The Centre for Mechanical and Aerospace Science and Technology of the Universidad de Beira Interior, located in Covilhã, has led the Cycloidal Rotors Optimized for Propulsion (CROP) European project with the aim of developing an innovative system for aeronautical propulsion that can be applied to different types of airship such as aeroplanes, helicopters, dirigibles, and other new-generation appliances.

A research project of the Universidad de Beira Interior has carried out a three-year analysis of the websites of Portuguese political parties to study their method of communication with citizens by this medium. The conclusions show that there is little interaction; political parties do not want to lose control of their message and use the Internet as an instrument of dissemination but not for listening to their potential voters.

The volume of purchases over the Internet is becoming an increasingly important part of the economy as a whole and of the tourism sector in particular. The contracting of transport, hotels, or complete travel packages are among the most habitual Internet transactions. For this reason the Economy and Management Department of the Universidade da Beira Interior has studied the factors that influence travellers when purchasing on-line.

The most common use given to cork is that of the manufacture of cork stoppers for bottles. However, this activity generates a large amount of cork waste that is made use of to produce chipboard, which has many applications. Researchers from the University of Aveiro are analysing the characteristics of cork chipboard and in particular how this material responds to different load or impact resistance conditions.