Draft Regulation for the Awarding of the Title of Collaborative Laboratory (CoLAB)

It is under public consultation until April 18 the Draft Regulation for Awarding the Title of Collaborative Laboratory (CoLAB). The Notice of Consultation was published today in Diário da República, and starts the formal counting of deadlines. Comments can be sent to CoLAB@fct.pt.

Collaborative Laboratories are associations or consortia of research units, Associate Laboratories, higher education institutions, intermediate and interface institutions, technology centers, companies, business associations and other relevant partners of the productive, social or cultural fabric, such as State Laboratories, municipalities and institutions associated with local organizations, hospital units, museums, archives, or social institutions, national or international (participating entities).

The Collaborative Laboratories' main objective is to define and implement research and innovation agendas oriented towards the creation of economic and social value, including processes for the internationalization of national scientific and technological capacity, in relevant areas of intervention, the stimulation of scientific employment, and the development of R&D activities that enhance the strengthening of synergies with higher education institutions, namely within the scope of specialized, professional or advanced training programs in close collaboration with social and economic partners.

The main challenge to which the Collaborative Laboratories must respond is the effective densification of the national territory in terms of knowledge-based activities, through a growing institutionalization of forms of collaboration between science, technology and higher education institutions and the economic and social fabric, namely companies, the hospital and health system, cultural institutions and social organizations. The Collaborative Laboratories should, therefore, consolidate and promote the capacity and potential that the scientific and academic communities have to face the opportunity to relate knowledge with well-being and social and economic development in Portugal.