Research environment is one of the areas where Iscte stands out most, placing among the top 350 institutions globally in this dimension, which evaluates indicators such as scientific productivity, reputation, and research income.

The international recognition of the research carried out at Iscte has been steadily consolidating. Recently, Iscte became the first Portuguese University to receive the European HR Excellence in Research Award, granted by the European Commission in recognition of its good practices in the recruitment and management of human resources in research.

Continuous investment in an innovative and collaborative academic and research environment is also one of the pillars of the PIONEER Alliance, a consortium of ten European universities co-funded by the European Commission, of which Iscte is a member. The Alliance promotes the co-creation of a transnational European campus and the joint development of teaching, research, and innovation activities. Within the PIONEER framework, Iscte will host workshops, training sessions, and cooperation initiatives, including a training school for early-career researchers, co-organised with the Avans University of Applied Sciences.

To learn more about the research conducted at Iscte visit the Iscte-Knowledge and Innovation website.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings assess University performance based on 18 indicators, grouped into five main areas: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry, and International Outlook. The 2026 edition includes more than 2,000 higher education institutions worldwide, among which 16 are Portuguese universities.