LNEC operates in the different fields of civil engineering under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science in the definition of its strategic guidelines, as established in its Organic Law, Decree Law 157/2012, of July 18.
LNEC was founded on November 19, 1946, from the Laboratory for Materials Testing and Study of the Ministry of Public Works and the Center for Civil Engineering Studies, based at the Instituto Superior Técnico.
This double-strand, research and experimentation, would decisively shape the future development of LNEC.
On June 20, 1987, LNEC was made Honorary Member of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword and on November 19, 1987, was made Honorary Member of the Military Order of Christ.
LNEC carries out research activities in the following fields: public works, housing, urban planning, environment, water resources, estuaries, coastal areas, transportation and communication networks, materials industry, building components and other products.