INESC Information

INESC is a private, non-profit research institution founded in Portugal in 1980 with a conviction: that scientific excellence and real-world economic impact are not competing ambitions, but complementary ones. Over four decades, that conviction has been tested and validated. The model is now a recognised reference in Europe. The INESC system brings together five research institutes covering the full value chain — from fundamental science to industrial application and company creation. Across Lisbon (INESC-ID, INOV, INESC MN), Porto (INESC TEC) and Coimbra (INESC Coimbra), around 1,900 researchers and staff generated close to €52 million in activity in 2024. All five institutes received a rating of Very Good or Excellent in the most recent Foundation for Science and Technology evaluation (2023/2024). The work translates into concrete impact. A few examples among many: INOV's Ciclope system monitors approximately 45% of mainland Portugal for wildfire prevention; INESC-ID develops AI tools for medical diagnosis and disinformation detection; INESC MN works on biomedical sensors at the nanoscale; INESC TEC is the second largest nationally in FCT base funding. INESC's international reach extends well beyond Portugal. The system has active collaborative programmes with MIT, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Texas at Austin, a joint research unit in Brazil involving more than 20 universities, and bilateral agreements with institutions in Japan, India, China and South Korea. In Brussels, the INESC Brussels HUB engages directly with European research policy and funding frameworks. INESC's associates include the Instituto Superior Técnico, the Universities of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra, MEO and CTT.