With origins dating back to the eighteenth century, the University of Porto (UPORTO) is currently one the most prestigious Higher Education Institutions of Europe. Close to 30 000 students, 2 436 teachers and researchers along with 1 600 administrative staff within its 15 schools and 49 scientific research units, spread across 3 university campuses located in the city of Porto.

The Faculty of Engineering (FEUP) is the largest faculty of UPORTO, with about 8158 students and 978 teaching staff and researchers across 9 departments. It is located in the Asprela Campus, the main university campus in the city of Porto. FEUP is in the heart of Porto Innovation District and is the engine behind the success of The Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, UPTEC, the winner of the 2013 European Region Stars Award for Smart Growth.

In the FP7, FEUP was partner and/or coordinator in a total of 48 projects, including as host institution of two ERC Grants (Elastic-Turbulence and BI-DSC) and three Individual Marie Curies: one International Outgoing Fellowhips (GPSMB-PPSplitter) and two International Incoming Fellowships (Micro-BioRheology and COVMAPS). Under Horizon 2020, FEUP is already partner in 31 projects funded (Marine UAS, BRIDGES, ICI-THROUGH, IN2RAIL, HYDRALAB-PLUS, FAME, ANTAREX, HEAT-SHIELD, RISEN, PRINTCR3DIT, LIQUEFACT, PRINT-AID, OPTICON, SERA, SimuSafe, InnoDC, IN2STEMPO , OptiMACS, PROSEU, SPRINT, RE-CITY, IN2TRACK2, RECLAIM, TREAL, LIKE, EuroSea, CHAMELEONS, MOVING TOGETHER, BugWright2, EMPOWER, NEWFRAC) and is the coordinator of 6 other funded projects (SDIN, SmartHELMET, GOTSolar, EUMarineRobots, DelNAM and SED). FEUP is also a third party in the projects ANSWER, EMSODEV, IN2TRACK and mcBEEs.

Concerning other international funds, since 2014, FEUP has also been very successful in programs such as: EEA Grants (2 funded projects as coordinator and 2 as partner), COST (2 Coordinated actions, 16 actions as Partner), ECHO (2 projects funded as Partner), CEF (1 project funded as Partner), Interreg (1 project funded as Coordinator, 11 projects funded as Partner), ERA-NET (2 projects funded as Coordinator and 9 projects funded as Partner), RFCS (2 projects funded as Partner, FASTCOLD and DESDEMONA) and UCPM (1 project funded as Partner, LODE). FEUP is also helping to turn the northern region of Portugal into a center for innovation. Since 2014, FEUP was Co-financed in over 25 M€ by the European Regional Development Fund, spreading modern, structural change across the north of Portugal, FEUP is demonstrating how active universities in previously poorer regions of Europe can lead the move to smart growth.