Research in Materials Science and Engineering continues to assert itself as one of the main strategic pillars of the University of Aveiro, reflected in its international positioning in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (link).

For the fourth consecutive year, the institution is among the top 200 in the world in the field of Materials Science, occupying the #151–200 range and achieving 1st place nationally (tied with University of Porto). This performance largely results from the solidity of its research and innovation infrastructure in materials, strongly anchored in CICECO.

Scientific structure focused on materials

CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials is currently the largest Portuguese research unit in the field of materials, having registered growth of over 200% over the last two decades. This expansion has consolidated a highly specialized critical mass, with strong international integration and the capacity to respond to complex scientific and technological challenges.

Scientific activity demonstrates consistent productivity and high impact. With an annual average of nearly 550 indexed articles, the unit ranks among the most productive nationally. Simultaneously, the quality of scientific output is supported by robust indicators: more than 41.9% of publications are in the top 10% of scientific journals and 76.3% in Q1 journals in the recent period.

Innovation, knowledge transfer, and advanced training

The contribution to innovation is equally significant. Since 2002, hundreds of national and international patents have been registered, reflecting a strategy oriented towards knowledge valorization. In parallel, advanced training remains a structuring axis, with hundreds of completed doctoral and master's theses, ensuring the continuous renewal of scientific skills.

Competitive funding reinforces this dynamic, with more than €71 million raised between 2018 and 2023 from national and international sources. This investment supports diverse research, ranging from functional and sustainable materials to applications in energy, environment, health, and emerging technologies.

Global Network of Scientific Collaboration

The international dimension is one of the determining factors in the performance achieved. Approximately 81% of scientific output is carried out in co-authorship with other institutions, with 60% of these collaborations established with international partners. The scientific network involves more than 1300 institutions in 122 countries, reinforcing global visibility and the capacity for integration into consortia of excellence.

Impact on International Positioning

The QS ranking evaluates institutions based on indicators such as academic reputation, recognition by employers, scientific impact (citations and H-index), and international research networks. In this context, the consistency and scale of activity in materials are crucial to the positioning achieved (see the methodology here).

Global leadership in this area remains with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, highlighting its high international competitiveness. Nevertheless, the performance of the University of Aveiro confirms the growing relevance of materials research developed in Portugal and its integration into leading scientific networks.