First edition of Science4Policy supports 18 studies for public policy

The results of the first edition of Call Science Studies for Public Policy (Science4Policy – S4P-23) launched by FCT — Foundation for Science and Technology and PlanAPP — Center for Competence in Planning, Policy, and Forecasting in Public Administration in September 2023.

The 18 selected studies (see the "Results" tab) fall into different thematic areas that correspond to a specific public policy need identified by RePLAN — the Public Administration Planning and Forecasting Services Network — within the framework of the Thematic Agendas of the Portugal 2030 Strategy.

The result of a partnership between FCT and PlanAPP, the Call main objective Call to finance and promote scientific knowledge to support decision-making and the formulation of public policies.

To encourage more integrated approaches to policy-making and decision support, the thematic areas covered by Call identified as needs by at least two government departments, favoring cross-cutting readings and perspectives of the problem and the responses to be developed.

In addition, the selection process values collaborations with public administration entities and civil society partners in the context of the topics addressed. In this way, the initiative encourages the production of science for public policy in the scientific community, as well as the use of the knowledge produced for the development of public policies by the government and public administration.

The 18 winning studies are led by researchers from research units in various scientific fields and geographical locations, whose teams include public administration entities from various areas of government. Each project will culminate, within a maximum period of 12 months, in the delivery of a policy brief with substantiated recommendations for the problems identified in the respective thematic areas.

For more information on the projects selected in the 1st edition of Call , click here.

More recently, on February 14, the second edition of Call was launched. The application deadline was April 2, and the results are expected to be announced in July 2024.

Science4Policy is part of a series of Calls strengthening synergies with other areas of government for the development of R&D activities relevant to non-academic entities (Health+Science and Defense+Science programs).