CEDIS Achieves FCT's Highest Rating with the Top Score Among Legal Research Centres

Centre: CEDIS, the Research & Development on Law and Society of the NOVA School of Law, has received the highest rating – Excellent – in the evaluation of national R&D units carried out by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). Furthermore, among research centres in the field of Law, CEDIS received the highest score. This recognition secures total funding of over €1.8 million for the 2025–2029 research cycle.

“This result confirms the relevance of our work and our vision of a transformative law, sensitive to diversity and social inequalities. It is also an incentive to continue to innovate in the way we practice and teach law“, says Professor Soraya Nour Sckell, Director of CEDIS.

The evaluation highlighted CEDIS’ commitment to a critical, interdisciplinary and innovative perspective on law, combining academic excellence with public intervention and social impact.

Research with a purpose: law at the service of society

Founded with a mission to challenge traditional paradigms and promote alternative ways of producing legal knowledge, CEDIS has established itself as a research centre committed to addressing contemporary challenges. The FCT has highlighted the significance of CEDIS’s contributions in areas such as gender and race discrimination, human rights, climate justice, artificial intelligence, corporate compliance and others.

The Centre takes a broad view of legal research, supported by empirical methodologies and an international and interdisciplinary group of researchers. This diversity is reflected in the authorship and co-authorship of publications, with particular emphasis on significant female participation, recognised scientific quality and impact on national and European public policy.

An ambitious plan for the years ahead

For the coming period, CEDIS proposes to deepen its work around three main thematic axes: Empowering People, Protecting the Planet and Promoting Strong Institutions, aligning its strategy with the Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to new projects and lines of research, there are plans to recruit researchers in emerging areas, organise international conferences, strengthen advanced training and support active participation in global research networks.