The new project, “VARIABILITI: Understanding learning variability to personalise training and boost knowledge-driven, efficient and acceptable neurotechnologies”, will bring together doctoral researchers from across Europe to research a question that sits at the heart of the field: why do individuals respond so differently when learning to use brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and how can that variability be turned into an advantage?
Beyond the research itself, VARIABILITI is structured as a doctoral training network, preparing the next generation of neurotechnology researchers through cross-institutional supervision, mobility periods and collaboration with both academic and industrial partners. “This combination of scientific excellence, mobility and practical experience prepares students to become future leaders in neurotechnology research and innovation,” Vourvopoulos notes.
The project is scheduled to begin in March 2027. This funding continues ISR-Lisboa’s strong engagement with European neurotechnology programmes. The institute was previously involved in IQ-BRAIN (MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship), focused on improving quantitative MRI using artificial intelligence and physical modelling, and has established itself as a leading centre for BCI research in Portugal. For Vourvopoulos, whose teaching at Técnico spans courses in bioinstrumentation, neuromodulation and human-machine interfaces, VARIABILITI represents a natural convergence of research and training missions.
At ISR-Lisboa, the focus will be on neuro-adaptive systems for stroke rehabilitation, leveraging virtual reality environments and real-time feedback to create closed-loop training experiences that respond dynamically to the user. “Our team contributes particularly to the development of adaptive systems that integrate virtual reality and real-time feedback for personalised rehabilitation training,” says Vourvopoulos. “We aim to understand why people learn differently when interacting with brain-computer interfaces and how this variability can be used to personalise training and improve outcomes,” he explains.
Brain-computer interfaces translate brain activity into commands for external devices, with applications ranging from communication aids and motor rehabilitation to cognitive enhancement. Despite decades of progress, a key bottleneck remains: a significant share of users struggle to gain reliable control over these systems, and the reasons are not yet well understood. VARIABILITI addresses this directly. The network combines neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering and artificial intelligence to map the sources of inter-individual variability and develop personalised training protocols that adapt to each user’s neural profile.
VARIABILITI is funded through the 2025 MSCA Doctoral Networks call, through which the European Commission will support 141 doctoral programmes with €617 million, training over 2,000 doctoral candidates across Europe. Instituto Superior Técnico is also a partner in a second network funded in this call “SPARK (Spatiotemporal photonic technologies)”, coordinated by Marco Piccardo (INESC-MN).
