Intelligent Specialization Strategy Days 2014-2020 begin today

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Energy and Materials & Raw Materials are the topics under discussion at the first Strategic Reflection Day, as part of the work to define the national and regional research and innovation strategy (2014-2020), which will identify areas in which the regions and the country have scientific and economic advantages, responding to societal challenges.

Organized in partnership by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the Institute for Support to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Innovation (IAPMEI), the Innovation Agency (AdI) and COMPETE (Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors), the day will take place today at ISEG and will be attended by key players in the context of national Development & Research and Innovation: higher education bodies, research centers, companies, state laboratories, professional and sectoral associations and directorates-general or interface bodies.

The Strategic Reflection Days aim to work together with these actors to:

• Identify the potential of the theme/area of each day as a priority for the National Research and Innovation Strategy;
• Define the vision and challenges for the next seven years (2014-2020), particularly in the topic/area under discussion;
• Discuss public policy instruments and measures needed to address identified market, institutional or regulatory failures.

The topics of this day fall under the theme of Transversal Technologies, one of five themes identified for the Strategic Days to be held in October and November. The other themes are: Industries and Production Technologies, Mobility, Space and Logistics, Natural Resources and Environment and Health, Well-being and Territory. A report will be produced for each day, setting out the justification for the theme in terms of its relevance and development expectations for 2020.

The Intelligent Specialization Strategy for research and innovation is a condition for more effective and efficient use of the Structural Funds in the next programming period. The national vision for 2020 also states that the Portuguese economy must be more competitive, creative and internationalized, by strengthening research and innovation capacities and increasing synergies between public and private investments.