33 Years of Hidromod: From Academic Innovation to Global Environmental Insight
On the 1st of July 2025, Hidromod marked its 33rd anniversary, a moment to reflect on the journey so far, celebrate the present, and look ahead to the future. This year also marks Hidromod’s first anniversary as part of ABL, a partnership that has brought new opportunities for collaboration and growth across key sectors.
Our beginnings: The birth of Hidromod
Hidromod’s story began in academia, where Adélio Silva and José Chambel Leitão met while working on their PhD theses, brought together by collaborative supervisors and a shared passion for environmental modelling. During their doctoral work, they played a key role in developing MOHID, an open-source environmental modelling tool focused on water systems, a platform that would become central to Hidromod’s identity and expertise.
“We didn’t set out to build a company, we were simply trying to solve complex problems. But the value of what we were building became clear.” – José Chambel Leitão, Hidromod Founder.
As their work gained recognition, external consultants and organisations began to take notice of the value their tool offered. With their PhD grants nearing completion, the founders saw an opportunity to transition from academia to entrepreneurship. Encouraged by industry consultants, they formalised their efforts and founded Hidromod.
“Early investment in high-performance computing and continued collaboration with the university enabled us to steadily grow the company. MOHID remained at the heart of our work, and over time, the team expanded as more researchers joined us from the academic group.” Adélio Silva, Hidromod Founder.
The present: A new chapter with ABL and a visit to Startcampus
To celebrate 33 years of business, the Hidromod team in Portugal visited the StartCampus Data Centre in Sines, a project we are pleased to support by studying its seawater cooling system. This collaboration reflects our continued focus on sustainable, technically robust solutions and the importance of building strong, long-term partnerships.
“StartCampus is a great example of the kind of project where our expertise can make a real difference. It’s been a pleasure to work with such a forward-thinking team and an honour to spend the day with them touring the facility.” José Chambel Leitão.
Looking ahead: Integrated strength and shared values
On our 33rd anniversary, we celebrate not only our history but also our future. This year is particularly special as it marks our first anniversary as part of the ABL, a partnership that has already brought new energy, ideas, and opportunities to our team.
As part of ABL, Hidromod is now part of a broader network of expertise, offering integrated services across energy, ports, maritime, and environmental sectors. But beyond the technical alignment, there’s been a strong cultural fit.
Over the past month alone, we’ve welcomed several ABL colleagues to our office, including Daniel Wood (Director of Ports and Harbours), Ewan Browell (Regional Manager), and Airlie McIntyre (Marketing Manager).
Most recently, we were pleased to host ABL Group CEO Reuben Segal and Ana Pirrone, Country Manager of OWC Spain.
“It’s been encouraging to see how naturally the teams have come together. There’s a shared sense of purpose and a genuine interest in learning from one another in order to deliver the best possible solutions to our clients.” Adélio Silva
These visits have helped shape a shared culture – one that values collaboration, technical excellence, innovation, and a practical approach to solving complex challenges.
What comes next?
As we look to the future, our focus remains on delivering high-quality, research-based solutions that help clients make informed decisions. With the support of ABL and the continued dedication of our team, we’re well positioned to grow our impact and continue supporting sustainable development across the sectors we serve.
We invite you to explore our services and learn more about AquaSafe, our data platform that supports real-time environmental monitoring and decision-making.
Here’s to 33 years of impact — and to the many more ahead.