+Science, +Europe

The PERIN 2019 "+Science, +Europe" conferences will take place between March and April, with a variety of sessions in different parts of the country, in order to encourage Portugal to participate more actively in European research and innovation programs. This is the first cycle of conferences, but other events will follow until the Science 2019 meeting, from July 8 to 10, 2019.

The fact that we are two years away from the conclusion of the current European research and innovation framework program (i.e., the Horizon 2020 Program) and in view of the definition of the European Union's major financial options for 2021-2027, including the launch of the new European framework program for research and innovation (i.e., the Horizon Europe Program), the Digital Europe Program, and the European Space Program, should serve as a stimulus to promote and deepen new European networks in science, technology, and higher education and in the area of digital transformation, in close coordination with research and innovation activities. These networks must also be linked to and complement our position in the world, from our Atlantic window to the unique relationship we have or may have in the development of Europe's relationship with Africa and Latin America. Internationalization naturally includes the attraction and mobility of human resources, but it also includes joint institutional development, joint recruitment of teachers and researchers, and programmatic development at the European level.

Alongside the pursuit of these objectives, it is our ambition to strengthen and double Portugal's participation in the next European Research and Innovation Framework Program (i.e., "Horizon Europe") compared to the current framework program (i.e., "Horizon 2020"); to encourage participation in new programs in the digital and space areas; and also to stimulate and promote national participation in Calls important Calls Horizon 2020 that are planned for 2020 and which will bridge the gap with the new program.

It is in this context of national priority that the promotion of research and development (R&D), innovation, and digital transformation activities has taken on importance within the framework of public policies and their effective integration into the European context. This has led to the ongoing evolution of the Framework Program Promotion Office (GPPQ), created in 2007, for the "PERIN – Portugal in Europe Research and Innovation Network."

The PERIN network includes:

– Group of Delegates, National Contact Points, and Experts to European Programs; 

– Portugal-Europe Liaison Office for Research and Innovation, – being set up in Brussels (i.e., “Portugal in Europe Research and Innovation Liaison Office”); 

– Network of liaison officers in Research and Innovation (i.e., “Portugal in Europe Liaison Officers”), being set up in different partnerships and international organizations;

– Network of Centers for the Promotion of Research and Innovation within the scope of European Programs, to be promoted in national institutions of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, including universities and polytechnic institutes, research units, among others.

PROGRAM – (currently being updated – latest version 03/18/2019)

MARCH 20, 2019

– 10 a.m., IPO Lisbon: Workshop – “Towards a cancer research mission for Europe: The evolving nature of the European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centers, CCCs”;

– Opening: João Oliveira, IPO Lisbon

– Speakers: Julio Celis, Danish Cancer Research; EU Cancer Core – “Towards a cancer mission in Horizon Europe: Where we stand and next steps”; Marta Temido, Minister of Health; Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education

– Debate 

– 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., IST, Lisbon: Workshop – “Building EU Networks of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence”

– Opening: Arlindo Oliveira, President of the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST)

– Speakers: Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, and Mariana Popova, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Unit, European Commission, DG CNECT

– Debate with the participation of Mário Figueiredo (IST); José Júlio Alferes (FCT-UNL); André Martins (Unbabel); Ricardo Conde (Edisoft); José Ataíde (Navigator)

MARCH 21, 2019

– 10 a.m., IPO Porto: Workshop – “Towards a cancer research mission for Europe: The evolving nature of the European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centers, CCCs”

– Opening: Manuel Sobrinho Simões, I3S/IPATIMUP, University of Porto

– Speakers: Julio Celis, Danish Cancer Research; EU Cancer Core – “Towards a cancer mission in Horizon Europe: Where we stand and next steps”; Francisco Ramos, Secretary of State for Health; Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education

– Debate 

– 3 p.m., UTAD, Vila Real: Workshop – “10 years of Fraunhofer-Portugal: presentation of the new Fraunhofer center in Portugal, focusing on precision agriculture and water management”

– Opening: António Fontainhas Fernandes, Rector of UTAD 

– Speakers: Jörg Laschke and Ingolf Voigt, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Fraunhofer IKTS; Liliana Ferreira; AICOS, Fraunhofer-Portugal, University of Porto; Gottlieb Basch; Fraunhofer-Portugal

– Debate with the participation of Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education

MARCH 22, 2019

– 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., ALTRAN, Lisbon: Inauguration of the VORTEX Collaborative Laboratory on Cyber-Physical Systems and Cyber Security;

– Célia Reis, CEO Altran Portugal

– Cyril Roger, Vice President of the Altran Group

– Round table with partners from the VORTEX Collaborative Laboratory and the participation of Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education

– 3:00 p.m., INIAV, Oeiras: Workshop – “How to double Portugal’s presence in European programs?…from the role of GPPQ to the promotion of PERIN-Portugal in Europe Research and Innovation Network”

– Opening: Eduardo Maldonado, President of ANI, and Nuno Canada, President of INIAV

– Guest speakers: Helena Pereira, Vice President of FCT; Carlos Borrego, UA and PERIN Coordinator; Isabel Ferreira, CIMO, IP Bragança; José Carlos Caldeira, INESC TEC

– Debate with the participation of Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education

MARCH 25, 2019

– 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Caleidoscópio in Lisbon: Symposium “Polar research and Europe: new challenges and opportunities,” as part of the European Commission’s EU-PolarNet project, the UL Space Network, and the Propolar Program

