FCT signs agreements with CES and ACM for research in social areas

On July 4, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) signed a protocol with the Economic and Social Council (CES) and another that brought together these two bodies and the High Commission for Migration (ACM), with a view to promoting social studies to support political decisions. The ceremony was attended by the President of the FCT, Madalena Alves, the Deputy Minister and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Ana Catarina Mendes, the Minister for Science, Technology, and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, and the President of the CES, Francisco Assis.

The protocol established between FCT and CES is comprehensive and multi-year, and aims to promote research in the economic and social fields. The protocol established in partnership with a third entity, ACM, aims to develop a scientific study on Roma communities in Portugal, in particular on their socioeconomic situation, and which were represented at the protocol signing session by various associations from these communities. This will be the first national study on Roma communities, an objective of the National Strategy for the Integration of Roma Communities (ENICC).

The establishment of these protocols aims to guarantee funding for relevant studies in the economic and social areas, so that research can be carried out that can be made available to the country and used as a basis for public policies, enabling political decisions to be supported by scientific studies.