Building our future in Europe

INESC’s strategy is driven by a conceptual vision that includes international visibility and presence. The creation of a representation in Brussels, the INESC Brussels Hub (HUB), is a cornerstone of this vision and strategy implementation, being the first research and technology organisation from Portugal with a formal and independent representation in the heart of European science and technology (S&T) policy-making.

We believe that achieving a representation at the level of similar European organisations (such as Fraunhofer (Germany), Tecnalia (Spain), RISE (Sweden), among many others who have started these processes in the mid-1990s to early 2000’s) is only possible by increasing our knowledge and capacity of intervention in European R&I policy and funding programmes. There are 3 key areas of activity that are followed by all the EU reference organisations with the goal of better positioning them (and, in that way, their researchers) in the “machinery” of EU programmes and funds:

Visibility and representation: It does not really matter who you know, it matters who knows you and what they think and know about you. Since the opening of the HUB (and even with the considerable impact caused by the pandemic), we have worked tirelessly to promote INESC through more than 150 direct meetings with European Commission officials, EU platforms, national and regional representatives, as well as with top rated European universities, research entities and industry. Moreover, INESC TEC has joined EARTO, became the representative of national entities in the EARTO board, actively participated in the 7 EARTO thematic work groups with the support of the HUB.

When you hear or read about Tecnalia or Fraunhofer, you hear about one large organisation that has a coherent image and representation towards EU entities, right? The HUB has developed that image for INESC. Concretely: you now have infographics, PowerPoints and even texts you can use to present INESC in your EU applications or international meetings. Importantly, there is now a coordinated activity between all communication teams across INESC institutes, a go-to reference portal at European level with a coherent identity, a podcast series with an enviable programme for 2021, a partnership with the major EU science communication outlet (Science Business) and many more activities already developed and in the making.

Capacity building: change begins at home. Most European funding programmes are policy-oriented. This means that we need to know the goals and the rationale behind the calls that we apply to. Scientific excellence, technologic capacity and track-record only go so-far. Alongside visibility and reputation, knowing how to properly read a work programme is crucial. The HUB has organised 9 workshops and 1 training activity to support researchers and administrative staff to prepare for a successful start of Horizon Europe. You can find all the materials in the HUB repository, available in the private area of the HUB website to all the 2000 staff and affiliated researchers that make up the INESC universe. Soon, you will also be able to participate in the first ever INESC ERC Excellence Programme, organised by the HUB to promote successful participation in the European Research Council.

Some of these workshops were organised by the 2 active HUB thematic work groups (Health Technologies and Agro, Food and Forestry). Their activity is also part of a path to help shifting INESC from a reactive to a proactive position in agenda-setting, meaning in the definition of EU research and innovation priorities. To do that, they have developed in-depth characterisations of the existing capacity across INESCs and are now developing R&I roadmaps and foresight activities, allowing us to better influence future EU agendas. These are defined 2 to 3 years before publication and the institutions who actively participate in these processes are better positioned to integrate the successful consortia of the future calls.

Policy, lobby and strategic positioning: one can influence and position an organisation in EU priorities from the outside (i.e. meetings, consultations, position papers and traditional lobby) or from the inside (i.e. through active roles in High-Level Groups, formal EU platforms or concrete management roles in EU agencies and other entities). The HUB is supporting both. We have published a position paper on synergies between EU funds and instruments, lobbied towards the existence of funding for technology infrastructures, supported the application of INESC senior staff to high-level management positions in EU structures, among others. The future is to continue and intensify this activity, but we need your availability and proactive participation.

Finally, we are proud to say that there are at least 5 joint projects resulting from interactions between researchers from different INESC institutes that came out of the increased interaction, as well as a renewed attention to strategic EU tenders (service contracts with the EC).

It’s important to highlight that we are only half way of the 3 years launching period planned for the HUB. We will continue to work towards supporting your success, but we cannot do that without you! Register on the newly developed HUB website, get access to the repository of EU documents on R&I Funding and Policy in the making and do not hesitate in reaching out to us at hub@inesc.pt.

Ricardo Miguéis, head of the INESC Brussels Hub