1. NATIONAL DEFENSE INSTITUTE

Founded in 1976, the National Defense Institute (NDI) is a core institution of the

Portuguese Ministry of National Defense, with administrative, pedagogical and scientific

autonomy.

NDI is based in Lisbon and it has a regional delegation in Oporto.

2. ORGANIZATION

DIRECTOR

Scientific Council

Regional Delegation (Oporto)

Planning and Resources Management Department

Studies and Research Centre *

* multidisciplinary team

3. MISSION AND VISION

Mission

The main task of NDI is to contribute to the development of a national strategic culture,

through research activities, education, debate, publications.

VisionNDI aims at developing conceptual and empirical approaches to national security and

defense by providing a platform and an intellectual hub, where security and defense

institutions and Portuguese society come together.

4. ACTIVITIES

IDN develops activities in four main areas:

A. RESEARCH

B. EDUCATION

C. PUBLIC AWARENESS

D. PARTNERSHIPS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

A. RESEARCH

Research at NDI aims at advancing specialized knowledge on security and defense in

the domains of strategic and security studies, European affairs, defense economy,

energy sustainability, cyberspace, international law and area studies.

Part of the research work is dedicated to the study of national security and defense

policy and the correspondent policies of partner countries.

Research work at the Institute supports the MOD decision-making process through

brief analysis, reports and long term studies.

International Politics and Security

Transatlantic Relations

European Security and Defense Policy

Security and Development in Africa

National Strategy for Security and Defense

Citizenship and Security Culture

The Sea and Portugal’s National Interest

RESEARCH LINES

European Foreign, Security and Defense

Policy

North Africa and the Middle East

National Security and Defense Strategy

Cybersecurity and National Information Strategy

Portuguese Participation in Peace Operations

Energy Security

European Union Global Strategy (Round table

format)

Atlantic Region

Terrorism and Political Violence (will start as from

2017)

EXPERT GROUPS

LIBRARY

NDI library is one of the country’s main specialized libraries in the areas of Security, Defense,

Strategy, International Relations, Geopolitics, Foreign Policy and Political Science.

It provides support to our research, education and trainning

activities, both to resident and external readers

Its documental base comprehends approximately 11.300

monographies and 185 periodicals

The bibliographic catalogue is available online including

23.200 analytical registrations

In 2015 the Library received 1.358 visitors

The library has the following digital resources:

Bibliographical catalogue

Gathers all the bibliographical references available on its documental fund

NDI’s repository

Includes all the scientific work produced internally

E-Journals

EBSCO Full text database

Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO)

Information digital platform relevant in the field of International Relations with

access to full text and to abstracts

B. EDUCATION

Promotes cross disciplinary perspectives regarding current security and defence matters by focusing on thematic

diversity, beyond the military focus

Aims at bridging communities of experts and the general public

Welcomes participants from different academic and professional backgrounds

• National Defense Course

• Upgrading course for former National Defense Course auditors

• Course on Security and Defense for Journalists

• Defense Course for Youth

• Security and Defense Seminar for Political Party Youths

• Intensive Course on Security and Defense (Madeira and Azores)

• Course on Civilian Crisis Management

• Course on Education and Training in Citizenship

• Course on Strategic Analysis, Geoeconomy and Prospective

• Course on Cibersecurity and Crisis Management in Ciberspace

• Course on Intelligence in Democracy

• Post-Graduation Course on Strategic and Security Studies (in partnership with Universidade Nova de

Lisboa)

• Post-Graduation Course on Intelligence Management and Security (in partnership with ISEGI -

Universidade Nova de Lisboa and SIRP)

• Post-Graduation Course on National Defense Law (in partnership with Lisbon’s Law Faculty)

• Course on Public Policies in the domains of national security and defense (in partnership with ISCTE-

Universitary Institute of Lisbon)

EVOLUTION IN THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES TO THE

NATIONAL DEFENSE COURSE BERWEEN 2009-2016ACTIVITIES OF THE NDC 2015-2016

- Conferences: 99

- Number of speakers : 150

- Seminars, Colloquia and open conferences

included in the course programme : 8

- Syndicate groups : 11

- Field visits : 7

- Study visits : 2

- Total amount of hours : 256h30

NATIONAL DEFENSE COURSE (NDC)

C. PUBLIC AWARENESS

Regional decentralization of activities and events related to public awareness

Connecting policy awareness with research

activity and education/training

Education for citizenship (aimed at basic and secondary education/ train-the-trainers

activities)

Referent for Education on Security, Defence and Peace (aimed at young children in

pre-basic level and basic and secondary education)

PUBLICATIONS

IDN Brief

(Policy Briefs)

IDN Cadernos

(Working Papers)

Nação e Defesa

(Journal)

Atena

(Books collection)

http://www.idn.gov.pt

WEBPAGE

D. PARTNERSHIPS AND

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

IDN promotes close relations with academic and research communities. So far, it has signed

37 protocols with universities, national and international think tanks and research centres,

aiming at the development of research and cooperation with external partners.

IDN has also signed 12 cooperation protocols with national universities with the purpose of

certifying the allocation of academic credits to the National Defense Course, in the context of

university post graduation programs.

European Security and Defense College

(Basic Course on Security Sector Reform

High Level Course

Course on Civilian Crisis Management

(Course on the Challenges of European Cybersecurity)

Defense College of the 5+5 Initiative

(High and intermediate level courses and joint research

in the framework of CEMRES)

CESEDEN – Spain (Module of AEEOSI Course and

joint research projects)

Association of Ibero-American Defense Colleges

(Courses and joint research projects)

NATO Defense College

C4 Colloquia (Defense Colleges of Spain, France,

Italy and Portugal)

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

NDI IN NUMBERS (2015)

NUMBER OF NATIONAL COURSES 14

NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL COURSES 1

NUMBER OF COURSE PARTICIPANTS 668

NUMBER OF COURSE APPLICANTS 854

NUMBER OF CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS

(includes those provided in the framework of the National Defense Course)456

NUMBER OF STUDY GROUPS’ MEETINGS 13

NUMBER OF RESEARCH PROJECTS CONCLUDED 9

PUBLICATIONS

NAÇÃO E DEFESA

ATENA

IDN CADERNOS

IDN BRIEF

16

3

3

5

5