Built on science.
Driven by impact.
We turn 30+ years of environmental bioengineering research into AI-powered digital twins that make wastewater treatment and bioproducst recovery predictable, efficient and profitable.
A deep-tech company born inside a lab.
AIS - Aqua in Silico, was founded in 2020 as a spin-off from NOVA University Lisbon, co-founded with Frontier IP Group - a specialist in turning deep-tech science into scalable intellectual property.
The company brings together a multidisciplinary team with more than 30 years of combined experience in environmental and industrial bioengineering, and mathematical modelling of biological processes.
Our technology is the commercial expression of 30+ years of scientific research and more than 15,000 peer-reviewed citations. UPWATER™ and UPWASTE bring that scientific depth into the operational reality of water treatment plants and biogas facilities, making complex biological processes predictable, efficient and profitable.
Today, AIS works with leading utilities and industrial operators across Europe and Africa, with a growing pipeline across urban, industrial and food & beverage sectors.
Science, engineered into every deployment.
Rooted in academia
A spin-off from NOVA University Lisbon, born inside one of Europe's leading environmental bioengineering research groups.
Backed by science
30+ years of research and more than 15,000 peer-reviewed citations underpin every model we deploy.
Engineered for impact
Co-founded with Frontier IP Group to translate deep-tech science into scalable, commercial-grade intellectual property.
Operating at scale
Working with leading utilities and industrial operators across Europe and Africa, with a growing urban, industrial and F&B pipeline.
From peer-reviewed research to plants across two continents.
- 1990s → today
Three decades of research
Deep research on biological wastewater treatment and anaerobic digestion at NOVA University Lisbon, culminating in the development of the META-ASM mathematical models.
- 2020
AIS is founded
Spin-off from NOVA University Lisbon, co-founded with Frontier IP Group to commercialise decades of environmental bioengineering IP.
- 2021
UPWATER™ goes live
First AI-powered digital twins deployed in wastewater facilities, turning complex biological processes into predictable operations and reducing operational and energy costs.
- 2024
UPWASTE goes live
Expansion into organic waste and resource recovery, with digital twins deployed in biogas facilities to maximise yield and stability.
- 2024
Scaling across Europe & Africa
Serving leading utilities and industrial operators, with a growing pipeline treating wastewater across urban, industrial and food & beverage sectors.
- 2026
Extending resource recovery
Now extending toward bioplastics (PHA) recovery through 2 EU-funded research projects, building on our work in anaerobic digestion and biogas yield optimisation.
Want to see the technology in action?
Explore how UPWATER™ and UPWASTE are transforming plants across Europe and Africa.