International partnerships: Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program renewed for 5 years

The Carnegie Mellon-Portugal Program is the first international partnership between Portuguese and US universities and research centers to be renewed. The agreement signed on September 27, 2012, marks the beginning of the second phase of the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program for the next five years and represents an annual investment of four million euros, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology.

A pioneering program offering a new vision for research in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector in Portugal, the Carnegie Mellon Portugal partnership has proven crucial in strengthening the link between research and industry. Over the past six years, the program has enabled hundreds of Portuguese students, researchers, and university professors to develop projects with world-renowned research teams and integrate into international networks. The research projects have led to the creation of seven technology-based start-ups focused on the global market, joining the more than 70 companies that are part of this program.

The second phase of the program focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship, compared to the previous focus on education and training, and also aims to strengthen the search for funding beyond existing national strategic funds. The program's new focus follows the recommendations of the Finnish Academy Report, requested by the Ministry of Education and Science in 2011.Education-based programs will give way toproject-based programs, encouraging industry and research groups to work together to solve concrete problems in initiatives known as "entrepreneurial research initiatives."

 Some facts about the Carnegie Mellon Portugal Program:

• Universities participating in the CMU-Portugal program – 10
• University of Aveiro, Portuguese Catholic University, University of Coimbra, New University of Lisbon, University of Lisbon, University of Madeira, University of Minho, University of Porto, Technical University of Lisbon, and Carnegie Mellon University
• Research centers participating in the CMU-Portugal program – 5
  INESC ID, INESC Porto, Institute of Systems and Robotics, Institute of Telecommunications, Institute of Welding and Quality
• Number of partner companies – more than 80, including 7 start-ups
• Collaborative research projects – 25
• Students – 270
• Portuguese university professors – more than 150

* Agreement signed by Miguel Seabra (President of the Foundation for Science and Technology), João Gabriel Silva (Rector of the University of Coimbra, representing the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities), and Mark Kamlet (Provost, Carnegie Mellon University).