Laboratories

A significant part of the activities conducted by the Research Center for Arts and Communication (CIAC) is driven by creative and experimental projects grounded in technological and artistic laboratories. The prominent presence of this technological support is exemplified by the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém Hub (LDIS Hub), specifically through the Escape Room – Workflows in Innovation (an empowerment space where a game methodology is put into practice in an exercise that simultaneously combines an immersive playful experience and a strong pedagogical purpose) and the Technology Center (CTEC). At the University of Algarve (UAlg), the ongoing construction of the Arts Laboratory on the Gambelas Campus is expected to play a vital role in generating scientific, technological, and artistic knowledge, as is already the case with FABLAB at the Higher School of Education and Communication (ESEC) and the Recording Studios at UAlg, located in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FCHS). The University of Maia hub features the Multimedia Center and Laboratory (CLM), the Theater and Film School of the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon (ESTC-IPL) hub includes the Theater Laboratory and the Cinema Laboratory, and the Universidade Aberta (UAb) has the InVitro – Art, Technology and Science Lab. For the next four years, there is a commitment to intensify these activities, projecting an even greater impact nationally and internationally. These efforts result in projects and publications with substantial impact, simultaneously fulfilling the mission of promoting technological innovation, creative exploration, and collaborative research, integrating technology as an essential means.

The CIAC Laboratory network is strategically positioned to emerge geographically as multiple dynamic spaces for technological innovation and creation in distinct regions, characterized by cultural diversity and creative potential. This development aims not only to consolidate CIAC’s national presence but also to deepen fruitful collaborations between the academic community, local businesses, and cultural institutions, as well as to enhance international growth.

This diverse set of equipment and technological infrastructure positions CIAC as an essential research and development center, creating active environments that stimulate interdisciplinary collaboration, explore new artistic languages, and incorporate technology as an essential element.