LIACOM – Applied Research Laboratory in Communication and Media is the research unit of the School of Communication and Media Studies, accredited by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), dedicated to the development of scientific knowledge in the field of Communication Sciences.
Identity and Mission
Grounded in an applied and laboratory-based approach, LIACOM promotes a research environment oriented toward experimentation, creativity, and innovation, with strong connections to organizations, territories, and communities.
Its work is based on a multidisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration logic, bringing together researchers and professionals from communication-related fields – such as journalism, advertising, public relations, design, production, and marketing – with the aim of co-creating relevant solutions and transferring knowledge to the sector.
Scientific Structure and Research Areas
The center organizes its scientific activity into two main axes:
Axis 1 – Media, Culture, and Technology and Axis 2 – Communication, Strategies, and Creativity. These axes develop research on topics such as sustainability and media, literacy and citizenship, technology and mediation, communication for the public interest, organizational dynamics, and the relationship between brands, consumption, and society.
In addition to these axes, LIACOM structures its activity through a set of observatories, laboratories, and scientific initiatives that reinforce its applied dimension and its connection to society. Among these structures are the Landscape Museum, the Oral Memory Archive of Communication Professions, the Journalism Trends Laboratory, the Public Communication Campaigns Observatory, and the Advertising, Brands, and Consumption Observatory, as well as the UNESCO Chair in Communication, Media and Information Literacy, and Citizenship – the first in Portugal in this field.
These structures function as platforms for research, experimentation, and knowledge transfer, enabling the development of projects in close collaboration with institutional partners, companies, and communities, and contributing to the social impact of the research produced.
Objectives and Institutional Positioning
LIACOM’s main objectives are to conduct applied research in collaboration with the business sector and society, to promote communication as a strategic driver of development, and to contribute to more inclusive, sustainable, and informed societies, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
As a research center accredited by FCT for the 2025-2029 period, LIACOM positions itself as a space for relevant scientific production, innovation, and connection between academia, industry, and society, while also strengthening the role of the School of Communication and Media Studies within the national landscape of communication research.
