About CIIC
Research that connects smart IoT ecosystems, cybersecurity & digital forensics, and immersive computing.
CIIC was created in October 2008 as a research unit of the Polytechnic University of Leiria (IPLeiria) to promote research in computer science and information technologies.
It has been an FCT research unit since 2013.
Research Areas.
CIIC researchers are organised in three strategic research areas, shaping our scientific agenda and partnerships across academia, industry, and public institutions. Cross-cutting technologies like digital twins, AI, and real-time IoT communications connect these domains.
Smart Internet of Things Ecosystems (SIoTE)
From Ambient Assisted Living to smart agriculture, unmanned vehicle ecosystems, and digital twins.
Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics (CS/DF)
Intrusion detection, AI security, privacy-preserving systems, and forensic evidence.
Virtual & Augmented Reality (VAR)
Immersive systems for cultural heritage, tourism, industry, and biodiversity conservation.
Mission & Objectives.
CIIC’s mission is to conduct high-quality research and innovation with regional, national, and global impact. We aim to provide a continuously updated contribution to the scientific community and to translate research into real-world applications.
- Strengthen internationalisation and collaborative networks.
- Increase the quality and quantity of scientific output.
- Expand national and international R&D projects.
- Support scientific employment and PhD supervision.
Impact 2018-2023.
CIIC recorded sustained growth in scientific output and R&D projects, reaching the highest project count in 2023. The total funding raised through R&D projects exceeded 5 million euros, with a strong increase in international collaborations.
Scientific output
Continuous increase in journal publications, peaking at 20 articles in 2023 (Q1/Q2 journals).
Internationalisation
International projects grew year-on-year, reinforcing CIIC’s role in global research networks.
Talent pipeline
10 doctoral candidates in 2023, with strong supervision of master’s and PhD students.
Infrastructure & Laboratory Intensity
CIIC’s work relies on high-intensity laboratory infrastructure and field operations.
- Data centre and cloud platforms for processing and long-term storage.
- Connectivity testbeds across Wi-Fi, LoRa, and 4G/5G with edge devices.
- Unmanned vehicles and drones with high maintenance requirements.
- Field campaigns in forests, agricultural areas, and ocean environments.
- Machine learning server infrastructure (GPU expansion planned).
- Specialised labs under modernisation: LCM, LabCIF, and Game Lab.
Programmes & Initiatives
- FCT “CEEC Institucional” (2 full-time PhD researchers).
- PhD in Digitalisation Engineering.
- PhD in Data Science for Sustainability.
Organization.
This research unit is formally composed of the Director, the Board of Directors (four integrated PhD researchers responsible for scientific and strategic management), the Scientific Council composed of all integrated PhD researchers, and an External Advisory Board of internationally recognised experts in CIIC research areas.
2025-2029 Vision
CIIC will continue its strategic plan to strengthen scientific excellence and international recognition.
- Grow doctoral programmes and research careers.
- Reinforce Open Science practices.
- Expand industry partnerships and international projects.
Looking Ahead.
Aligned with the principles of Open Science, CIIC aims to enhance its scientific production and address challenges across Smart IoT Ecosystems, VAR, Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, supported by IPLeiria’s participation in RUN-EU and new joint PhD programmes.
Knowledge Domains
CIIC-IPL aims to promote scientific and technological developments, education, and services in computer science and information technologies knowledge domains. These goals are to be achieved by acting in the following research streams.
Ambient Assisted Living
Focuses on the development of technologies and services that enhance the autonomy, safety, and quality of life for the elderly and individuals with special needs in their daily activities.
Ambient Assisted Living Ecosystems as a Service
Provides integrated solutions that combine technology and services to support independent living, safety, and well-being for the elderly and those with special needs.
Smart Heterogeneous Unmanned Vehicle Ecosystems
Involve the integration and coordination of diverse autonomous vehicles, enhancing efficiency, adaptability, and collaboration across various environments and applications.
Digital Forensics
Involves the investigation and analysis of digital devices and data to uncover, preserve, and present evidence in legal and cybersecurity contexts
Virtual Reality
Creates immersive, computer-generated environments that simulate real or imagined experiences, enabling users to interact with and explore digital worlds
Augmented Reality
Overlays digital information onto the real world, enhancing the user's perception and interaction with their physical environment.
Multimedia and cognitive systems
Covering among other topics, universal access systems, e-learning, training and education systems, entertainment and visualization, and image processing;
Evolutionary and complex systems
Covering among other topics, complex adaptive systems, self-organizing systems, evolutionary computation, genetic algorithms, artificial immune systems, collective intelligence, optimization algorithms based in biology, and social networks;
Software engineering and systems
Covering among other topics, fault tolerance and reliability, data processing, parallel and distributed systems, high-performance computing, operating systems, embedded systems, and systems interoperability;
Data communications
Covering among other topics, terminal, software, data and users’ mobility, quality of service, advanced models for networks’ management, architectures and services, and sensor networks;
Information Systems and Web
Covering among other topics, databases and data warehouses, enterprise solutions such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), business process modeling, Computers and Society, vertical Information Systems Applied to areas such as health-care, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), e-commerce and e-business, collaboration systems, semantic web technologies, and information systems management;
Cybersecurity
Covering among other topics, information security, applications, systems, users and networks;