CISTER (Research Centre in Real-Time and Embedded Computing Systems) is a Research Unit based at the School of Engineering (ISEP) of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (IPP), Portugal.

Since it was created, the CISTER grown to become one of the leading European research units in the area, contributing with seminal research works in a number of subjects: real-time communication networks and protocols; wireless sensor networks (WSN); cyber-physical systems (CPS); real-time programming paradigms and operating systems; distributed embedded systems; cooperative computing and QoS-aware applications; scheduling and schedulability analysis (including multiprocessor systems). CISTER was, in 2004 and 2007 awarded the classification of Excellent in the FCT evaluations.

CISTER has a strong and solid international reputation, built upon a robust track record of publications, a continuous presence on program and organizing committees of international top conferences. There around 60 persons directly involved in the unit, half of them with PhDs, and encompassing more than 20 nationalities.