IGOT-ULisboa recognized as Key Innovator by the European Commission in the eMOTIONAL Cities project

October 23, 2025

A project coordinated by researcher Paulo Morgado (CEG/TERRA) that maps urban emotions and promotes more inclusive cities has been identified by the European Commission as a Key Innovator.

The Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território da Universidade de Lisboa (IGOT-ULisboa) has been recognized by the European Commission as a Key Innovator in the eMOTIONAL Cities – Mapping the cities through the senses of those who make them project, funded by the Horizon 2020 program and coordinated by Paulo Morgado, researcher at the Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG) /IGOT-ULisboa and member of the TERRA Associate Laboratory.

The recognized innovation – “Multi-environment wearable data acquisition unit” – has been added to the Innovation Radar platform, which highlights the most promising technological solutions supported by the European Commission.

The eMOTIONAL Cities project (2021–2025) aimed to understand how the urban, natural, and built environment influences citizens’ cognitive and emotional processes. The research considered variables such as age, gender, and social vulnerability, mapping neurobiological reactivity in time and space. The results contribute to a more inclusive urban design that promotes mental health and collective well-being.

This distinction reinforces the role of TERRA members in producing scientific knowledge with social impact and promoting more sustainable, people-centered cities.