In a report released by CESAER on 11 December, Manuel Heitor, professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, a researcher at the Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research (IN+) and Co-Chair of CESAER Task Force Human Resources stresses that ‘researchers are the backbone of Europe’s knowledge economy’ and ‘by improving working conditions, launching targeted funding instruments, and ensuring clear, sustainable career pathways, we can empower young researchers to reach their full potential’.

It is for these reasons that Técnico is one of the case studies analysed in the report released by CESAER titled ‘Research careers: A critical choice for Europe’, which includes an analysis of the recruitment and career development practices carried out by the School between 2014 and 2023.

Highlights include measures such as a strategic human resources programme (which resulted in 218 vacancies for teaching staff and career progression in the 2016-2023 period) and the co-creation of nine new collaborative research institutions, facilitating the creation of more than 200 new jobs in the 2019-2024 period, including around 60 doctoral researchers in private entities that collaborate with Técnico.

The case study included in the CESAER document was authored by João Patrício and Miguel Coimbra, from Técnico’s Studies, Planning and Quality Section, Luís Oliveira e Silva, a professor at Técnico and researcher at the Institute for Plasmas and Nuclear Fusion (IPFN), Rodrigo Rodrigues, also a professor at Técnico and researcher at Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores – Investigação e Desenvolvimento (INESC-ID) and Manuel Heitor, who also signs the report.