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universidade lusófona
About

PRR e PRR Equipar+2

Context and Introduction

Supported by the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and the European Union through NextGenerationEU, under the Equipar 2+ programme, HEI-Lab is expanding its scientific infrastructure through the acquisition of advanced research equipment and software.

The new infrastructure will enhance the laboratory's capacity to conduct interdisciplinary research across its core areas of expertise, enabling the application of innovative methodologies and technologies to the study of human interaction with digital environments. This investment contributes to the long-term development of HEI-Lab's research ecosystem, strengthening its scientific capabilities and supporting high-quality research with societal relevance.

PRR

1. Project Fact Sheet 

  • Project Reference: UID/PRR/05380/2025
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/PRR/05380/2025
  • Beneficiary Institution: Universidade Lusófona – Centro Universitário de Lisboa
  • Research Unit: HEI-Lab
  • Funding Programme: Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR) – NextGenerationEU
  • Eligible Investment: €415 347.54
  • Project Duration: 01/01/2025– 30/06/2026

2. Project Description

The HEI-Lab – Human-Environment Interaction Lab is a multidisciplinary research unit at Universidade Lusófona dedicated to understanding the interactions between Humans and their physical, social, and digital environments. The PRR-funded infrastructure project (UID/PRR/05380/2025) strengthens the unit's scientific and technological capacity by establishing an integrated research environment for the collection, analysis, and interpretation of psychophysiological, behavioural, and computational data.  Combined with the HEI-Lab's transdisciplinary expertise in psychology, computer and information systems, and computer science, this infrastructure provides a unique environment for interdisciplinary research, enabling the development of innovative methodologies based on psychophysiology, immersive technologies, serious games, and artificial intelligence, with applications in mental health, digital health, and behavioural sciences.

The new research infrastructure combines state-of-the-art experimental facilities with advanced analytical software and secure data management platforms. It includes high-precision equipment complemented by specialised software for behavioural analysis, psychophysiological data acquisition, experimental design, and statistical modelling. These resources enable the execution of complex multimodal studies, foster advanced training for students and early-career researchers, strengthen international collaboration, and accelerate the translation of research into evidence-based solutions for healthcare, industry, and society.

Scientific and Technical Objectives

  • Strengthen the scientific and technological capacity of the research unit through the acquisition of advanced research infrastructure and analytical tools.
  • Establish an integrated infrastructure for the collection, analysis, and interpretation of psychophysiological and behavioural data in immersive and experimental settings.
  • Advance interdisciplinary research by integrating expertise from psychology, computer and information systems (CIS), and computer science (CS).
  • Develop innovative, technology-enhanced research methodologies using psychophysiology, interactive technologies, serious games, and artificial intelligence.
  • Support advanced training for undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and early-career researchers through access to state-of-the-art research facilities.
  • Enhance the research unit's international competitiveness by promoting scientific excellence, innovation, and the translation of research into mental health, digital health, and societal applications.

Expected Impact and Results

  • Increased production of high-quality scientific publications, competitive research projects, and international collaborations.
  • Enhanced capability to conduct complex, multimodal studies
  • Greater integration of psychophysiological, behavioural, and computational data, leading to more robust and reproducible research outcomes.
  • Development of innovative digital health, mental health, and behavioural science solutions with clear translational potential.
  • Increased attractiveness of the research unit for researchers, students, and external partners, strengthening its position as a national and international reference in technology-enhanced behavioural research.
  • Improved knowledge transfer to healthcare, industry, and public-sector stakeholders, supporting evidence-based practice and innovation.

3. Nominate List of Acquired Scientific Software & Platforms (Last updated: 08/07/2026)

Note: In compliance with PRR transparency guidelines, this nominate list systematically tracks the scientific software acquired under the project, ensuring full traceability and audit readiness. This inventory is updated progressively as additional acquisitions are completed.

Software / Platform

Manufacturer

Purpose

License Type

Quantity

Face Reader 10

Noldus

Automatic facial expression and emotion analysis

Full license with 2-year upgrade coverage 1

SmartPLS

SmartPLS GmbH

Structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)

Perpetual

1

Questionpro

QUESTIONPRO INC

Online survey design and data collection

1-Year 10 users

Brain Vision Analyzer 2

Brain Products

Neurophysiological signal processing/analysis

Perpetual

1

Tobii Pro Lab Full Edition

Tobii

Eye-tracking data collection and analysis

Perpetual with 2-year upgrade coverage

1

Acqknowledge ACK100W

BIOPAC

Biosignal acquisition and analysis

Perpetual

1

Superlab 7

Cedrus

Stimulus presentation and experiment design

Perpetual

10

 4. Research Infrastructure & Equipment Overview

Infrastructure/Equipment

Purpose

Interactive Room Projector

Immersive experimental environments and behavioural studies

FLIR Thermal IR Camera

Thermal imaging and physiological assessment

Tobii Pro Spectrum 1200 Hz Eye Tracker

High-precision eye-tracking and cognitive research

Tobii Glasses 3 (+ accessories)

Mobile eye-tracking

Markerless Vicon Motion Capture System

Full-body motion capture and behavioural analysis

tDCS Kit

Non-invasive brain stimulation research

BioNomadix Logger Device

Wireless physiological data acquisition

Research Ring (EDA, ECG, Pulse, Temperature)

