated through peer-reviewed publications (75+ ISI papers per senior researcher), patents, and trained PhD/MSc graduates.

Key recent strategic positioning includes co-founding CoLab NET4CO2 to commercialize NETmix technology for the CO2 economy, participating in the €13M H2SYMBIOTIC green hydrogen consortium (launched July 2026), joining the VAL2FOOD bioeconomy consortium for agricultural residue valorisation (June 2026), and securing FCT base funding (UID/50020/2025) plus two PRR streams through 2030. The laboratory operates as an academic research unit with no external shareholders, parent company, or commercial revenue stream.

Name

Laboratório Associado LSRE-LCM

Legal name

Laboratório Associado LSRE-LCM

Website

https://lsre-lcm.fe.up.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Laboratório Associado LSRE-LCM is a publicly funded, non-profit Associate Laboratory at the University of Porto's Faculty of Engineering, conducting chemical engineering research in separation/reaction processes, catalysis, thermodynamics, and environmental engineering, and transferring proprietary NETmix reactor technology and CFD capabilities via consulting, patents, spinoffs, and CoLABs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Engineering Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory & R&D Chemical Waste Management (BPALAHAI)

Keywords

• Chemical engineering research
• Separation process engineering
• Catalysis and materials
• Process intensification research
• Environmental engineering research

Headquarters

HQ city

Porto

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LSRE-LCM is a university-associated research laboratory conducting scientific and technological research in Chemical Engineering, including separation and reaction processes, product engineering, catalysis and carbon materials, thermodynamics, and environmental engineering. The laboratory develops proprietary technologies such as NETmix reactor technology, performs Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations, conducts thermodynamic modeling, and delivers customized industrial process design and consulting. It is funded primarily through public research grants and develops patents that are transferred to industry through spinoffs and licensing.

Product overview

LSRE-LCM is a research laboratory partnership between LSRE (Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering) and LCM (Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials) at FEUP. It provides research services and develops technologies in Chemical Engineering areas including separation/reaction processes, product engineering, catalysis, carbon materials, thermodynamics, and environmental engineering. Key offerings include proprietary NETmix reactor technology for process intensification, Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation services, Reaction Injection Moulding (RIM) processing technology, and aqueous two-phase systems for biomolecule recovery. The laboratory has produced several spinoff companies including Fluidinova, MICE-molds, and I-Sensis, and hosts collaborative laboratories (CoLABs) such as NET4CO2 for CO2 economy technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NET4CO2: CoLAB focused on advancing industrial technologies based on NETmix for the CO2 economy.
• Fluidinova
• MICE-molds
• I-Sensis

Products and services

• LSRE-LCM Research Services Core research laboratory services spanning separation and reaction engineering, product engineering, catalysis, carbon materials, thermodynamics, and environmental engineering for industrial and academic clients.
• NETmix Technology Proprietary mesostructured reactor/mixer process intensification technology for efficient implementation of decarbonization processes including CO2 capture and sequestration, hydrogen-based processes, and synthetic fuels.
• CFD Simulation Services Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation services using state-of-the-art tools for industrial process optimization, design, and Life Cycle Assessment integration.
• RIM Technology (Reaction Injection Moulding) Reaction Injection Moulding processing technology with innovative mixing head design for enhanced mixing efficiency in polyurethane processing and related polymer manufacturing applications.
• Thermodynamic Modeling and Consulting Thermodynamic modeling and consulting for highly complex systems involving electrolytes, ionic liquids, and mixed solvents using phenomenological models and computational chemistry, including parameterization of equations of state and excess Gibbs free energy models.
• Heterogeneous Catalysis Development Development of novel nanostructured materials in powder form for air and water treatment, energy conversion applications, and structured catalysts in monolith form for industrial processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Co-authored over 220 publications including 75 ISI indexed papers, 1 book chapters, 1 book of abstracts, and more than 145 communications in conference proceedings (per researcher)
• +2 more outcomes

