Hydrographic Institute signs contract for the construction of the IH-SENSORTECH building

The Hydrographic Institute (IH) and the company Tecnovia – Sociedade de Empreitadas, S.A. signed this week the contract for the construction of the IH-SENSORTECH building, located at the Azinheira Hydrographic Base (BHA).

This building will host the future Ocean Observation Technology Development Centre – IH-SENSORTECH, and the project foresees the construction of facilities designed to accommodate start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in marine technological innovation.

The SENSORTECH building will also include an Autonomous Vehicles Laboratory (LVA), designed for the maintenance, repair, reconfiguration, and calibration of vehicles up to four tons, as well as a control and piloting centre for autonomous vehicles.

The project is part of the investment “TC-C10-i03 – Atlantic Defence Operations Centre and Naval Platform” under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

Since 2022, the Hydrographic Institute has conducted around 20 procurement procedures within this investment framework, aiming to provide the Portuguese Navy with more robust and technologically advanced equipment, including autonomous vehicles and research vessels.

With this new infrastructure, the IH reinforces its role in research, development, and technological innovation applied to ocean observation and sustainable exploration, contributing to strengthening Portugal’s technological and scientific autonomy in the maritime domain.