Thematic agendas
The Thematic Agendas for Research and Innovation aim to mobilize experts from R&D institutions and companies to identify challenges and opportunities in the national scientific and technological system, particularly from a medium and long-term perspective. It is hoped that the agendas can also contribute to the development of research and innovation by providing answers to the problems or needs of different sectors of society.
The inclusive and dynamic process of developing the agendas, involving experts from academia, research centers, companies, public entities and citizens, within a framework of dialogue between different national players, makes it possible to specify the areas that are emerging and promising for Portuguese Research and Innovation, from a medium and long-term perspective, until 2030.
The main aim of drawing up the thematic agendas is to promote collective reflection on the knowledge base supporting the country's scientific, technological and socio-economic development on the topics in question.
The main objectives of the thematic agendas are:
- Promoting dialogue between the scientific and business communities, combining the capacities and needs of researchers, citizens, businesses, public administration and civil society organizations;
- The creation of a medium and long-term vision of the Portuguese research and innovation system, as well as the most promising lines of R&I to achieve this vision in each of the thematic areas;
- Contributing to the construction of information sources that can inspire and support decision-making processes, particularly with regard to R&I internationalization strategies and the research agendas of institutions and their researchers.
The process of developing thematic R&I agendas favors an inclusive, bottom-up approach, based on the involvement of the scientific, technological and business communities, as well as other entities. This process is inspired by international practices for creating strategic and mobilizing agendas for research and innovation.
Each Agenda was developed by groups of experts with representatives from the scientific and business communities. The expert groups were set up through invitations to heads of R&D units and companies to nominate experts, as well as direct invitations from the FCT to experts in order to take in the different aspects of the topic.
Although the FCT provides the technical and logistical support needed for the work to run smoothly, including proposing the content structure, the expert groups have the main responsibility for producing the content for each agenda. The internal thematic structure of each agenda is defined by the expert groups who, at the same time, choose the experts who will take on the responsibilities of rapporteur and coordinator.
This innovative and dynamic process aims to stimulate the exchange of ideas between the scientific and business communities in a continuous dialog with a view to building a shared agenda.
A public consultation was also held with the community on the main issues to be developed, and public administration bodies were also consulted via a specific questionnaire.
