R&D Centres

We have 13 R&D Centres that are the core of our organisational structure.

R&D Centres

Enterprise Systems Engineering

The research carried out at the Centre for Enterprise Systems Engineering (CESE) has a direct impact on industrial transformation, developing sustainable, resilient, and human-centred solutions to address the challenges of the digital and green transitions. Through a co-creation and development approach with scientific and industrial partners, CESE contributes to improve organisational capabilities and driving systemic innovation in complex industrial contexts. As a multidisciplinary research centre, CESE bridges science and practice in the field of Systems Engineering, focusing on value creation within industrial ecosystems. This mission is structured around five research lines that define CESE scientific and technological expertise: Manufacturing Systems Design and Management, Supply Chain and Collaborative Networks Management, Architectures and Industrial Information Systems, Technology Management in Industry, Transportation and Logistics.

Robotics in Industry and Intelligent Systems

At the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, we develop innovative solutions to leverage robotics in the industrial, agricultural, and forestry contexts, driving the digital transformation of the industry. We take a practical approach - from design to deployment - to test the navigation and localisation of mobile robots, explore advances in 2D/3D industrial vision and advanced detection, while also focusing on industrial and collaborative robotics, as well as human-robot interfaces. Our TRIBE LAB is fertile ground for innovative ideas about the agriculture of the future; we develop prototypes and promote excellence in agricultural robotics and IoT technology: with prototypes, advanced sensors (LiDAR, AI cameras), and rapid prototyping tools, we accelerate the development of solutions for the agroforestry sector. We are also present at the iiLab, where we combine applied research, technological demonstration, and controlled environment testing, promoting the integration of emerging technologies into industry. From intelligent robotic cells and cyber-physical systems to data analysis and AI, it is an innovation space where companies can experiment with and validate solutions for the factory of the future. With a multidisciplinary team, and following European agendas, our research work combines fundamental science and application, impacting the design of solutions for Industry 4.0, fostering competitiveness and the digital transformation of the sector.

Industrial Engineering and Management

The Centre for Industrial Engineering and Management (CEGI) is internationally recognised in the fields of decision science, optimisation, operations management and service engineering. The mission is to support organisations and communities in decision-making by harnessing the power of data to develop robust and sustainable solutions to complex problems. Research at CEGI focuses on real-world challenges like transport planning, supply chain management, healthcare service networks, industrial operations optimisation, disaster response and recovery, and the impact assessment of public policies. By resorting to Artificial Intelligence, data science and mathematical modelling, CEGI aims to understand system behaviours, improve process efficiency, increase organisational resilience, and anticipate the effects of decisions in uncertain contexts. CEGI operates across critical sectors including mobility, healthcare, retail, industry, energy, and services, focusing on digital transition and sustainability. We collaborate with academia, companies, municipal authorities, hospitals, and regulators, transforming scientific knowledge into applied solutions. We believe that evidence-based management is key to tackling the challenges of a constantly changing world.

Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship

The mission of our Centre for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CITE) is to carry out multidisciplinary activities at the intersection of technology, innovation, sustainability, and management, promoting the exploration, implementation, and adoption of responsible and sustainable socio-technical systems. We focus on the areas of Innovation Management, Technology Management, and Technology-Based Entrepreneurship, exploring theories, methods, models, and tools to support the innovation process. Through research and innovation activities—including consultancy and advanced training—we address environmental, social, and economic challenges, contributing to the exploration, implementation, and adoption of innovative solutions. We create impact through research and innovation outcomes, aligning our activities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We place high value on collaboration with both national and international partners. We are a member of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), where our mission is to support Portuguese companies on their innovation journey by identifying and fostering international partnerships for business or innovation development, while also helping to find the most relevant funding sources. We support the implementation of innovation management systems, integrating technology management with new business models and value chains, and promoting sustainable and responsible practices. We also run open innovation and acceleration programmes, contributing to the development of startups and the strengthening of innovation ecosystems. We work across three core areas: innovation management and the front end of innovation (FEI), technology management and policy, and entrepreneurship and business model innovation.

Human-Centered Computing and Information Science

The Centre for Human-Centered Computing and Information Science (HumanISE) brings together engineers, scientists, and designers with expertise in Human-Centred Computing (HCC), Computer Science (CS), and Information Science (IS). Interdisciplinarity, one of the Centre’s defining features, fosters the development of software systems, methods, and tools designed to empower individuals and their communities. The excellence and impact of HumanISE’s research, innovation, and consultancy activities allow addressing increasingly complex, volatile, heterogeneous, ambiguous, and uncertain challenges, while ensuring compliance with legal, ethical, and organisational standards and frameworks. Value transfer is achieved through close collaboration with academia and industry partners. HumanISE’s core research areas include Human-Computer Interaction; Computer Graphics and Interactive Digital Media; Information Management and Information Systems; Software Engineering; and Large-Scale and Special-Purpose Computing Systems, Languages, and Tools; as well as Computing for Embedded and Cyber-Physical Systems. HumanISE also explores innovation domains like Earth, Ocean and Space Sciences; Personalised Health Research; Geospatial Information Systems Engineering; and Applied Information Systems and Computing.

Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support

Our Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support (LIAAD) conducts research in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Modelling. These areas are cross-cutting and apply to all sectors of society and the economy. The vast amounts of data being collected, alongside the ubiquity of digitalisation and sensorisation, are increasingly creating opportunities and challenges for automating decision support. The combination of Machine Learning and complex models is transforming the economy, healthcare, justice, industry, science, public administration, and education. This encourages us to invest in diverse technological and scientific approaches and perspectives. Our overarching strategy is to explore the flow and diversification of data, and to invest in research lines that will lead to the development of applied Artificial Intelligence foundations and models that are responsible and human centred.

Advanced Computing Systems

The Centre for Advanced Computing Systems (CRACS) strives for scientific excellence in the areas of programming languages, parallel and distributed computing, information mining, security and privacy, focusing on developing scalable software systems for multidisciplinary applications in Engineering, Life Sciences, Social Networks, the Internet of Things, and more. We explore deep theoretical and practical knowledge related to the design and development of programming languages and middleware for advanced computing systems - including parallel, distributed, high-performance, cloud, wireless, and IoT systems -, while mastering the concepts and methodologies that underpin trust, privacy, and security in computing systems. Our research environment brings together talented junior and senior researchers, most of whom are university lecturers. Together, they form the critical mass and scientific expertise required to fulfil our mission.

High-Assurance Software

At the High-Assurance Software Laboratory (HASLab), we improve practice through theory, creating and implementing software that goes beyond mere functionality: we ensure it is correct, resilient, and secure against failures and attacks. Our team of researchers, scientists, and engineers has proven expertise in software engineering, developing methods and tools to design and integrate robust software; in distributed systems, exploring distribution and replication to ensure scalability and reliability; and in information security, addressing cybersecurity challenges and improving systems with advanced, secure cryptographic protocols, thus minimising vulnerabilities. With a multidisciplinary approach supported by solid theoretical principles, we develop innovative solutions for critical software, secure cloud infrastructures, and privacy-aware big data management, driving scientific advancement, innovation, and high-level consultancy. In addition, we complement our core expertise with work in human-computer interaction, programming languages, computational mathematics, and quantum computing - because we believe the future of trustworthy software is built on knowledge and innovation.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

The Centre for Robotics and Autonomous Systems (CRAS) focuses on developing innovative robotic solutions for operation in complex environments. Each day, our researchers strive to map the unknown, creating solutions to explore the oceans’ depths, monitor the environment, or inspect infrastructures. Our goal? To become a global reference in robotics and autonomous systems, combining expertise in multisensory perception and 3D modelling, navigation and control, robotic manipulation and intervention - pushing the boundaries of autonomous robotics and integrating aerial, ground, and underwater robots into our solutions. Focusing on Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) between 5 and 8, CRAS develops prototypes and operational solutions for strategic sectors. Our laboratory infrastructure includes test tanks, prototyping workshops, and a wide range of equipment ready to operate in real-world environments. Our researchers also resort to Mar Profundo, a support vessel for testing and validating innovative maritime technologies - a key asset in bridging theoretical design and field validation. CRAS stands out for a practical approach: we combine advanced research with a strong focus on real-world applications, reducing human risk in hazardous missions, optimising operations and processes, and expanding the frontiers of autonomous robotics.

Biomedical Engineering Research

The impact that science and innovation can have on the prevention, early detection, and support for the diagnosis of various types of diseases is fully explored at our Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research (C-BER). Guided by an interdisciplinary approach that prioritises technology transfer with economic impact—through the creation of new systems, tools, and methods related to disease diagnosis and monitoring, ageing, human rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and functional assessment—our researchers are dedicated to developing advanced technologies positioned at the intersection of engineering, medicine and health, and general well-being. Promoting strategic partnerships with clinical partners, research institutes, and encouraging international cooperation is one of the centre’s key priorities. Its research is structured across three distinct areas: Biomedical Imaging, Bioinstrumentation, and Neuroengineering.

Our R&D have the freedom to define their own guidance and carry out their activities, and we also encourage the individual freedom of each member of our Community. This freedom is always matched with an interest in preserving the continuity of knowledge generation, ensuring a joint and coherent vision of the institution’s evolution, not reducing it to a mere aggregation of fragmented policies.