ICAD/VisionLab originated from a research laboratory founded in 1989 by Professor Bruno Feijó within the Department of Informatics at PUC-Rio, with partial funding from FAPERJ. This initiative marked the first time in Brazil that a computer science department established a formal research program in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Animation. The conceptual foundations of the laboratory were strongly influenced by Professor Feijó’s professional experience at Control Data Corporation (CDC), a pioneering company in CAD/CAM technologies (ICEM) and 3D modeling systems (SynthaVision/MAGI), notably used in the film Tron.
In 1989, ICAD merged with Tecgraf, then a laboratory associated with the Department of Civil Engineering, forming an innovative model for industry–academia integration. This collaboration lasted until 1994. Between 1997 and 2002, ICAD expanded its research agenda to include experimental work in digital games and visual effects for television.
During this same period, FINEP (the Brazilian Agency for Innovation) began structuring a new national R&D center focused on digital imaging, with technical support from ICAD. In 2003, this strategic shift resulted in an initial investment from FINEP to establish a research group within the Department of Informatics at PUC-Rio, named VisionLab. Its mission was to serve as a seed initiative for a larger project aimed at positioning Brazil as an international player in visualization and digital entertainment. In that same year, ICAD assumed responsibility for game research within VisionLab and adopted the name ICAD/IGames.
Once again, the Department of Informatics at PUC-Rio played a pioneering role, becoming the first computer science department in Brazil to conduct academic research in game studies and digital content production. ICAD/IGames/VisionLab became a cornerstone of a new model for Research, Development, and Innovation aligned with national industrial policies promoted by FINEP. This model ultimately led to the creation of the Brazilian Visualization Network (RBV), which integrated visualization-related R&D across strategic sectors including digital television and cinema, games, energy, manufacturing, geoprocessing, scientific data visualization, security, and defense. The RBV was coordinated by leading laboratories from five universities: PUC-Rio, UFRJ, UFPE, USP, and PUCRS and one national research institute, the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing (LNCC).
In 2006, ICAD/IGames and VisionLab operated from separate locations: ICAD/IGames at the PUC-Rio campus in Gávea, and VisionLab at Polo Rio Cine & Vídeo in Barra da Tijuca. One of the most significant outcomes of the RBV was its influence on the development of the Brazilian games sector, which subsequently flourished in regions such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Sul. VisionLab’s participation in the RBV program concluded in 2008, after which ICAD/IGames and VisionLab were consolidated at the PUC-Rio campus under the unified designation ICAD/VisionLab.
Also in 2008, ICAD/VisionLab initiated a collaborative program with the Oi Futuro Institute, contributing to the creation of NAVE, an educational center for digital media focused on public technical secondary education. In its later phase, ICAD/VisionLab organized its research activities into four main groups: Games, Visual Effects and Animation, Interactive Storytelling, and Multimedia and Education.