Advancing AI research and its impact, from Porto to the world

Mission

LIACC pursues research in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science and turns it into measurable impact for society. We combine fundamental research with proof-of-concept systems and prototypes, and publish openly. We partner with industry, public administration and hospitals to deploy AI that is explainable, auditable and trustworthy.

History

LIACC was founded in 1988 by a small group of Computer Science and AI doctorates. It is an R&D unit of the University of Porto. It is headquartered at FEUP with hubs at FCUP, UMaia, UFP and UAzores. It also has integrated researchers from other institutions (including P.PORTO). It brings together 33 integrated members, 47 PhD collaborators and 58 PhD students. It was rated Very Good in the last FCT assessment of R&D units.

Research is organised around long-running groups — Distributed AI and Agent-based Simulation (DAIAS), Human–Machine Intelligent Cooperation (HMIC) and Computer Science. It is managed, under FCT rules, by a Coordinating Board, a Scientific Council and an external Advisory Board.

What we do

Our work spans seven research areas — Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Intelligent Robotics, Intelligent Simulation, Complex Systems, Declarative Programming and Software Engineering. These are applied across seven thematic lines: Health, Smart Cities, Industry & Services, Public Administration, Infrastructures, Entertainment and Human/Machine Interaction. A researcher or project usually sits at the intersection of both. We also host and co-supervise theses across the University of Porto's leading AI and computer-science programmes.

Values

• Scientific rigour. Every recommendation is backed by peer-reviewed evidence.
• Open science. We release models, datasets, and code whenever we can.
• Applied impact. Research ends in deployment, not a filing cabinet.
• Trustworthy AI. Explainability, safety, and fairness are first-class design goals.