One of the most substantial decisions for science and innovation in Portugal is currently underway. While we await the new draft Science Law, the definition of strategic Research and Innovation (R&I) domains is also progressing. These will guide future funding allocation by the new Agency for Research and Innovation (AI2)[1]; moreover, this definition is being carried out through an open and participatory process.
It’s important to understand what is changing and how we can take part. The creation of AI2 represents a structural reform of the national scientific and technological system: it brings together, within a single agency, the promotion, funding, and evaluation of entities and activities in fundamental and applied research, knowledge valorisation, technological development, and innovation, towards shaping scientific investment into economic and social value. The goal is clear: more and better science, with greater social and economic impact.
The participatory Strategic Assessment process, launched in February, aims to define the strategic domains and the budget allocation to R&D areas, domains, and the Innovation Promotion Unit[2]. Following the public presentation of the methodology, various entities from the national scientific system met, before key events and thematic round tables – in which INESC TEC played an active role. These initiatives sought to identify the strengths, weaknesses and ambitions of the National Research and Innovation Ecosystem, and to contribute to the definition of the so-called Critical Decision Factors, which should serve as criteria for selecting R&D areas and the strategic domains of the new agency[3].
The next phase is the most crucial: the one in which the INESC TEC community will be able to position itself on the strategic domains and the criteria for funding the different areas of the new agency.
To prepare for this phase, it’s important to bear in mind what may define a strategic domain. More than a broad topic, it should be a choice grounded in evidence. Experience from smart specialisation strategies suggests assessing different dimensions: contribution to societal challenges, scientific and technological potential, market potential, capacity to transform the economy, and, not least, a forward-looking component focused on emerging scientific and technological fields. It’s also crucial that investment in strategic domains is complemented by adequate funding for science, enabling disruptive and exploratory research.
The proposed domains should also comply with European priority areas – the policy windows of the 10th Framework Programme currently under discussion -; the national scientific strategy exercises and smart specialisation strategies; as well as the national sectoral policy strategies. It’s precisely in this intersection that scientific excellence and innovation are transformed into supported impact.
Our contribution will only matter if we do it in a coordinated and comprehensive way, drawing on our mission focused on societal challenges, our national and European experience, the multidisciplinary nature of our teams, and our cross-cutting activity across various economic sectors.
With this in mind, we initiated an internal mobilisation effort, towards submitting a set of proposals to the Encontro Ciência e Inovação 2026, which will take place on 15 and 16 July in Lisbon, under the theme “Preparar o Futuro”. The contributions submitted focus on four areas converging with European policy windows: Industrial Decarbonisation and Climate Transition; Digital Sovereignty and Technological Leadership; Forests, Agriculture and Bioeconomy; and Resilience, Security, Defence and Space.
Building on this initial participation effort, we now wish to broaden the initiative, mobilising the community to organise interdisciplinary groups and develop position papers that reflect our competencies and areas. These documents should identify research challenges for the coming years, actions that reinforce the ability to attract European funding, areas where Portugal can establish a distinctive position in Europe, and ways to maximise the valorisation of results.
As a starting point, while remaining open to other proposals, we identified six areas with proven activities, and which may contribute to defining the strategic domains: Industrial Decarbonisation and Energy; Digital Sovereignty; Health; Forests, Agriculture and Bioeconomy; Ocean; and Security, Defence and Space. In each domain, we ought to prioritise a multidisciplinary approach, integrating cross-cutting dimensions and critical technologies as enabling factors capable of contributing to different application areas.
The decisions of the coming months will shape funding and priorities for Portuguese science over the next decade. INESC TEC has a duty – and an opportunity – to contribute to an informed, participatory, and evidence-based process.
By Clara Gouveia, member of the Board of Directors
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