Wearable physiological monitoring

Smart 4K PoE Dome Camera System

Video recording and behavioural observation

Lenovo Laptop

Data acquisition and analysis

Decentralized Scientific Data Repository

Secure research data management

5. Official Project Documentation & Transparency Links

For full consultation and to ensure regulatory compliance regarding the publicity of this funded project, please refer to the links below:

  • View the Official PRR Project Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Proof of Publicity and Project Sheet Disclosure

 EQUIPAR 2+

1. Project Fact Sheet 

  • Project Reference: UID/PRR2/05380/2025 
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/PRR2/05380/2025
  • Beneficiary Institution: Universidade Lusófona – Centro Universitário de Lisboa
  • Research Unit: HEI-Lab
  • Funding Programme: Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR) – NextGenerationEU
  • Eligible Investment: €464 977,61
  • Project Duration: 01/01/2025– 30/06/2026

2. Project Description

The HEI-Lab – Human-Environment Interaction Lab is a multidisciplinary research unit at Universidade Lusófona dedicated to understanding the interactions between Humans and their physical, social, and digital environments. The PRR-funded EQUIPAR2+ infrastructure project (UID/PRR2/05380/2025) expands the unit's scientific and technological capacity by establishing an advanced research ecosystem for immersive, multimodal, and computational research. Combined with the HEI-Lab's transdisciplinary expertise in psychology, computer and information systems, and computer science, this infrastructure provides a unique environment for interdisciplinary research, enabling the development and application of advanced digital technologies, extended reality (XR), neuroscience, and human-centred artificial intelligence to address emerging scientific and societal challenges.

The new research infrastructure integrates state-of-the-art facilities for immersive experimentation, neurophysiological assessment, motion analysis, and high-performance computing. It includes extended reality technologies (Varjo XR-4 headset, XR glasses, and an LED Wall), high-density EEG and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems, advanced eye-tracking, motion capture technologies, multimodal data integration platforms, and high-performance computational workstations. These resources enable the development of innovative digital research methodologies, improve the quality, efficiency, and reproducibility of multidisciplinary research, strengthen national and international collaboration, and accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into impactful technological and societal applications.

Scientific and Technical Objectives

  • Expand the research unit's scientific and technological capacity through the acquisition of advanced research infrastructure.
  • Enhance the operational and methodological capabilities of the research unit to support cutting-edge research and innovation.
  • Strengthen the development and application of advanced digital technologies across multidisciplinary research activities.
  • Increase the research unit's capacity to address emerging scientific and societal challenges in line with national and European digital priorities.
  • Foster scientific excellence, collaboration, and innovation by providing researchers with access to state-of-the-art equipment and methodologies.

Expected Impact and Results

  • Improved quality, efficiency, and reproducibility of research activities.
  • Increased capacity to develop and implement innovative digital research methodologies.
  • Greater participation in competitive national and European research initiatives.
  • Strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange across research domains.
  • Enhanced contribution to digital innovation and the translation of research into societal and technological impact.

3. Nominate List of Acquired Scientific Software & Platforms  (Last updated: 08/07/2026)

Note: In compliance with PRR transparency guidelines, this nominate list systematically tracks the scientific software acquired under the project, ensuring full traceability and audit readiness. This inventory is updated progressively as additional acquisitions are completed.

Software / Platform

Manufacturer

Purpose

License Type

Quantity

Brain Vision Analyzer 2

Brain Products

Processes, filters, and analyzes EEG and ERP neurophysiological data.
Perpetual

1

4. Research Infrastructure & Equipment Overview

Infrastructure/Equipment

Purpose

Noldus Hub System

Integration, synchronization, and management of multimodal experimental data and behavioural observations

Varjo XR-4 Headset

Development of immersive virtual and mixed reality (XR) research environments.

XR Glasses

Extended reality applications for behavioural and human-computer interaction studies.

LED Wall

Creation of immersive visualization environments for XR research and collaborative experiments.

XR Workstation (AMD Ryzen)

High-performance computing for XR rendering, simulation, and data processing.

High-Performance Desktop Workstations

Processing, analysis, and visualization of large multimodal datasets.

High-Performance Laptops

Data acquisition, experimental control, computational analyses, and mobile research activities.

iMac

Data processing, experimental programming, and multimedia content development.

BIONIC fNIRS System

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy for non-invasive assessment of cortical brain activity.

fNIRS Spectrum System

High-resolution neuroimaging for cognitive, behavioural, and affective neuroscience research.

Geodesic EEG System – 64-channel Geodesic Sensor Nets

High-density electroencephalography (EEG) acquisition for cognitive and neurophysiological studies.

Infant EEG Caps

EEG acquisition in paediatric and developmental neuroscience research.

LogicOne GAZE Head-Free Eye Tracking System (250 Hz)

 

High-precision eye-tracking for visual attention, perception, and human behaviour studies.

Motion Capture Equipment

Marker-based and/or markerless movement analysis for behavioural and XR experiments.

XR & Motion Capture Laboratory Upgrades (Structural adaptations and specialised flooring)

Adaptation of laboratory facilities to support XR and motion capture research safely and efficiently.

 5. Official Project Documentation & Transparency Links

For full consultation and to ensure regulatory compliance regarding the publicity of this funded project, please refer to the links below:

  • View the Official EQUIPAR 2+ Project Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Proof of Publicity and Project Sheet Disclosure