The School has five innovative R&D units, four of which have been evaluated by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) during the 2013 R&D Units Evaluation process, and have been rated “Good” or “Very Good”. CIDP – The Public Law Research Centre was given the highest rating assigned to a research centre in Law in Portugal during this evaluation, with a score of 21.5 out of 25, ex aequo with another R&D unit. The FCT evaluation system is based on periodic assessments which are demanding and carried out by international experts, on the basis of reports, activity plans, strategic programmes and visits to institutions. The School research centres are home to the most prestigious national researchers in their areas of expertise and renowned foreign researchers who collaborate with them in various international and multidisciplinary research projects.