MAIN MILESTONES

LSRE-LCM origins can be traced back to 1975/1977 when two Research Lines

• Processos de Separação e Reacção em Meios Porosos e Dispersos/Separation and Reaction Processes in Porous and Dispersed Media, led by Alírio Rodrigues
• Catálise Heterógenea/Heterogeneous Catalysis, led by José Luís Figueiredo

were started at CEQ – Centro de Engenharia Química (Chemical Engineering Centre), at the University of Porto financed by a national agency, INIC – Instituto Nacional de Investigação Científica.

In the framework of Ciência 1990, the financing programme launched by JNICT, Junta Nacional de Investigação Ciêntifica, two independent research groups were set-up:

• Laboratório de Processos de Separação e Reacção em Meios Porosos e Dispersos
• Grupo de Materiais Carbonados e Compósitos, IMAT – Instituto de Materiais

The establishment of LSRE and LCM as R&D Units resulted from the process of organization of Portuguese academic and institutional research in 1993, promoted by Mariano Gago upon indication of the Minister of Science and Technology, a position that he would occupy after 1995.

LSRE – Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering Director: Alírio Rodrigues. Members: Carlos Costa, José Carlos Lopes, José Miguel Loureiro, Madalena Dias, Mário Rui Costa e Rui Boaventura.
LCM – Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials  Director: José Luís Figueiredo. Members: Joaquim Faria, José Inácio Martins, José Melo Orfão and Manuel Jerónimo.

In the FCT Evaluations of 1993-1995, 1996-1998 and 1999-2001, LSRE and LCM obtained classifications of Excellent and Very Good, respectively. 

In 1999, LSRE first applied to FCT for the status of Associate Laboratory. In 2002 a partnership between LSRE and LCM was established, to which the status of Associate Laboratory was awarded in 2004. In 2011, this status was renewed for a period of 10 years.

In the 2013 FCT Evaluation, the designation of LSRE-LCM was formally adopted and this R&D Unit was evaluated as Excellent. In the words of the Evaluation Panel, LSRE-LCM is “…by far the dominating research institution for Chemical Engineering in Northern Portugal.”