Research

Scientific Domains

Artificial Intelligence

Despite a decade-long history, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) domain is shaping the future of multiple areas — from natural language processing to predictive modelling and decision support systems. With growing impact in sectors like healthcare, transport, and manufacturing, AI is already part of our daily lives through virtual assistants and recommendation systems. At INESC TEC, we explore the frontiers of AI, from fundamental research to the development of innovative technologies. To achieve this, we bring together scientists from various fields, driving new discoveries and applications.

Bioengineering

Bioengineering, a rapidly evolving scientific domain combining engineering and life sciences, integrates core engineering principles, practices and technologies applied to healthcare, biology, environmental and health sciences, enabling engineering solutions to challenges in these domains. At INESC TEC, we foster the advancement of scientific knowledge in bioengineering through fundamental and applied research, advanced training and innovation – developing, for instance, innovative biosensors, wearable medical devices for digital health and well-being monitoring, biorobotics, human-computer interfaces, and new approaches to biomedical image analysis for cancer diagnosis.

Communications

Communications are the backbone of the Internet and the digital services we rely on daily, playing a fundamental role in enabling digital transformation. As connectivity demands grow, advances in wireless technologies, intelligent networks, and radio frequency sensing are redefining the future of communication systems. At INESC TEC, we lead cutting-edge research in the scientific domain of Communications, driving innovation in next-generation wireless networks for faster and more reliable connectivity; reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) for wireless environment control; network security to protect infrastructure and data; and edge computing for processing at the network edge and more efficient communications.

Computer Science and Engineering

This domain drives the continuous evolution of computing technologies, fostering innovations across sectors. As the demand for increasingly secure, efficient, and scalable systems grows, advances in hardware security, database management, and cloud solutions are paving the way for the next generation of computing. The evolution of human-machine interaction towards multimodal paradigms enhances the usability of computational capabilities. Our research in this field spans key areas like secure hardware for IoT, rigorous software engineering, high-assurance systems for managing and processing large volumes of data that support multiple applications, including AI, and new interaction paradigms.

Photonics

Photonics plays a key role in addressing major technological challenges in fields like healthcare, telecommunications, and computing. By integrating signal processing and sensor fusion, photonics drives innovation, transforms industries, and favours new possibilities. At INESC TEC, our research focuses on innovative applications, from advanced sensing technologies to quantum simulators.

Power and Energy Systems

Our research in the Power & Energy Systems domain focuses on supporting the decarbonisation of society - a central goal of the European Union - through the integration of renewable energy sources, energy storage, and improved energy efficiency. At INESC TEC, we are committed to designing sustainable, efficient, and resilient energy systems that meet future needs while reducing carbon emissions.

Robotics

Robotics is transforming industries and services by providing innovative tools and paradigms that enable robots to operate in complex and dynamic environments, often in collaboration with humans. Our research focuses on developing advanced robotic systems that boost autonomy, safety, and efficiency across various applications, including in extreme environments.

Systems Engineering and Management

Research in this domain contributes to significant advances in Systems Engineering and Management within complex organisations and multi-level networks, decision support, the centrality of technology and operations in humans, the design of people-centred systems and services, and tech-based innovation management and policies, aiming to improve business performance, productivity, innovation, resilience, and economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Advancing knowledge across the value chain of science and technology

By spanning the entire science value chain – from fundamental to applied research – our work increases knowledge and reinforces the foundations of technological progress. By favouring collaboration and thorough inquiry, we push scientific frontiers, fostering new perspectives and lasting, impactful solutions.