INSTITUTO DE TELECOMUNICACOES

Their core work

Instituto de Telecomunicações is a Portuguese research center specializing in telecommunications, wireless networks, and signal processing. They develop and test next-generation communication technologies — from 5G network architectures and optical wireless systems to AI-driven network optimization and quantum communications. Their work spans the full chain from physical-layer innovations (terahertz, mmWave, visible light) to application-level platforms for verticals like autonomous driving, precision farming, and border security biometrics.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 period (2015–2018), IT focused on foundational telecom infrastructure: 5G spectrum management (SPEED-5G), underwater robotics communications (SWARMs), Industry 4.0 semiconductors (SemI40), and terahertz device physics (TeraApps). From 2019 onward, a clear pivot emerged toward AI-driven network intelligence, quantum communications, and application-layer platforms for verticals — with keywords like "artificial intelligence," "trustable AI," "IoT," and "distributed quantum computing" replacing hardware-centric terms. They also began coordinating more projects in this later period, signaling growing confidence in leading research agendas rather than just contributing components.

IT is moving from physical-layer telecom research toward intelligent, software-defined, and quantum-secured network systems — making them a strong partner for projects combining AI with next-generation connectivity.

How they like to work

IT operates primarily as an active research partner (23 of 32 projects as participant), but has demonstrated increasing coordination capability with 6 projects led, especially in their more recent work (eBORDER, EXPLOR, 5GASP). With 597 unique consortium partners across 40 countries, they are a well-connected hub rather than a loyal-cluster type — comfortable integrating into large ECSEL/IPCEI-style industrial consortia (OCEAN12, SECREDAS with 50+ partners) as well as focused MSCA training networks. This breadth makes them easy to onboard and experienced at cross-cultural, multi-partner coordination.

With 597 unique partners across 40 countries, IT maintains one of the broadest collaboration networks among Portuguese research centers. Their partnerships span from large European industrials in ECSEL projects to academic training networks, with particularly strong connections across Western and Southern Europe.

What sets them apart

IT combines deep physical-layer expertise (THz, optical wireless, mmWave) with growing AI and quantum capabilities — a rare vertical integration from hardware to intelligent software in a single telecom research institute. Their participation in both large industrial pilot lines (OCEAN12, SECREDAS) and fundamental research (QIA, DeepSPIN ERC) means they can bridge the gap between lab-scale innovation and industry deployment. For consortium builders, they offer a reliable Portuguese anchor with proven ability to contribute across project sizes and funding schemes (RIA, IA, MSCA, ERC).

Highlights from their portfolio

• DeepSPIN
  ERC-funded project (EUR 1.34M) coordinated by IT — their largest single grant, focused on deep learning for structured prediction in NLP, showing research leadership beyond traditional telecom.
• 5GASP
  Coordinated 5G experimentation and certification platform, positioning IT as a key European testbed operator for 5G network applications across automotive and public safety verticals.
• QIA
  Part of the Quantum Internet Alliance flagship initiative, signaling IT's entry into quantum networking — a strategic bet on post-5G communication infrastructure.