Portugal and the European Commission have taken further steps in strengthening their cooperation on research and innovation, following up on the launch of their Enhanced Dialogue earlier this year
The latest meeting, held online on 17 November, focused on aligning Portugal’s national reforms with wider European Union priorities and accelerating the country’s modernisation efforts in science and innovation.
Deepening cooperation after the July kick-off
This collaborative approach is part of the European Research Area (ERA) framework, which aims to promote excellence, facilitate the mobility of researchers, and support innovation-driven growth across Europe.
Building on the initial meeting, representatives from the Portuguese and European Commissions reconvened to evaluate progress and define next steps. Senior Portuguese officials, including Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation Fernando Alexandre, and Secretary of State for Science Helena Canhão, joined the discussions. The European Commission was represented by a team led by Director-General Marc Lemaître.
Focus on reforming Portugal’s research and innovation landscape
The follow-up meeting centred on two major reforms that Portugal is pursuing to reinforce its research and innovation ecosystem.
Modernising the national science law
Portugal is currently revising its science law to enhance governance, establish a more transparent regulatory framework, and improve the efficiency of its research funding.
The changes aim to support researchers more effectively, enhance institutional performance, and align national legislation with European standards and long-term goals, as outlined in the ERA Policy Agenda and the forthcoming ERA Act.
Creating a joint research and innovation agency
Another key decision discussed was the establishment of a new dedicated agency for research and innovation. This body will merge the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) with the National Innovation Agency (ANI), creating a single entity responsible for coordinating and funding research and innovation (R&I) activities.
By bringing these two organisations together, Portugal intends to simplify governance, reduce fragmentation, and improve the consistency of national support for both scientific research and innovation-oriented initiatives.
The new agency is expected to improve interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen links between academia and industry, and contribute to a more coherent and effective national innovation strategy.
Throughout the meeting, both sides emphasised the importance of ensuring that Portugal’s reforms remain closely aligned with EU-level priorities. Increasing public investment in research and innovation, enhancing the performance of national funding systems, and enhancing competitiveness are all areas where Portugal’s plans align with European objectives.
Portugal also announced its intention to request a review of the Policy Support Facility. This EU mechanism provides expert guidance to Member States that are developing or implementing reforms in research and innovation (R&I) policy. By getting this support, Portugal aims to ensure its ongoing reforms benefit from independent analysis and best practices from across Europe.
Long-term cooperation
Improved dialogues are a relatively new tool used by the European Commission to offer personalised support to Member States, strengthening their R&I systems.
Participation is voluntary, and the topics addressed are selected in accordance with national priorities. Portugal is one of the 17 EU countries currently engaged in such a dialogue with the Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.
