Workshop on the future of Portugal from the perspective of science and technological development

On September 25, the workshop "Portugal in 2050 from the Perspective of Science and the Acceleration of Technological Development" was held, organized by FCT, within the scope of the Network of Planning and Prospective Services for Public Administration (RePLAN).

This event aimed to deepen reflection and discussion on the nine megatrends identified in the brochure "Megatrends 2050 – A changing world: impacts in Portugal – A brief introduction,"and is part of the collaborative work underway to prepare the final report, scheduled for release at the end of 2024.

At the opening, Madalena Alves, President of FCT, highlighted the need to anticipate the future in light of rapid technological advances. Pedro Saraiva, Director of PlanAPP, referred to the importance of the Megatrends report in defining better public policies until 2050, while Francisco Furtado (PlanAPP) emphasized foresight as an essential tool for dealing with the uncertainties and opportunities of the future.

The workshop, which attracted a large audience, focused on the debate about how technological acceleration could shape the future. It featured two panels moderated by members of the FCT Board of Directors, the first by António Bob Santos and the second by Paula Diogo. Each panel featured 10 speakers, researchers, who accepted the challenge to discuss the future of the country, based on RePLAN's initial work on Megatrends for Portugal 2050 (program).

Considering the objectives established for this workshop, the debate contributed significantly to the discussion of the following issues: the role of social sciences and humanities and the integration of social inequalities in the analysis of megatrends; the importance of data for scientific research and innovation and the affirmation of regulation and ethics in the digital sector and AI as central themes, with an emphasis on the protection of human rights and the mitigation of the risks of digital technologies to democracy; the impact of technologies on the future of work and education; the challenges and solutions for sustainability, considering agriculture, food security, and biodiversity as a single agenda; the role of space as a crucial sector for addressing social challenges and promoting a sustainable future, and the importance of the bioeconomy and the ocean for the country's technological development.