Bridging Iberian expertise to compete globally in water resource management with Enterprise Europe Network support

ICARTO, a Spanish SME specializing in geospatial analysis and water management, aimed to expand into Portuguese-speaking African markets. In 2024, it sought to join a major tender by Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water, requiring a local engineering partner. With support from Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), ICARTO connected with TPF, a Portuguese firm experienced in Angola. Through EEN matchmaking, they formed a consortium (with a third partner) and reached the tender short-list. The collaboration combines ICARTO’s technical expertise with TPF’s local capabilities, opening opportunities for future international growth.

Who did you help and what were their needs?

ICARTO is a Spanish SME specialised in geospatial analysis, water and environmental planning, and information systems implementation for territorial management. With previous experience in Africa and a growing interest in international tenders linked to sustainable infrastructure, the company sought to strengthen its presence in Portuguese speaking markets within Africa.

In 2024, ICARTO identified a major international tender launched by the Angolan Ministry of Energy and Water (INRH/GABHIC). To participate, the company needed a solid engineering partner with proven experience in Angola, strong institutional capacity, and complementary technical expertise in hydrology and water resource management.

CEG, in collaboration with ICARTO, identified three Portuguese engineering companies that could meet these requirements. CEG then engaged AEP – Associação Empresarial de Portugal to validate the suitability of these candidates and coordinate initial communications. Together, the Network partners assessed needs, facilitated introductions, and helped establish the first steps of the matchmaking process. Among the firms, TPF stood out for its robust track record in Angola and multidisciplinary engineering expertise, making it a highly credible partner for ICARTO’s ambitions.

Services provided

Internationalisation

Business

What did you do to help them?

CEG acted as ICARTO’s primary institutional contact, defining technical and strategic criteria for suitable partners. Together with AEP, they validated a shortlist of three Portuguese engineering firms and facilitated direct introductions with senior management. AEP contacted the Portuguese firms, assessed alignment of capabilities, and supported ICARTO and TPF in exploring complementarities. TPF brought to the table deep local knowledge, institutional credibility and extensive field experience in Angola, especially in hydraulic and water engineering

AEP contacted the Portuguese firms, including TPF, assessed their experience and alignment, and facilitated direct engagement between ICARTO and TPF at senior management level. The Network partners coordinated initial meetings, provided institutional guidance, monitored communication, and ensured expectations were aligned. This structured and transparent approach enabled ICARTO and TPF to focus on preparing the technical and strategic proposal for the tender.

The impact: What was the outcome of your help?

Thanks to this coordinated support, the ICARTO–TPF consortium successfully advanced to the short-list of the Angolan tender. The milestone reflects strong technical, institutional, and strategic complementarity between the partners, highlighting readiness for international competition.

The consortium prepared a joint proposal that combined ICARTO’s water resources information systems expertise and innovation in sustainable water management with TPF’s engineering capabilities and field experience in Angola. What emerged was more than a project partnership — it became a shared mission to bring resilient, sustainable water solutions to one of Africa’s most dynamic and demanding markets.

The collaboration exemplifies the potential of Iberian companies working together and reinforces long-term cooperation between ICARTO and TPF. Beyond this specific project, the partnership contributes to sustainable water management solutions in Angola and demonstrates the value of proactive, cross-border support from the Enterprise Europe Network in enabling SMEs to access complex international opportunities.

Quotes from EEN partners and the company

“This result goes beyond a single project. It highlights the crucial role played by the Enterprise Europe Network in identifying and connecting the right partners — a strategic matchmaking that enables European engineering and innovation to deliver excellence in response to today’s global sustainability challenges.", said a TPF Consultores Group representative.”

“The support provided by the EEN was instrumental in helping us take a decisive step towards identifying a reliable and highly qualified partner,” said a representative of ICARTO. “Thanks to this assistance, we were able to build a strong consortium and submit a competitive proposal. We see this collaboration not only as a successful outcome for this tender, but also as the beginning of a broader partnership for future opportunities.”