Support within the framework of the SME Internationalization Incentive System – Individual Projects
Diversification of NST

Total eligible cost: 470,745.97€
EU financial support: 217,505.08€
Execution rate: 84%

Project summary:

This investment project has the strategic objective of increasing NST's total revenue by increasing sales in existing markets and entering new markets. NST's positioning strategy involves promoting its products and acquiring new customers in the global market, thus increasing its visibility and that of its products in foreign markets, creating differentiation from the competition and contributing to the realization and growth of business with new clients in the international context, resulting in an overall sales volume increase from foreign countries.

In this sense, this project includes:

• Prospecting trips;
• Reverse trips;
• Visits to trade fairs;
• Participation in trade fairs;
• Professional Training;
• Hiring of an External Consultant

Project Title: Increasing NST Capacity
Project Code: NORTE-02-0853-FEDER-014781
Main Objective: Strengthening the Competitiveness of SMEs
Region of Intervention: NORTH
Beneficiary Entity: NST APPAREL (EUROPE), LDA.

Approval Date: April 15, 2016
Start Date: October 1, 2015
Completion Date: September 30, 2017
Total Eligible Cost: 941,646.15€
European Union ERDF Financial Support: 471,513.48€

 

Project Summary:

This investment project aims to increase NST's total turnover to approximately €10.2 million by increasing sales in existing markets and entering new markets. These results are intended to be achieved through various investments in production lines and samples, in the Development Center, quality control, and cost reductions related to raw materials, cutting machines, and fabric measuring equipment. This will allow the beneficiary to stand out from the competition and find its place in the national and international markets. These changes will allow for greater production flexibility, improved quality, optimized consumption, and energy efficiency.

Project Title: NST Qualification
Project Code: POCI-02-0853-FEDER-013805
Support under the Incentive System: SME Qualification Incentive System
Main Objective: To strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs
Region of Intervention: North - Vilela
Beneficiary Entity: NST APPAREL (EUROPE), LDA.

Approval Date: 2016-03-28
Start Date: 2015-09-21
Completion Date: 2018-03-20
Total Eligible Cost: 345,425.24€
European Union Financial Support (ERDF): 106,958.02€
European Union Financial Support (ESF): 64,644.45€

 

Project Summary, Objectives, Activities and Expected/Achieved Results

Project to strengthen the dynamic competitiveness factors of NST, namely the development, creation and design of products, optimization of the logistics and procurement area, optimization of the production planning and control process, implementation and certification according to the EN ISO 9001:2015 standard, qualification of its employees in various areas, and development of innovations in the Development Center.

Project Designation: OPERATOR
Project Code: NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-045910
Main Objective: The OPERATOR project aims to develop tools for analyzing occupational risk exposure data, based on the concepts of Positive Ergonomics, Operator 4.0, and the Eurofound Job Quality Indices, through the collection and visualization of data on aspects such as the physical environment, work intensity, work time, social environment, or capabilities and discretion.
Intervention Region: North and Lisbon
Beneficiary Entities: Zenithwings, Lda., Fraunhofer Portugal Research Association, Nova University of Lisbon, Volkswagen Autoeuropa, Lda., Nst Apparel (Europe) Lda, University of Porto, Controlconsul - Consulting, Services and Representations, Lda., and University of Minho.
Approval Date: January 17, 2020
Start Date: March 1, 2020
Completion Date: February 28, 2023
Total Eligible Cost: 1,879,214.03€
European Union Financial Support: 1,066,939.91€

 

Objectives, Activities, and Expected/Achieved Results:

To address Industry 4.0 from the worker's perspective, collecting and cross-referencing quantitative and qualitative data, building a richer picture of their well-being and generating better predictive models;

Development of tools for workplace data analysis, based on the concepts of Positive Ergonomics and work quality indices, collecting and visualizing data on the physical environment, work intensity, work time, social environment, and skills;

To create a new methodology for quickly defining the ideal work method for each task; Consequently, the standard time defined as a standard for monitoring;

Generate new scientific knowledge related to the processing of human movement data in order to establish a comparison between the movements performed by a worker throughout a work cycle and the reference movements for the respective workstation.

Project Title: Industry 4.0 – Digitalization and Advanced IoT

Main Objective: To digitize four key areas (factory floor, industrial maintenance, quality control, and warehouse) through IoT solutions and integrated computer systems. The investment will improve production efficiency, monitor operations in real time, control critical points, and respond quickly to blockages or delays, ensuring reliable data, automated processes, and greater production integration.

Project Code: COMPETE2030-FSE+-02987400

Project Summary, Objectives, Activities and Expected/Achieved Results

The project strengthens the skills of NST Apparel employees, preparing them for the challenges of luxury apparel. The training focuses on technical areas, leadership, digitalization, productivity, safety, and inclusion, to improve processes, retain talent, and consolidate a more innovative, sustainable, and globally competitive operation.