INESC-ID has been awarded the highest possible rating—“Excellent”—in the latest national evaluation of Research and Development (R&D) Units by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT). Our research center achieved the maximum score in all evaluation criteria, highlighting the quality, merit, and societal relevance of its research activities.
INESC-ID stood out as one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. With a research community that includes more than 200 research associates, and almost 200 PhD students, the unit develops cutting-edge research aligned with four thematic lines of high societal relevance: Societal Digital Transformation, Life and Health Technology, Energy Transition, Security and Privacy.
The FCT evaluation panel praised INESC-ID for its outstanding international-level research, excellence in scientific publications—including work in Nature, NeurIPS, and ICSE—and its contributions to both theoretical and applied domains. Groundbreaking projects such as Gravitron (trusted execution environments in GPUs, adopted by NVIDIA and Microsoft) and Alive (compiler verification tools, used by Google, Apple, and Qualcomm) were recognized as proof of the unit’s technological leadership.
In addition to scientific output, the panel highlighted INESC-ID’s strong role in international collaboration, industry partnerships, and public engagement, as well as its firm commitment to ethical research practices and gender equality. Currently, 10 spin-offs operate based on INESC-ID technologies, showcasing its impact on innovation and the broader economy.
“This result is a recognition of the collective work of our entire community,” said Inês Lynce, President of the Board of Directors of INESC-ID. “It reflects our commitment to excellent research, our focus on societal challenges, and our long-standing values of collaboration, inclusion, and scientific integrity. We are proud to lead a center that not only advances knowledge but also strives to shape a better future for all.”
Miguel Pupo Correia, President of the Executive Committee, notes that “INESC-ID’s Excellent rating by FCT confirms the effectiveness of the strategy we have been pursuing — and intend to continue — based on four main pillars: scientific excellence, internationalization, technology and knowledge transfer, societal impact, and talent development.”
Looking forward, INESC-ID will place a strong emphasis on talent development, adding a new strategic pillar to its institutional mission. This includes empowering young researchers through initiatives such as PhD representation, tenure-track-like programs, and ongoing investments in ethics, training, and career progression.
“Most of the institution’s activity consists of self-funded research projects and service provision. However, the funding received as part of this evaluation is crucial for the implementation of our strategic plan, particularly in terms of improving working conditions for researchers. This includes support for project proposal preparation and project management”, ads Miguel Pupo Correia.
The panel also emphasized the need for robust computational infrastructure—including GPU clusters and specialized labs—to support the center’s ambitious goals in machine learning, embedded systems, and robotics. INESC-ID’s solid plan for the upcoming years positions the unit to continue delivering high-impact, technically challenging, and socially meaningful research.
The evaluation, which determines the allocation of €634.9 million in public funding for the 2025–2029 period, reviewed a total of 336 R&D units. Of these, 313 received funding, with only one withdrawal. The rigorous process also noted that 79 units improved their classification compared to the previous evaluation.
