INOVADORA’25

This prestigious seal of excellence awarded to the HyChem brand adds to its PME Líder 2024 status, with which the company had already been recognized by IAPMEI – the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation – as a testament to “the success of its business strategy and the significance of its contribution to the national economy.”

“This status, certified by the Director-General of COTEC, promotes the nationwide dissemination of innovative examples and publicly acknowledges companies that excel in this field,” said Manuel Gil Antunes, President and CEO of HyChem.

“To see the work we have developed at HyChem – and also within the other companies of the A4F Group, which are working towards meeting the evaluation criteria – receive this distinction is a source of great pride. Even more so as it reinforces the recognition we had already earned from IAPMEI through the PME Líder seal,” added Gil Antunes.

Born from a broad partnership with the financial sector, the COTEC Inovadora status serves as a mark of reputation and prestige for companies whose leadership, management, and results exemplify value creation and sustainable growth.

The status is awarded by COTEC based on an innovation rating model, which evaluates metrics of innovation, financial soundness, and economic productivity. In this fifth edition, 1,551 companies applied, and 1,154 statuses were granted, according to the stringent criteria defined in the COTEC Inovadora regulations.

It should also be noted that the country’s main banking institutions are partners in this COTEC initiative, which also benefits from the support of the Portuguese Development Bank (Banco Português de Fomento), the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC), and the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).