Ciências ULisboa presents a report with recommendations for the future Agency for Research and Innovation

On 27 July, the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (Ciências ULisboa) presented the final report of the Ciências Bottom‑up Initiative AI², a document gathering the recommendations of the scientific, business and institutional communities for the future Agency for Research and Innovation (AI²). The report is the result of a reflection process promoted by Ciências, involving around 70 representatives from universities, research and development units, Associated Laboratories, companies, CoLabs, public entities, clusters, incubators and associations, and constitutes Ciências’ contribution to the national public participation process launched by the Government.

At the opening of the session, the Dean of Ciências ULisboa, Conceição Freitas, recalled that the creation of AI² represents one of the most profound reforms of the national scientific system in recent decades and explained Ciências’ decision to promote its own reflection initiative: “The recommendations presented today are not intended to close the debate, but to enrich it, offering an informed, plural and constructive reflection.”

The representative argued that the future agency will be crucial for the country’s scientific and technological development, while stressing that its success will depend on the trust it manages to build with the scientific, technological and business communities, as well as with society: “Change is not an end in itself. Its value is measured by the ability to preserve what works, correct what is necessary and create better conditions for the future.”

The report was presented by Cristina Máguas, Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, Internationalisation and External Relations Area at Ciências ULisboa and coordinator of the initiative, who explained that the project was born from the desire to create a participatory and interdisciplinary space for discussion, capable of bringing together different perspectives on the future AI². “The creation of AI² represents an opportunity to rethink the national research and innovation ecosystem through a participatory, evidence‑based process,” she stated.

The methodology adopted was based on the creation of thematic working groups dedicated to areas such as climate and natural resources, health, advanced materials, digital technologies and space. These groups brought together researchers, representatives from companies, associated laboratories, public entities and other organisations within the scientific and technological system. The aim was to identify strategic priorities, discuss funding models, criteria for resource allocation, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, seeking to build consensus‑based recommendations.

Among the main conclusions of the report is the need to preserve fundamental research as the foundation of the Portuguese scientific system, while simultaneously strengthening the mechanisms that enable knowledge to be transformed into innovation and economic and social impact. “The excellence of fundamental research must remain the main pillar of the national scientific system,” emphasised Cristina Máguas, adding that future strategic domains should never replace established scientific areas, but rather promote their articulation with societal challenges and innovation opportunities.

The document identifies as priority areas the climate crisis and territorial resilience, the ocean and the blue economy, the energy transition, advanced materials, health and biotechnology, artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty, security, as well as space and scientific instrumentation. The recommendations also call for a more stable, predictable and flexible funding model, adapted to the different stages of research and innovation, combining increased public investment through the State Budget, private funding and European funds. The report further proposes strengthening the links between universities, companies and public entities through mechanisms that promote knowledge transfer, researcher mobility and the hiring of PhDs by the business sector, as well as the creation of permanent monitoring and evaluation systems that allow the impact of funding instruments to be measured and support evidence‑based strategic decision‑making.

After the presentation of the report, a debate followed, moderated by Nuno Araújo, President of the Scientific Board of Ciências, bringing together Maria do Rosário Partidário, scientific coordinator of the ST4S Methodology, Carolina Nogueira, Deputy Director of PLANAPP, João Rocha, coordinator of the Executive Committee of the Council of Associated Laboratories, and Filipe Santos, CEO of Smart Energy Lab.

Throughout the discussion, participants reiterated the importance of ensuring that the future AI² is able to balance support for fundamental research, applied research and innovation, while guaranteeing predictable multi‑annual funding, greater administrative simplification and evaluation mechanisms capable of measuring the scientific, economic and social impact of public policies. They also advocated for stronger links between universities, companies and public administration, considering that the creation of the new agency represents an opportunity to reinforce the country’s innovation capacity and bring scientific production closer to society’s needs.

At the closing of the session, the Vice‑Rector for Research of the University of Lisbon, Cecília Rodrigues, thanked Ciências ULisboa and all the entities that took part in the initiative, noting that the report represents an important contribution to the process of building the future AI². She argued that the dialogue now initiated should continue in the next phases of the process and stressed that the University of Lisbon intends to contribute with a long‑term strategic vision for the national scientific system: “The University of Lisbon is not here to defend corporate interests. It is here to offer what structurally only a university with its researchers, technicians and research and development partners can offer: a systemic, long‑term vision that resists the temptation to reduce science to a linear value chain.”