The activities of CEGOT-UMinho assume a strong commitment to economic development under the paradigm of sustainability, in its socio¬economic, environmental, cultural, and political and institutional dimensions. Thematic issues related to environmental changes, natural hazards, culture and tourism, population well-being, innovation and territorial competitiveness, development, land planning and management policies are privileged. Territory, inductor and induced agent of transformation, is the background of investigation, and those elements that interfere in its organization and change constitute research and analysis aims. All scientific technological and cultural activities converge on Geography´s fundamental binomial: the territory¬-society relationship. Having this scientific matrix, DGEO’s education and investigation have a strong impact on the development of Portugal and the North Region, by contributing to the qualification of professional staff from the public and private sector.