Portugal and Fraunhofer sign protocol for precision agriculture

FCT and the Fraunhofer Society signed a protocol today for cooperation in the area of "Precision Agriculture." The signing comes 10 years after the signing between the two institutions, which led to the creation of the Fraunhofer Portugal Research Association and the establishment of Fraunhofer's first Research and Development (R&D) center in Portugal, in partnership with the University of Porto and in the field of information technology.

The agro-industrial sector is undergoing a significant transformation, characterized by the adoption of new technologies with shorter development and qualification cycles, access to new forms of robotization and digital transformation, including access to space platforms, as well as disruptive business models with greater exposure to risk, which are attracting increasing levels of public and private funding for R&D activities.

The national strategy to strengthen Portugal's position in the context of the European Framework Program for R&D and cooperation in the Mediterranean—particularly in the context of the PRIMA Program, including cooperation with North African countries—requires strengthening scientific and technological cooperation with leading European centers. The expansion of cooperation between Portugal and Fraunhofer, formalized in this new agreement, is a stimulus for the transformation of the agro-industrial sector in Portugal and strengthens R&D activities in this sector.