– Antje Boetius (AWI) – International challenges and opportunities in polar research  

– Antonio Quesada (AEI) – Significance of Polar research for Spain

– Attillio Gambardella (EC) – EU Polar Research Strategy: Actions and Objectives

– Nicole Biebow (AWI) – EU-PolarNet’s strategic research planning efforts (preliminary)

– Joaquin Hernandez Brito (AIR Centre CEO): talk on the strategy of the AIR Centre and Polar interactions with the Atlantic

– João Canário (UL) – T-MOSAiC

– G. Vieira (IGOT) – Portuguese research in the Polar regions: history and perspectives 

– 3 p.m., INESC-TEC, Porto: Workshop “MANUFUTURE Vision 2030”

– José Carlos Caldeira/Luis Carneiro, MANUFUTURE ISG, INESC TEC

– Joaquim Menezes, President of EFFRA, IBEROMOLDES

– Debate with the participation of Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education

MARCH 27, 2019

– 10 a.m., IP Leiria: welcome coffee

– 11 a.m., IP Leiria: Workshop “How to double Portugal’s presence in European programs?…from the role of GPPQ to the promotion of PERIN-Portugal in Europe Research and Innovation Network”

– Opening: Rui Pedrosa, President of IP Leiria, and Eduardo Maldonado, President of ANI

– Speakers: Carlos Borrego: UA and PERIN Coordinator: Han Brezet, TU Delft; Ruaidhri Neavyn, Adviser on Higher Education Policy, Higher Education Authority (HEA) & Department of Education and Skills (DES), Ireland; Eduardo Tovar, CISTER, IP Porto; Carlos Salema, IT; Marco Lemos, IPLeiria

– Debate with the participation of João Sobrinho Teixeira, Secretary of State for Science, Technology, and Higher Education 

– 2:00 p.m., IP Leiria: “2nd Public Procurement Forum” (postponed to a date to be announced later)

– Opening: João Sobrinho Teixeira, Secretary of State for Science, Technology, and Higher Education

– Speakers: Paulo Ferrão, President of FCT; European Polytechnic tbc; Isabel Ferreira, IPB and CIMO; Fausto Lopo de Carvalho, Institute of Molecular Medicine; Tiago Carvalho, LabOrders; João Careca, ROC; Fernando Baptista, Institute of Public Markets, Real Estate, and Construction, I.P.; Alexandra Vilela, COMPETE

MARCH 28, 2019

– 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., PORTUGAL SPACE Workshop, ESA and the European Space Program (2021-2027)

– Opening: Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education

– Guest speakers: Chiara Manfletti, ESA; Jaime Silva, European Commission tbc

– Debate with experts

April 3, 2019 (Sign up)

– 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.(welcome coffee at 9:30 a.m.)Faculty of Medical Sciences – UNL: Event organized by the European Research Council – “ERC Event: More Science for a Better Europe”

– Opening: António Jacinto, UNOVA

– The ERC Mission and Vision, Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President of the ERC

– Debate with the participation of Helena Pereira (FCT), Jean-Pierre Bourguignon (ERC), António Jacinto (UNOVA), Helena Machado (University of Minho), Ana Mafalda Dourado (ANI)

– The ERC after 2020: the challenges ahead, Eduardo Maldonado, ANI

April 8 and 9, 2019

– INL, Braga: ERC@INL: INL – ERC Summit 2019

– Opening remarks: Lars Montelius, Director General of INL

– Guest speakers: Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science, and Innovation; Pedro Duque, Spanish Minister of Science, Innovation, and Universities; Manuel Heitor, Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education; ERC grant recipient

The INL – ERC Summit 2019 was designed to bring together European Research Council (ERC) beneficiaries from Portugal and Spain over the last five years (2014–2018) to highlight the importance of the ERC instrument, share experiences, promote new applications for Studentships , identify common challenges and synergies, and discuss how to maintain the sustainability of research groups after the end of the ERC funding period.

April 11, 2019

– 9:15 a.m., Lisbon, Thalia Theater: Workshop “Policy Dialogue: evolving measurements and practices in S&T Indicators in Europe” – Research Careers; Clinical Research; Digital Skills for the Future of Work

– Opening: Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, and Francisco Lima, INE

– Speakers: Rémi Barré, IFRIS; Patrícia Santos, ISCTE; Ana Sofia Ribeiro, ICS; Josep Tabernero, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology; Joaquim Murta, Health Cluster; Catarina Oliveira, AICIB tbc; Fred Gault, UNU MERIT; Alessandra Colecchia, OECD tbc; Helena Silva, CEIIA; Paulo Pereira, Altice; Miguel Portela, U. Minho), among others.

This international workshop aims to promote dialogue between experts, professionals, and policymakers to discuss quantitative and qualitative approaches to R&D activities, increase knowledge in this area, and stimulate the development of pilot projects in European collaboration in areas as diverse as research careers, clinical research, skills, and the future of employment.

April 12, 2019

– 9:30 a.m., Faro, Higher Institute of Engineering, University of Algarve: Workshop on “Energy Sustainable Communities”

– Opening: Paulo Águas, Rector of the University of Algarve

– Speakers: Eduardo Maldonado, President of ANI; experts from the “Culatra 2030 – Sustainable Energy Community” project and the European Commission (to be confirmed)

– Debate

This workshop will focus on the theme of Energy Sustainable Communities, but will also address topics such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart cities, and the link with InnoEnergy, the Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

*News originally published on February 15, 2019