R&I strategy for smart specialization

The programming principles that ratify the Research and Innovation policy for the period 2014-2020 are described in the Partnership Agreement (Portugal 2020) adopted between Portugal and the European Commission. This agreement brings together investment under the European Structural and Investment Funds for the economic, social, and territorial development of Portugal in 2014-2020. These programming principles are aligned with Smart, Sustainable, and Inclusive Growth, pursuing the Europe 2020 Strategy.

The Partnership Agreement allocates €25 billion to Portugal until 2020, with more than €1 billion reserved for science.

The Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization is crucial for public funding of research and innovation in Portugal, as it constitutes an ex ante conditionality of the Partnership Agreement for investment priorities in research and innovation.It identifies the major areas on which investment should be focused in the 2014-2020 period, maximizing the benefits of coordinated intervention in the different areas with which the National Research and Innovation System (SI&I) is interconnected. It is a multi-level strategy in which the National Research and Innovation Strategy (ENEI) comprehends national challenges and their alignment with the seven regional strategies.

Alignment is evident in terms of thematic priorities, policy mix, and the governance model, which includes cross-participation between the regional and national levels and vice versa.