This Research Centre adopts the designation of CIAUD-UPT, a branch of CIAUD Research Unit at Portucalense University. CIAUD-UPT is responsible for the scientific research and production of the Department of Architecture and Multimedia Gallaecia (DAMG). CIAUD-UPT research group holds the resources and experience previously attributed to CI-ESG – Research Center of the Escola Superior Gallaecia, having as its founder Professor Mariana Correia, who was its Director until Sept. 2024. Since Oct. 2024, the Director of CIAUD-UPT is Professor Mónica Alcindor.

CIAUD is a Research Centre with 352 members (154 integrated members, 85 collaborators, 108 PhD students and 5 grant holders). CIAUD-UPT started its activity with a group of 8 researchers, having grown to 15. CIAUD-UPT integrates researchers in the areas of Architecture, Heritage, Urbanism, and Multimedia.

Decisive factors in the success of the creation of CIAUD-UPT were the research activity previously developed in the scope of CI-ESG, which regularly won competitive funding from National and European research projects, either as Project-Leader or as Partner. The funding was won from project bids submitted in competitive programmes, such as HORIZON, FCT, Creative Europe, TEMPUS, POCTEP/InterReg IV, Culture 2000, InterReg III,  etc. The high variety of funded projects was possible due to the high expertise acquired, and the raising number of submitted annual bids, responding to the growing competitiveness of the group.

CIAUD-UPT develops regularly international and national research projects, consultancy and services for regional institutions and the local community.