Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias (UNINOVA) is a multidisciplinary, independent, and non-profit research institute employing around 180 persons, located in the metropolitan area of Lisbon. It was formed in 1986 by the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the Nova University of Lisbon (FCT-UNL - www.fct.unl.pt), a group of industrial associations, a financial holding, and up to 30 companies.

 The institute is strongly committed to Europe and to the Lisbon Strategy being involved in many activities that support/enable the developments and actions towards the knowledge economy. It has managed and participated in many national and international research programmes with experience in RTD in industrial systems interoperability, future internet enterprise systems, reconfigurable manufacturing systems, intelligent control solutions, e-learning and e-training activities, and standards-based activities.