Tecninvest at a Glance
Tecninvest was incorporated in July 1 1982 based in three divisions (process
engineering, energy and planning) that for many years had been the core activity of an
engineering consulting firm set-up in 1963.
Drawing on the extensive experience of its progenitor Tecninvest initially focused on basic
engineering (notably process engineering in the chemical and petrochemical
industries), energy (thermoelectric power projects, energy conservation in
industry, experimental introduction of renewable energies like wind and solar), industry
planning and investment consulting (industrial market research and feasibility
studies for private and public clients).
In the latter part of the 80s it extended activities to two important areas: regional
development including municipal and urban planning, and environmental engineering.
Here Tecninvest could draw on its experience in the chemical industries and capabilities
in process engineering to quickly win a significant volume of business and an excellent
reputation in the market. It pioneered a number of projects in the field of industrial
waste management, of soil contamination and hazardous wastes.
In mid-1993 Tecninvest initiated a new cycle. Up to then it had been majority owned by
IPE Group (a Portuguese state holding company). On June 24 1993 the executive directors
and senior managers made an MBO offer for 58% of Tecninvest’s capital. Promindustria,
at the time a venture capital arm of CGD-Caixa Geral de Depósitos the leading financial
group in Portugal), acquired a 30% stake in Tecninvest.
In the first half of the 90s the company grew its business, diversifying markets and
developing international operations. It significantly increased its official
accreditations (corporate appraisal and strategic planning, internationalisation,
quality management, environmental engineering, energy efficiency and technologies of
process industries).
Tecninvest is something of a specialist in EU matters. Not only has it provided
services for dozens of domestic and multinational clients seeking investment incentives
co-funded by the EU and the Portuguese government but it is also frequently engaged by
the European Commission to provide technical assistance services, notably to appraise
European incentive systems and to participate in the evaluation of R&D proposals under
BRITE EURAM programmes.
In the last years Tecninvest has carried out a number of R&D contacts for the
European Commission, most of them in co-operation with other European colleagues. Research
areas covered are: innovation, technology development and small and
medium sized enterprises (SME's). Since 2004 Tecninvest is the
Portuguese member of ENSR (The European Network of Social and Economic
Research), a network of organisations in 32 countries specialized in applied social and economic research.
This network has been responsible for carrying out the periodic
"Observatory of European SME's" since 1992, which is the most
authoritative reference research in small and medium sized firms in
Europe.
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