The University of Coimbra today announced an investigation aimed at developing Artificial Intelligence technologies that strengthen the capacity to respond to hybrid threats such as cyberattacks, misinformation campaigns and other forms of digital interference.
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03/08/2026
by
Lusa
Intitled SHIELD-EU, the project is being led by the Coimbra Institute of Systems and Computers Engineering (INESCC), a research and development unit associated with the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC).
The objective of the project, coordinated by researcher Jorge Sá Silva, is “to develop an innovative Internet of Things (IoT)-based defense architecture, Border Artificial Intelligence (Edge AI) and cognitive, emotional and behavioral models, with the aim of strengthening resilience to threats associated with hybrid warfare.”.
“SHIELD-EU intends to place the scientific knowledge developed at INESCC and FCTUC in the service of building more resilient and safe European digital infrastructures, always keeping the human being at the center of technological development,” Jorge Sá Silva explained.
The University of Coimbra recalled that “current conflicts often combine cyber attacks, campaigns of misinformation, psychological manipulation and other forms of digital interference”.
In this context, “new challenges are posed to the security and responsiveness of organisations and critical infrastructure”.
The SHIELD-EU project aims to “develop human-centered technological solutions capable of supporting decision-making, improving situational awareness and increasing response capacity in complex and high-pressure environments,” he stressed.
One of its main lines of research is the use of Edge AI technologies, “which enable the processing of critical information locally, faster, safer and more autonomously, reducing dependency on centralized infrastructure and increasing operational robustness”.
This project is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology under the DEFEASA + SCIENCE competition: Exploring Projects 2025. It has the collaboration of the Portuguese Air Force, which “will contribute to the validation of the solutions developed in operational scenarios, bringing scientific research closer to the concrete needs of the defense sector”.