UTAD is a Portuguese University focused on the creation, communication and transmission of culture, knowledge, science and technology, through the articulation with study, teaching, research and experimental development.

UTAD’s core objectives are high quality teaching, research and community outreach, striving to be a Centre of Excellence for lifelong learning. An R&D centre called the Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB) is also integrated within UTAD. CITAB focuses on agro-food and forestry systems using the production-chain approach as a whole.