The Testing, Inspection & Certification sector, known internationally by its acronym TIC, closed 2024 with 267 M&A deals worldwide, an 84% increase on the 145 recorded in 2020. Around 245 transactionsare forecast for 2025, confirming a structural trend towards consolidation that is attracting private equity funds from around the world.
In this report, we analyse the trends that are transforming the ICT market, the investment appetite the sector has generated, and what this all means for technology companies operating within this ecosystem – whether they provide testing, inspection or certification services, or develop technology (AI, IoT, cybersecurity) for these processes.
The ICT sector encompasses independent verification services that enable risk management and ensure regulatory compliance across global supply chains. It is structured around three main activities: laboratory tests (65–72% of revenue), on-site physical inspection (~25%) and third-party certification (~10%). Regulatory consultancy without a verification component and financial auditing are excluded from this scope, as they operate under different frameworks and business models.
What is the TIC sector and how is the market structured?
The Testing, Inspection & Certification sector comprises companies that offer independent verification services, enabling other organisations to demonstrate compliance with regulations, quality standards and safety requirements throughout their supply chain.
Within this market, there are three types of activity, each of which carries very different weight:
- Laboratory testing: accounts for between 65% and 72% of the sector’s revenue. This includes physical, chemical, microbiological and performance analyses of products and materials.
- On-site physical inspection: approximately 25% of revenue. This involves on-site audits of facilities, equipment, infrastructure or production processes.
- Third-party certification: the remaining 10% or so. This involves the issuance of certificates attesting to compliance with standards (ISO, CE marking, sustainability, cybersecurity, etc.).
The 6 trends that are transforming the TIC market in 2025
Digitalisation and the integration of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence has become the driving force behind the transformation of ICT processes. Machine vision systems reduce detection errors by 35% and cut cycle times by 50% compared to traditional manual inspection. Added to this is the proliferation of high-definition drones and augmented reality headsets, which, through sensor fusion, can reduce on-site visits by up to 50% las visitas físicas a campo.
Assurance-as-a-Service and subscription models
The sector is evolving from a transactional revenue model (a one-off inspection, a specific certification) towards long-term subscription-based relationships that are embedded within the client’s processes. This shift generates recurring revenue and increases the costs of switching providers, thereby strengthening the competitive position of operators already established with each client.
The ESRS regulatory supercycle: CSRD and CBAM
The European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will increase the number of companies required to submit independently verified sustainability reports from 12,000 to 50,000. This represents an estimated market opportunity of between €8 billion and €12 billion for ICT providers. Added to this is the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which opens up new business opportunities in carbon footprint verification and supply chain traceability.
New frontiers in verification: IoT, cybersecurity and AI
The proliferation of connected devices (IoT), electric vehicle batteries and hydrogen infrastructure is creating a need for entirely new security protocols. At the same time, cybersecurity certification and the validation of artificial intelligence models are emerging as the sector’s fastest-growing segment, with a CAGR of 15% in consumer electronics, driven by regulatory frameworks such as the EU AI Act, the NIS2 Directive and the US Cyber Trust Mark.
Price pressure and the shortage of skilled workers
It is not all good news. More routine tests, such as water or soil analysis, are facing growing competition from online auction platforms, which is eroding overall market growth by approximately 0.8 percentage points of CAGR. At the same time, the shortage of certified professionals in high-growth niches such as 5G or cybersecurity is reaching vacancy rates of 18%, making specialist talent a critical competitive advantage.
Diversification of global supply chains
Strategies such as ‘China + 1’ and nearshoring to countries such as Mexico, Vietnam or India are driving up demand for independent verification to assess suppliers who have not previously been tested at the new manufacturing sites. This trend is estimated to have a positive impact of +0.9 percentage CAGR points on the global market.
M&A in the TIC sector: why private equity has tripled its investment
The ICT market has recorded a record volume of deals: 267 transactions in 2024, an 84% increase on the 145 recorded in 2020. Around 245 deals are forecast for 2025, confirming a structural upward trend that has remained resilient even in times of macroeconomic uncertainty. The reason is simple: regulatory compliance verification is not optional; companies cannot do without it regardless of the economic cycle.
One of the most significant factors in understanding this appetite for investment is the growing role of private equity, which has risen from 22% to 36% of M&A activity in the sector between 2015 and the first half of 2025. The logic behind this is the well-known ‘buy & build’ strategy: acquiring regional laboratories at multiples of between 6x and 8x EBITDA, integrating them into larger-scale platforms and, finally, divesting at multiples of between 14x and 16x.
This strategy makes sense because the market is highly fragmented: the 14 leading operators in the sector account for just 26% of the outsourced market, leaving plenty of scope for further consolidation.
Among the most notable transactions of 2024 were:
- The acquisition of Applied Technical Services by SGS SA, with the aim of strengthening its presence in North America.
- The entry of Temasek in Element Materials Technology, the largest privatisation deal ever recorded in the sector.
- The acquisition of Aligned Incentives for Bureau Veritasis aimed at bringing in-house sustainability capabilities driven by artificial intelligence.
