The ', , known as LNEC, is a Portuguese public institution of scientific and technological research and development and is a

civil engineering Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...

laboratory. LNEC operates in the different fields of

under the jurisdiction of the

Ministry of Economy A Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Economic Affairs, or Department of Commerce is a part of the government in most countries that is responsible for matters related to the economy or economic policy. List Examples of such mi ...

, in cooperation with the

Ministry of Education and Science Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...

in the definition of its strategic guidelines, as established in its Organic Law.Decree Law 157/2012, of July 18

History

LNEC was founded on November 19, 1946, from the Laboratory for Materials Testing and Study of the Ministry of Public Works and the Center for Civil Engineering Studies, based at the

Instituto Superior Técnico The Instituto Superior Técnico (IST, also known as Técnico, and stylized TÉCNICO LISBOA; English: ) is the school of engineering and technology of the University of Lisbon. It was founded as an autonomous school in 1911, and was integrated in ...

. This double-strand, research and experimentation, would decisively shape the future development of LNEC. On June 20, 1987, LNEC was made Honorary Member of the

Military Order of Saint James of the Sword The Military Order of Saint James of the Sword (), formerly known as the Ancient, Most Noble and Enlightened Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, of the Scientific, Literary and Artistic Merit (), is one of the four former ancient Portu ...

and on November 19, 1987, was made Honorary Member of the

Military Order of Christ The Military Order of Christ is a Honorific orders of Portugal, Portuguese honorific order. It is the former order of Knights Templar as it was reconstituted in Portugal. Before 1910, it was known as the Royal Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Chr ...

. LNEC carries out research activities in the following fields: public works, housing, urban planning, environment, water resources,

estuaries An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environm ...

, coastal areas, transportation and communication networks, materials industry, building components and other products. The main purpose of these activities is to contribute to: * the quality and safety of works; * the protection and rehabilitation of the natural and built patrimony; * the technological modernisation and innovation in the building sector; * the minimisation of natural and technological hazards; * the development of natural resources from a viewpoint of sustainable development. Those activities are as follows: * Planned research of a strategic nature, developed within research lines considered as priority due to their relevance for the country. * Studies and expert reports under contract: advanced expert advisory services to public and private bodies, both national and foreign. * Promotion of quality in construction: preparation of specifications, norms and regulations, approval and classification of new building materials and components, observation of the performance of works, certification of building projects by LNEC "Quality Mark" and normal tests. * Dissemination of knowledge, as well as technical and scientific training: preparation of scientific and technical documents, organisation of technical courses or other training actions, organisation of scientific and technical meetings, both national and foreign, complemented by the publishing activity and by the Library. * Cooperation with other bodies: activities of co-operation with various Portuguese and foreign bodies, namely with associations of a scientific and technical character, universities, laboratories and other institutions.

References

External links

LNEC website
1946 establishments in Portugal Research institutes in Portugal Engineering research institutes Research institutes established in 1946 {{Portugal-gov-stub