The 4th conference on “Building and Maintaining a Sustainable Science Supporting Ecosystem” took place this Thursday, April 18th. The president of Técnico, professor Arlindo Oliveira, opened the session and highlighted that “it’s very important that Europe has defined a strategy for Science, although it has been difficult to reach a consensus”. “Portugal should also take action in this matter”, he added. Professor Arlindo Oliveira pointed out the problems that affect science, such as “the lack of a stable, multi-annual and independent budget” for FCT and “the lack of a long term strategic plan to hire scientists in Portugal”. “As such provisions do not yet exist. There is no strategy to create stable mechanisms or a multi-annual planning for scientific employment”, he said.
The European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, engineer Carlos Moedas, shared some information about the funding opportunities in research and innovation at European level. “European funding programmes for Science have two unique features: there is no political involvement and there is inherent stability”, he explained. “Nothing can be done without stability and independence. We have the world’s best funding system and I would like that people felt proud of that”, he added.
Engineer Carlos Moedas considers that “public’s alienation from science” is one of the next few years. “It’s urgent to deepen the relationship between science and society”, he said. The European Commissioner highlighted the importance of the European Innovation Council, which he considers to be one of his main legacies as a commissioner. “This Council will allow people to have an easier access to European funding, namely small and medium enterprises”, he explained. “We want Europe to be increasingly innovative”, he added.
Members from universities and foundations, as well as companies and investment funds representatives, also attended the conference. Professor António Cruz Serra, Rector of Universidade de Lisboa, professor Mónica Bettencourt-Dias, Director of Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, engineer Isabel Vaz, CEO of Luz Saúde and engineer Joaquim Sérvulo Rodrigues, Chairman and CEO at Armilar Venture Partners, participated in a debate moderated by professor Luís Oliveira e Silva, president of IST Scientific Council.
The importance of stimulating innovative initiatives, the role of research in the business context, the scientific employment and the challenges imposed on universities, were the key themes of the debate.
The improvement of the relationship between science and society was considered essential, as well as the communicative, collaborative and entrepreneurial skills.
