R&D investment program expected to reach 3% of GDP in 2030

The Council of Ministers' resolution was published today with the strategic guideline that total R&D expenditure should reach 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2030, compared to total R&D expenditure of 1.62% of GDP in 2020, when private expenditure accounted for 57% of the total. It also includes the European-level guideline for public expenditure to increase to 1% of GDP, while private expenditure should increase to 2% of GDP (compared to 2020 figures of 0.66% of GDP for public expenditure and 0.96% of GDP for private expenditure).

The stability and predictability of funding through science and technology programming helps to boost the confidence of public and private actors, encouraging private investment in R&D activities and institutional cooperation between companies, the productive, social, and cultural fabric in general, and R&D institutions, recognizing their social, economic, and cultural impact. Thus, the resolution published today deepens and updates the implementation of the guidelines for a technological and business innovation strategy for Portugal 2018-2030, approved by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 25/2018 of March 8.

This resolution establishes European terms of reference in conjunction with the reform and modernization of mechanisms to support the demand for and supply of knowledge through R&D activities. It includes support for innovation and the promotion of scientific culture, in order to continue to strengthen and modernize national scientific and technological capacity, accelerate the dual digital and climate transition, and develop the interface between the supply and demand of knowledge, stimulating the restructuring of the knowledge-based economy and the creation of skilled jobs, as well as scientific, social, and environmental robustness. This regulatory framework fulfills an objective set out in the program of the 22nd Constitutional Government and ensures the implementation of the European Commission's (EC) specific recommendations for Portugal in 2018 and 2019, namely on national investment in research and innovation.

In this regard, the resolution published today encourages the continuation of the process of convergence with Europe, which has been ensured since 2016 and is intended to be strengthened by 2030. It also includes the reforms agreed with the EC under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) 2021-2026 regarding the growth of public and private investment in R&D and ensures the implementation of a legal framework in accordance with EC Communication COM(2020) 628 of September 30, 2020, and, in particular, with Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/2122 of November 26, 2021, for a Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe, in order to ensure Portugal's effective participation in the European Research Area.

Council of Ministers Resolution No. 186/2021
PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Approves the public investment program in research and development for 2021-2030