Innovation

At ACA, innovation reflects our vision of transforming cities. Innovation is at the heart of how we think and act, with the aim of improving the communities and areas we work in.

Innovation at ACA

At ACA, we see innovation as a way of building a better future.

The development of the innovation ecosystem is based on two main dimensions: internal and external. Internally, a culture of innovation is fostered by encouraging the generation of ideas and the identification of opportunities within the group. Externally, the focus is on establishing strategic partnerships and promoting collaborative initiatives. The Innovation Department also works on specific initiatives, conducting market studies and analyses, benchmarking, and evaluating identified solutions. These opportunities can lead to projects for the development of new products, services or process improvements when they involve the implementation of hardware and/or the development of more advanced technologies (deep tech).

Our Pillars of Action

Core strategic pillars of innovation

Innovation Culture

Promotion of an innovation mindset across all areas

Innovation Ecosystem

Networks of partners, universities, start-ups and technology centres

Applied Innovation

Research, Development, and Technology Transfer

Innovation Initiatives

Initiatives that show what sets us apart


Our innovation initiatives address real challenges with technological, digital, and collaborative solutions.


  • ACA

    Build(ON) ACA Innovation Challenge

    The ACA Innovation Challenge is a competition aimed at entrepreneurs, visionaries, leaders, students, and researchers with ideas and solutions that foster innovation and circularity in the construction sector.

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  • ACA Water

    Compact WWTPs

    The knowledge acquired by AmbiÁgua over time fostered interest in developing a project that adds value to the current market, given its characteristics.

  • ACA Construction

    Geostructures

    In the field of civil engineering, innovation is essential for the continuous improvement of processes and construction solutions.

  • ACA Construction

    5S on Construction Sites

    In the context of ACA’s construction projects, the absence of a structured procedure for the organisation and management of certain areas common to all company construction sites has been identified.

  • ACA Environment

    D´Eco

    The D’ECO – DESIGN ECONOMIC CIRCULAR OPPORTUNITIES project, funded under PT2020, consisted of the design and development of a mixed-plastic composite incorporating foundry sand, for application in construction and architecture products or urban furniture.

  • ACA Environment

    Ecotelepoles

    Replacement of wooden telecommunication poles, produced from maritime pine (with a major constraint associated with the slow growth of this species), which are industrially treated in an autoclave using double vacuum and pressure, together with biocide, to increase their durability and prevent attacks by xylophagous agents.

  • ACA

    MindLab

    The main objective of the MindLab platform is to gather ideas from all employees relating to ACA’s core business and proper functioning.

Partners

Partners that make us stronger and better

ACA continuously nurtures its relationships and strategic partnerships to achieve mutual objectives and create value collaboratively. These partnerships allow companies to combine resources, knowledge, and skills to achieve goals that would be difficult to reach individually.

Related Media

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24 April, 2026

BUILD[ON]: the challenge begins now

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20 April, 2026

Innovation Day 2026

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16 February, 2026

The future isn’t something to be waited for, it’s something to be built

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