ACE development & engineering chooses Porto as its Southern European hub

ACE development & engineering, an engineering company with roots in the Netherlands and almost 50 years of experience, has officially launched its operations in Portugal with the opening of a new office in Porto. The decision to establish ACE Portugal in the city was motivated by a combination of strategic, academic, and cultural factors, all of which align with the company's vision of sustainable growth and innovation.

"Porto was a natural choice,” explains Simão Carvalho, head of ACE’s Porto office. "The city offers a unique combination of technical talent, academic excellence and a vibrant innovation ecosystem. With institutions such as FEUP, INEGI and UPTEC, we saw an opportunity to integrate ourselves into a community that values engineering, research and collaboration.”

The new office is located at UPTEC, placing ACE at the centre of a dynamic network of start-ups, research centres, and global companies. This location allows ACE to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application, promoting co-development projects that benefit both local and international clients.

The ACE Portugal team consists of experienced Portuguese engineers who have returned from ACE in the Netherlands, complemented by local talent. This hybrid model ensures a strong technical foundation and contributes to talent retention and knowledge transfer in Portugal.

Based in Porto, ACE offers a wide range of engineering services, including:

• Project consulting and technical feasibility studies;
• Co-development of mechanical and mechatronic systems;
• Machine building and industrial automation;
• Product development for the high-tech and manufacturing sectors.

The company is already active in the region, supporting customers from Braga to Aveiro, along with several others in Lisbon. With a strong commitment to local partnerships, ACE is also collaborating with innovation clusters such as AED and Mobinov, and exploring synergies with vocational schools and technical institutes.

"Our ambition is to make ACE Portugal a leading player in the national engineering scene,” says Maurice Moens, Commercial Director at ACE. "We are here to stay, grow and contribute to Porto’s reputation as a centre of excellence in engineering and innovation.”