Leonard by Axians – a beacon of a Decentralised AI

In the vast and dynamic ecosystem of VINCI—a global leader in Construction, Concessions, and Energy, with operations in over 120 countries—the question is no longer whether to adopt artificial intelligence, but how to integrate it effectively across such a diverse and decentralised organisation.

At the centre of this transformation is Leonard, VINCI Group’s foresight and innovation platform, launched in July 2017.

VINCI is well-known in Portugal as a group for owning the infrastructures of Portugal’s airports which are managed for it by ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal.

Created to help the company navigate the accelerating pace of technological change, Leonard was developed in response to three major challenges: the digital revolution, shortened innovation cycles, and the growing urgency of environmental transition.

Its mission is to anticipate emerging trends, foster innovation, and connect key stakeholders shaping the cities and infrastructure of tomorrow.

In a world overflowing with data and intricate systems, the challenge lies in converting complexity into agile, scalable, and impactful solutions.

That vision took a decisive leap forward in 2019 with the creation of Leonard AI—an initiative dedicated to embedding artificial intelligence into the DNA of VINCI’s operations.

With over 80 AI solutions deployed across 12 countries, Leonard AI has evolved from a pioneering initiative into a strategic force.

These aren’t isolated technological experiments—they are collaborative, business-driven projects, co-developed with operational stakeholders to tackle real challenges on the ground.

From optimising energy efficiency to enhancing safety and streamlining logistics, Leonard AI is reshaping the way the French company VINCI innovates and delivers.

As part of this transformation is Axians Portugal, recognised as a Center of Excellence within the VINCI Group. Tasked with scaling AI capabilities and disseminating best practices, Axians plays a crucial role in democratising AI knowledge, enabling decentralised innovation while ensuring alignment across the organization.

Axians Portugal is the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) brand of VINCI Energies in Portugal. They provide ICT solutions and services to help businesses with their digital transformation. These solutions include consulting, design, integration, and service, and they focus on specific areas like cybersecurity, telecom infrastructures, cloud and data centres, enterprise networks, digital workspaces, and data analytics.

“At Axians, we believe on the power of the total spectrum of AI at scale. A strategic approach that goes beyond generative solutions and integrates various artificial intelligence technology”, says Marco Vicente, Innovation Lead at Axians Portugal and AI Mentor for VINCI’s Leonard Programme.

But Leonard AI’s impact goes beyond technology. It is helping to cultivate an AI-aware culture—one that is proactive, adaptive, and aligned with VINCI’s broader ambition to lead the energy and environmental transition in infrastructure and mobility.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, Leonard remains the beacon guiding VINCI’s decentralised AI revolution—illuminating a path toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more connected future.