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 comprising 325 members (142 integrated researchers, 81 collaborators, 102 doctoral students and 5 research fellows). CIAUD-UPT began its activities with a group of 8 researchers, which has since grown to 16. CIAUD-UPT brings together researchers working in the fields 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.