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• WinPower (H2SYMBIOTIC Consortium Coordinator)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026The H2SYMBIOTIC project (€13 million funding) is coordinated by WinPower with 11 partners including FEUP, NET4CO2, HyLab, Built CoLAB, INESC TEC, SYSADVANCE, VentilAQUA, Águas e Energia do Porto, Fado Energy, and Grama Maiúscula. At FEUP, the project is coordinated by Vítor Jorge Pais Vilar with €543,000 budget, officially launched July 1, 2026. Focuses on integrated green hydrogen hubs combining production, storage, distribution, and end-use across industrial and urban environments.
• Silver Rom Agro (SRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026LSRE-LCM/FEUP participated in VAL2FOOD consortium meeting hosted by Silver Rom Agro in Romania. The VAL2FOOD project is funded under VInnovate 2024 programme of Vanguard Initiative Bioeconomy Pilot, focusing on valorisation of agricultural processing residues through biorefinery approach to recover high-value bioactive compounds and lignocellulosic fibres for active food packaging.
• Bangor UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Part of the VAL2FOOD consortium (with Silver Rom Agro in Romania, FEUP/LSRE-LCM and INOVA+ in Portugal). Project focuses on valorisation of agricultural processing residues for sustainable packaging and food shelf-life extension, contributing to circular and sustainable bioeconomy transition.
• CoLab NET4CO2coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSRE-LCM played a leading role in establishing CoLab NET4CO2 (Network for a Sustainable CO2 Economy), dedicated to advancing industrial technologies based on NETmix for the CO2 economy. Ongoing collaboration focuses on designing and simulating NETmix-based solutions such as continuous hydrates processing, controlled combustion, and steam reforming. In partnership with CoLab NET4CO2, an integrated approach combining process simulation, economic evaluation, and Life Cycle Assessment was developed to assess CO2 capture viability.
• EFACECcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSRE-LCM maintains a longstanding consulting relationship with EFACEC, a Portuguese company with a strong position in the electrical Power Transformers industry. Cooperation applies CFD and Network tools to thermal design of Power Transformer components. Collaboration was among the first consulting services contracts for technology development at the laboratory.
• A4F - Algae for the FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn a concerted effort towards industry decarbonization, A4F-Algae for the Future and SECIL undertook construction of the world's largest microalgae production, growth, and CO2 capture installation. LSRE-LCM was engaged to design the tubular photobioreactors, raceways, and ancillary equipment for this pioneering project.
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong international collaboration involving exchange of knowledge and joint research. Pedro Velho conducted his Master's thesis at DTU and continues collaboration with them. DTU is a key partner in thermodynamic research and equation of state development.
• Technical University of Dortmund (TUD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in thermodynamics and phase equilibria research, contributing to the group's extensive network of foreign institution partnerships.
• University of Vigo (UV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in thermodynamics and phase equilibria research within the European research network.
• University of Santiago de Compostela (USC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in thermodynamics and phase equilibria research, contributing to the group's European collaboration network.
• University of Las Palmas - Gran Canaria (ULP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in thermodynamics and phase equilibria research, part of the group's Spanish institutional partnerships.
• Fluidinova S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpinoff company originating from LSRE-LCM's Product Engineering group. One of the first two spin-offs established from LSRE-LCM in the initial fifteen years of this century. Present Assignee of Network Mixer patent (WO/2005/077508). Specializes in advanced materials technology.
• MICE-moldscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpinoff company originating from LSRE-LCM's Product Engineering group. One of the first two spin-offs established from LSRE-LCM in the initial fifteen years of this century. Represents successful technology transfer from academic research to industrial application.
• i-sensisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpinoff company from LSRE-LCM research, representing one of the technology transfer outcomes of the laboratory's research activities.
• Bioref CoLABminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative laboratory focused on biorefinery research and development, part of the CoLABs ecosystem associated with LSRE-LCM.
• MORE CoLABminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative laboratory (Montanhas) working with LSRE-LCM, providing consultancy on Life Cycle Assessment and sustainability assessment services.
• SF CoLAB (Smart Farm)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmart Farm Collaborative Laboratory, one of the CoLABs ecosystem members associated with LSRE-LCM research network.

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Large Dutch contract research organization that combines public funding with industry contracts across energy, chemistry, and materials. Comparable business model to LSRE-LCM (public + industry R&D) but with much broader scope and scale.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT): Germany's largest applied research organization, running large-scale chemical engineering and process technology R&D with industry funding. Comparable in mission (applied chemical engineering for industry) but operates at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Imperial College London - Department of Chemical Engineering: Top-tier UK chemical engineering department working on separation, reaction engineering, sustainable energy, and multi-scale process modelling. Directly comparable as a research-intensive academic unit with industry-funded projects and spin-off activity.
• Wageningen University & Research - Biobased Research: Dutch university with a strong bioeconomy and biorefinery research program overlapping LSRE-LCM's environmental engineering, agrofood biovalorisation, and Bioref CoLAB-adjacent work. Comparable in applied biobased R&D for industry.
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - Institute of Chemical Process Engineering: German research university with a strong chemical process engineering group focused on process intensification, energy-related processes, and industrial-scale R&D. Comparable in mission and research themes (separation, reaction engineering, decarbonization).
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU) - Chemical Engineering: DTU is an existing LSRE-LCM collaboration partner in thermodynamics and equation-of-state research. Peer status is reinforced by overlapping scope in chemical engineering thermodynamics, process design, and EU-funded joint projects.
• ETH Zurich - Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences: World-leading European chemical engineering department conducting fundamental and applied research in catalysis, separation, and sustainable processes. Comparable as an academic R&D lab producing high-impact publications and industrial partnerships.
• Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) - Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica: Public research institute focused on catalysis, petrochemistry, and sustainable processes. Comparable to LSRE-LCM's catalysis and carbon materials group as an academic/public-sector R&D provider collaborating with industry in Iberia.
• Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) - Faculty of Applied Sciences: Major European university chemical engineering department doing applied R&D in separation processes, catalysis, and process intensification. Directly comparable as a publicly-funded research unit serving industrial clients with similar technologies and academic talent profile.

Others

• CoLab NET4CO2: Portuguese collaborative laboratory (CoLAB) that LSRE-LCM helped establish around NETmix technology for the CO2 economy. Listed as a peer because of overlapping technology and research team, although it is a partner/spin-out entity rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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