Our approach to innovation
The growth of the Controlar group has been largely based on the strong commitment to Innovation practices and on its sustained investment in Research and Development.
Our areas of activity require constant technological evolution, with a thorough surveillance of our main players’ innovations in the automotive sector, in order to anticipate the needs of this market and offer innovative and excellent solutions.
We seek to diversify the markets in which we operate, having so far invested in other sectors, which are also demanding in terms of cutting-edge technology: health, space and defense.
”The integration of technologies to support the digitization of the industry and the mobility of the future has been explored by the development of R&D+I projects, according to certified guidelines and in coordination with strategic partners. Our goal is to to reach the highest potential for technological innovation.
João QueirósR&D Manager
Our R&D+I team
Our R&D+I department has highly qualified employees, 100% dedicated to the promotion and execution of innovation initiatives.
The diversity of skills, the collaboration of different teams in the company and in the group, together with the continuous acquisition of new knowledge, has allowed the development of new projects and solutions with a high technological complexity and of high interest to the market.
The recognition in R&D+I practices
Controlar has its Research, Development, and Innovation Management System (RDI) certified by NP4457. Additionally, after receiving the ID Seal in 2020, which recognizes the company’s credibility in R&D practices by ANI, it was awarded the COTEC Innovative Company status for the first time in 2021. This distinction, which it has repeated every year since, acknowledges the performance of companies that stand out for their investment in innovation, financial strength, and economic performance.
Since 2017, Controlar has been a finalist six times for the COTEC-BPI Innovation SME Award, demonstrating the company’s stability in innovation activities and its competitive positioning.
These innovation recognitions reflect Controlar’s ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation in the automotive industry. Each award reinforces the company’s credibility and market leadership, highlighting its ability to create value through innovation.
Moreover, these recognitions serve as a powerful motivation to continue overcoming challenges and pushing the boundaries of what is possible, ensuring the development of increasingly advanced and effective solutions for its clients.
Our Innovation Vision
To have a strong connection to the industries in which we work, continuously analyzing new ideas, opportunities, processes and solutions that complement the portfolio of our products and services, creating the future by anticipating customer expectations.
Our R&D+I projects
Controlar has a significant history of developing R&D projects, always focused on the strategic goals it defines at any given time.
In recent years, it has developed various R&D projects in partnership with major players in the automotive industry, such as Bosch, Visteon, MAHLE, Continental, and Stellantis. These projects have enabled the development of new solutions in several technological areas, working closely with clients and following the principles of open innovation management models, involving R&D Centers and Universities.
More recently, Controlar’s R&D projects have focused on improving the company’s internal processes, creating new products for integration into future testing and automation solutions, and acquiring technical knowledge in disruptive areas of the industry in which the company operates.
Our goal is to expand our expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, cloud systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), collaborative robotics, new mobility solutions, and more.
Examples of some of the projects we have been working on:
As part of the Controlar Group’s diversification strategy, we have developed R&D+I projects at EIIT – a Controlar company, in the areas of space and defense, as well as establishing various contacts with the Major Scientific Facilities (CERN, ITER and ESA).
In addition, Sensing Future Technologies (another Controlar company) also has a great track record in the execution of R&D+I projects in the health field, carried out with renowned national and international partnerships in the sector.
We expect that these projects will result in highly innovative services and products, which Controlar will then commercially exploit at an international level to respond to the needs of a wide range of customers and markets.
