The ‘Future Factory’ (‘Fábrica do Futuro’), a technology-driven initiative led by the Escola Superior de Design, Gestão e Tecnologias da Produção de Aveiro Norte (ESAN), has secured approval for a €3.8 million funding application from the Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N).

With a total investment of €7.3 million, the project will also receive €2.5 million from the Municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis and €1 million from private investors, paving the way for the construction of a new technological facility dedicated to applied research, innovation, and industrial collaboration.

The Future Factory will be developed through TecFab – Associação Fábrica do Futuro, whose founding members include the Municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis, the University of Aveiro, the Business Association of Oliveira de Azeméis (AECOA), the Portuguese Footwear Technology Centre (CTCP), Cefamol, Simoldes Plásticos, and Polisport Plásticos.

Designed to bridge academic knowledge and industrial needs, the new facility will support the development of advanced technological solutions tailored to regional companies, while fostering talent attraction, digital transformation, and innovation in manufacturing processes.

According to Joaquim Jorge, Mayor of Oliveira de Azeméis, “strengthening the connection between ESAN, research centres, and industry is essential to increase the competitiveness of the region”. He described the ‘Future Factory’ as a laboratory focused on new materials, rapid manufacturing technologies, and innovation-driven talent development.

Martinho Oliveira, Director of ESAN, highlighted that “the Future Factory will provide answers to technical and digital challenges faced by regional companies, creating a new technological architecture capable of supporting collaborative innovation projects between academia and industry.”

Strengthening CICECO's Research Infrastructure

As part of the University of Aveiro and an integral part of CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, ESAN plays a strategic role in advancing research, innovation, and knowledge transfer in areas ranging from product design and industrial organisation to production technologies and information systems.

The Future Factory will further reinforce this mission by creating new opportunities for collaboration between researchers and regional companies, accelerating the translation of scientific knowledge into industrial applications.

ESAN also contributes to CICECO's broader scientific infrastructure ecosystem. CICECO provides researchers with access to a network of advanced scientific facilities that support multidisciplinary research in materials science and engineering. The Future Factory will complement these capabilities by expanding CICECO’s capacity to address industrial challenges through applied research, technology, and innovation-oriented partnerships.

The project results from a joint effort between ESAN and the Municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis and represents a significant step towards strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem, bringing together higher education, scientific research and technological innovation, and industry to support the development of future manufacturing technologies.