The areas attracting the most interest from strategic and financial buyers include: Life Sciences and Biopharma (a €23 billion segment with a CAGR of 9.2%), Digital Trust and Cybersecurity (15% CAGR in IoT), Energy Transition and Renewables (12% CAGR), and ESG Verification. The major incumbents — SGS, Bureau Veritas and Intertek — are locked in a fierce battle for market share in sustainability, whilst TÜV SÜD leads in digital trust and Eurofins in life sciences.
TIC market growth forecasts up to 2032
The commercially outsourced ICT market was valued at between $227 billion and $264 billion in 2024 (the range depends on the scope methodology used) and is projected to grow at a median compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5% through to 2032, with a range of 3.4% to 7.6% depending on the pace of digital adoption and regulatory intensity.
The projections by segment, however, reveal very significant disparities in the drivers of growth:
| Segment | Projected CAGR | Main driving force |
|---|---|---|
| Digital certification and ESG | 8,4% | CSRD/CBAM regulatory supercycle |
| Consumer electronics / Digital trust | 15% | Cybersecurity, AI validation |
| Renewable energy | 12% | Solar, wind, energy storage (BESS) |
| The Asia-Pacific region | 5.3% – 5.6% | Investment in manufacturing infrastructure |
| Remote inspection and continuous monitoring | 6.1% – 6.78% | AI and IoT replacing physical inspection |
The Asia-Pacific region is also the most significant globally, with a market share of between 45% and 47%, driven by massive investment in manufacturing infrastructure in China, India and Southeast Asia.
What does this mean for technology companies in Spain’s TIC sector?
For Spanish companies operating within this ecosystem—whether they are testing laboratories, technical inspection firms, certification bodies or developers of technology for these processes (quality management software, verification platforms, AI solutions for inspection)—the current situation brings together several unusual factors:
- Structural demand is on the rise, driven by regulatory measures (CSRD, CBAM, EU AI Act, NIS2) that are not dependent on the economic cycle.
- Investor appetite is growing, with private equity firms actively seeking consolidation platforms (buy & build) in a market that remains highly fragmented.
- Numerous benefits for the seller, particularly in high-growth sectors such as digital trust, ESG and renewable energy.
- Window of opportunity, as consolidation tends to benefit first those who position themselves well in the early rounds of acquisitions on each platform.
However, attracting this investor interest – and doing so on the best possible terms – does not simply depend on operating in a booming sector. It requires the company to be truly prepared: well-organised financial information, documented processes, limited reliance on the founders, proven regulatory compliance, and a clear value proposition that sets it apart from major international players.
This is precisely where our Be Readymethod comes in: a comprehensive assessment across 10 areas (sales, finance, legal, shareholding, strategy, product and technology, human resources, intellectual property and data, cybersecurity, and operations) that identifies which factors could reduce your company’s value before it goes to market, and how to address them in good time. If you also need to understand how much your company might be worth in the current context of sector multiples, our team also carries out bespokemethod comes in: a comprehensive assessment across 10 areas (sales, finance, legal, shareholding, strategy, product and technology, human resources, intellectual property and data, cybersecurity, and operations) that identifies which factors could reduce your company’s value before it goes to market, and how to address them in good time. If you also need to understand how much your company might be worth in the current context of sector multiples, our team also carries out bespoke company valuations .
The TIC sector is currently experiencing a period of peak activity: record transaction volumes, growing investor appetite from private equity firms, and structural growth drivers that are not dependent on the economic cycle. For Spanish technology companies operating within this ecosystem, whether as verification service providers or as technology suppliers to the sector, this represents a real window of opportunity, both for those seeking to grow through acquisitions and for those considering a future sale.
Would you like to know if your company is ready to capitalise on this opportunity? Our team at Tech M&A Advisors can help you assess this.
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Market Research on the TIC Sector in Spain: 2026
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Frequently asked questions about the TIC sector and its M&A opportunities
The TIC sector comprises companies that offer independent verification services—such as laboratory testing, physical inspections and certification—to help other companies demonstrate compliance with regulations and quality and safety standards throughout their supply chain.
This is because it combines non-discretionary demand — regulatory compliance checks are not dependent on the economic cycle — with a highly fragmented market: the 14 leading operators account for just 26% of the outsourced market. This allows for the implementation of ‘buy-and-build’ strategies, acquiring companies at multiples of 6–8x EBITDA and integrating platforms that are subsequently sold at multiples of 14–16x.
The segments with the strongest growth prospects are digital certification and ESG (8.4% CAGR), consumer electronics and digital trust—cybersecurity and AI validation—with a 15% CAGR, and renewable energy with a 12% CAGR.
The sector is currently undergoing a period of active consolidation, with a record number of transactions (267 in 2024) and attractive valuations in the fastest-growing segments. However, to capitalise on this opportunity, a company must be well-prepared: it needs to have its financial records in order, be less reliant on the founder, and have documented processes in place. A sale readiness assessment helps identify which areas need strengthening before the process begins.