innovation and R&D

Our DNA

Research & Development and Innovation has been one of the keys to ISQ’s track record throughout nearly 50 years of its existence.
This characteristic is based on continuously anticipating the needs of the business environment and on the development of adequate response capabilities, based around 3 fundamental aspects:

  • Adequate facilities
  • Technologically advanced equipment
  • High-level human resources

 In partnership with over 1200 industrial and academic partners, both in Portugal and around the world, ISQ promotes the transfer of technology to industry, contributing to greater sustainability and development of the business fabric.

As a result of the R&D activities, emphasis should be placed on the recent applications of automated Phased Array and Guided Wave technology in oil industry facilities in Portugal and internationally, the application of life cycle assessment and Eco-Design in the development of new sustainable products, the smart monitoring of cathodic protection systems and the characterisation and control of coatings, and the use of automated Phased Array technology in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanks.


Centres for Research and Development + Innovation

ISQ’s R&D+i activity is coordinated around four centres, which address the priority areas.

ISQ has been a partner or coordinator in more than 500 R&D projects (since the 1980s) and participates in the IXV programmes (European Space Agency re-entry vehicle), ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), CERN (Large Hadron Collider), projects ALMA and E-ELT (European Extremely Large Telescope) of ESO (European Southern Observatory).

In the annual ranking of the 100 companies that spend the most on R&D activities in Portugal, published by GPEARI (Planning, Strategy, Assessment and International Relations Office) based on the Survey of National Scientific and Technological Potential, ISQ has continuously been among the top 50 in the period between 2007 and 2009.

Over this period its average investment was close to 5 million euros, and in 2009 it ranked 6th in terms of the number of PhD holders assigned to R&D activities, measured in Full Time Equivalents (FTE).

ITER

cs and plasma in tokamak us iter
INNOVATION & R&D 1

ITER is under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance (Cadarache), southern France. The buildings and infrastructure required for “First Plasma” are 75% complete and the assembly of the equipment is underway. The first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 with “First Plasma”.


From 2025 onwards, experiments will be conducted with gradual power increases, interspersed with process development periods. Start-up at full power is planned for 2035.

Assigned Teams

PORTUGAL · Oeiras

1st SEVERAL INSPECTORS CARRY OUT SPOT INSPECTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT F4E SUPPLIERS

SPAIN · F4E (Barcelona)

2nd MAGNETS, IN VESSEL, QUALITY TEAM

FRANCE · ITER Site (Cadarache)

3rd MAGNETS, QUALITY TEAM, PF COILS

4th CNIM (LA SEYNE SUR MER) – TF COIL

5th ATMOSTAT (PARIS) – IN VESSEL

ITALY · Walter Tosto

6th VACCUM VASSEL, BODY CASSETTE

7th MAGGIAROTTI (MONFALCONI) – VESSEL VACCUM

8th SIMIC (PORTO MARGHERA) — MAGNETS

CERN

For several years an ISQ team monitored the manufacturing and installation of different components, accessories and structures for what is considered one of the largest research projects of our time. Here, it all starts with a “simple” canister of hydrogen — “The Bottle to Bang”.

ESA

Over the last few years, ISQ and ESA have been partners in several projects, in particular the recent assessment of the availability and suitability of surface treatments as an alternative to those containing hexavalent chromium

CNES / ARIANESPACE – KOUROU

A team has been part of the quality assurance service since 2003, working in the areas of Soil Quality, Fluids and Mechanics, Safety, Onboard Quality and Satellites. Yet again, hydrogen functions here as the fuel for the main stage of Ariane 5.

ESO

ISQ’s current participation in the ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) project consists of maintaining a team at Quality Assurance in Garching (Munich), the ESO’s headquarters. The main mirror of the ELT will have a diameter of 39 metres, made up of 798 segments. The telescope will be the largest ever built and will be installed at Cerro Armazones, near Paranal, Chile.

More R&D+i Projects

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SCALER

Increase the adoption of Industrial Symbiosis (SI) in Europe. Innovation consists in the production of tools and methods directed to various stakeholders in order to facilitate the identification of potential, feasibility analysis and implementation of synergies that allow collective management...

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SHIFT

Self-diagnosis tool for the digital maturity of industrial enterprisesThe SHIFT to 4.0 project, developed by ISQ, in partnership with IAPMEI, the University of Aveiro and the University of Minho, consists of the application of a tool for self-diagnosis of the...

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MAESTRI

European research and development project aimed at creating an integrated energy and resource management system, with the aim of developing and implementing methodologies to promote eco-efficiency in industry: "do more, with fewer resources"

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ECOPROSYS

Integrated Eco-efficiency methodology for Production SystemsISQ has developed software with tools and resources that help companies reduce their environmental burdens. It is an Integrated Ecoefficiency methodology for Production Systems that allows quantifying the efficiency levels of companies, in order to...

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CLIMACT

Low-carono savings in schools, through complementary approaches such as energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, green purchases, resource conservation and behavior changes. The methodologies and tools created by ClimACT are being optimised in 39 schools in Portugal, Spain, France and Gibraltar to...

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CORINTHIA HOTEL LISBON

Energy Efficiency - considered the best project in EuropeISQ, in partnership with Galp Soluções de Energia, implemented the energy efficiency project at Corinthia Hotel Lisbon, which received the title of Western Europe Region – Energy Project of the Year, awarded...

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EETUR

Promoting energy efficiency in the Tourism sector in the Algarve regionThe Project EETur - Energy Efficiency in Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve Region for greater Competitiveness and Sustainability of the Sector, has as strategic objective to promote the transfer of...

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HIPA2L

High Performance Additive manufacturing of Aluminium alloysISQ was invited to join the HiPA2l (High Performance Additive manufacturing of Aluminium alloys) project, which aims to develop new aluminum alloys, intended for additive manufacturing or manufacturing processes, in the form of welding...

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MULTI-FUN

Multi-functional performance through additive manufacturingThe main objective of the project is to promote a significant gain in performance and efficiency in metal additive manufacturing products through the complete integration of multi-functionalities. In addition, the design will allow the design of...

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IXV

Experimental atmospheric re-entry vehicleThis reusable and unmanned demonstrator vehicle is a project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and has the ability to make orbital flights and move in a flat flight, between re-entry into the atmosphere and the mooring...

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