Tour of China 2014

Portugal-China Cooperation in R&D&I

Maria Espada, PhD. S&T Attaché

Portuguese Embassy in Beijing

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Outline

•Science and Technology in Portugal

•Cooperation with China in R&D&I

•Bilateral tools

•Conclusion

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Science and Technology in Portugal

• Portugal has recently overcome its traditional gap in scientific and technological development and achieved the average OECD level in terms of the number of researchers (i.e., 7.2 full time researchers per thousand workforce in 2008, while it was 3.5 in 2005 and only 1.5 in the late 80´s);

• Overall R&D expenditure more than doubled over the last five years (it was 1.55% of GDP in 2008, while 0.81% in 2005, and only 0.4% in the late 80´s);

• At the same time, the system of higher education has been reformed, the social basis for recruitment of students was enlarged and industry-science links were reinforced, together with business expenditure in R&D (which represented 0.78% of GDP in 2008, while 0.31% in 2005 and less than 0.20% until ten years ago).

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Science in Portugal I • The Portuguese research landscape has undergone deep

changes over the last fifteen years, namely with the government's definition of a strategic vision and the decision to assign a high priority to R&D have made their contribution. In 1996, a systematic evaluation process (every three years) based on international and independent panels has been introduced;

• This, together with a more active international participation and cooperation, has contributed to increase the international awareness of science produced in Portugal and hence the international reputation of our scientific community ;

• The fast scientific and technological development of the country is now a national priority and goals are defined aiming at recovering the lag as compared to other developed countries.

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Science in Portugal II

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Technology in Portugal I An assessment of national inventors, entrepreneurs and

companies carried out in Portugal over the last year by the University Technology Enterprise Network (UTEN), shows:

• Economic activity indicates that the proportion of knowledge based firms grew from 6,4% in 1991 to 9,8% in 2003 (3% growth of firms in knowledge-intensive sectors);

• This growth is mostly based on business services, where high-tech services (including communications and computer) represent 10%. Other sectors are medical devices (6%), pharmaceutical (2,5%), industrial equipment (2%) and electronic components (1,5%);

• As to entrepreneurs background, one can find engineering (27%), medical sciences (18%), administration (9%) and humanities (9%).

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Technology in Portugal II

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Institutions Involved

Foundations Universities

Ministry of

Science and

Technology

University of

Minho

University of

Porto

University of

Lisbon

INEB (Institute of

Biomedicine)

IST

(Instituto Superior Técnico)

ICVS/3B (Associate

Laboratory)

University of

Aveiro

University of

Algarve

CCMAR (Center of Marine

Sciences)

CESAM (Environment and

Marine Studies)

CENIMAT/

I3N

BIOCANT

FCT

JICAM

R&D Centers

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Innovation

Portugal is a world leader in:

• Biometric solutions;

• Customer Centers’ Software;

• Photovoltaic solutions;

• Global Healthcare IT;

• Railway systems management.

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Cooperation with China in R&D&I • Establishment of Diplomatic Relations in 1979. (Bilateral relationship was

upgraded, in 2005, to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership level);

• First Agreement on Cultural, Scientific and Technical cooperation signed in 1982. Continuous dialogue is framed by the 1993 Scientific Cooperation Agreement;

• Joint S&T commission met in 2013, selecting and aproving 8 joint research projects for 2013-2015, with support from the Portuguese FCT in the amount of 150.000€.

MoU Executive

Programme Joint

Statement Protocol

2014 S&T Marine

Sciences

2012 S&T&I

2006 S&T

1993 S&T

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Priorities

• Energy (renewables and electricity);

•Nano/Biotechnology;

• Information, Communication technology;

•Ocean sciences: Aquaculture and fisheries, marine biology and biotechnology, biodiversity and conservation, coastal oceanography, polar science.

•Academia-Technology-Entrepreneurship, Space Technology.

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Bilateral Tools • 1st Sino-Portuguese workshop on Marine Sciences, 10-11 June

2014, Shanghai Ocean University;

• 1st Sino-Portuguese Advanced Materials Innovation Forum, Hangzhou, 30-31 May 2014;

• Cooperation protocol signed between the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and the University of Minho, and a contract with the Portuguese Company Technophage on joint research and development, in the field of biomedicine;

• Portugal-China Joint Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Hangzhou, Zhejiang University;

• Joint calls for projects in S&T open to research labs, institutions or business R&D in biology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, materials, health sciences, agro sciences and renewables.

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Conclusions I • In the last 15 years Portugal

focused on promoting science and technology culture and education, fostering science awareness and education;

• An analysis of the Portuguese Technology balance of payments indicates a greater competitiveness of Portuguese firms in competitive markets;

• An assessment on national inventors, entrepreneurs and companies shows an emerging technological capacity in Portugal.

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Conclusions II • The Portugal-China Joint Innovation

Centre for Advanced Materials (PCJICAM) is the first national grade centre for international science and technology cooperation between China and Portugal in biomedical materials.

• A program of exchange and collaboration on marine science between China and Portugal is being defined. Both China and Portugal are developing and implementing new strategies on ocean research and exploration. In this era of globalization and climate change, bilateral collaborative and complementary research holds the promise to deliver impactful results.

• A scientific research protocol signed between Shanghai SIMM and UMinho which is to create a platform to foster collaboration in pharmaceutical research efforts.

S&D&I framework

Marine Sciences

Biomedicine

Pharmacy

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•Thank you! •谢谢!

• Obrigada!

http://www.portugalembassychina.com/

Bibliographic References •AAVV, A new landscape for Science, Technology and Tertiary Education in Portugal, Lisbon, MCTES, June 2010.

•CONCEIÇÃO Pedro, Manuel V. Heitor, Innovation for All, Lisbon, IST, 2005.

•PARREIRA, Leonor, Ciência 2012, Lisbon, Secretaria de Estado da Ciência, 2012;

•UP, Ciência e Tecnologia, Porto, Universidade do Porto, s.d., in http://sigarra.up.pt/up/en/WEB_BASE.GERA_ PAGINA?p_pagina=122338.