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Program |
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Session I – Introduction Chairs: João Rodrigues (UNL) and Nuno Cerca (UMinho) The employment of a great number of researchers in recent years has been part of an effort to increase and improve science and technology research in Portugal. This scenario poses renewed challenges not only to the researchers themselves but also to the host institutions and to the government agencies. The ANICT Symposium aims to discuss several issues that we believe are crucial for a sustained development of the Portuguese Scientific System. Session II – Science Policy Chairs: Nicolas Lori (UC) and Frank Wagner (UÉvora) Panel Members: João Sentieiro, Luiz Fagundes Duarte, João Caraça and Maria Arménia Carrondo The creation of new research centers, improvements in already existing facilities, improvements in bureaucracy, and greater internationalization of the research teams had a strong impact on the Scientific System. Predictability is very important in creating high-level science and technology. Investments require returns, and for a country to have a competitive industry it must also have competitive research institutes. What is missing for us to have internationally recognized center(s) of research excellence in Portugal at the level of the best in the world; and is this unreasonable or is this the goal of the national science program? Compromises have often to be made, so we would like to know which compromises you think should occur. What should be the focus of the national science policy effort, should it be focused on the pure sciences, sciences with applications to technology and medicine, social sciences, or some other area? Session III - Research Career, Funding and Independence Chairs: Miguel Jorge (UP) and Miguel Santos (UP) Panel Members: António Rendas, Alexandre Quintanilha, António Firmino da Costa, Maria Carmo-Fonseca and Paulo Freitas A major challenge that is being posed to the researchers and the host institutions is the uncertainty regarding the career perspectives of researchers hired under temporary contracts. In this Session, we aim to hear different points of view regarding the future of the research career in Portugal. Specifically, we aim to address the following questions: Is there a future for a sustainable research career in Portugal? Under which format? How will researchers be funded (both in terms of salaries and access to competitive national and international research projects)? How does the independence of a researcher (to supervise students, apply for his/her own funding, manage those funds, choose his/her own research lines, etc.) impact the productivity of the individual researcher and of the research unit as a whole? Session IV – Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship Chairs: João Lopes (UP) and Konstantin Luzyanin (UTL) Panel Members: António Camara, José Luis Moreira, Paulo Pereira da Silva, Maria João Teixeira de Queiroz What are the main differences between fundamental and applied science, what are the borders, and how to cross them? What are the requirements to establish fruitful collaborations between industry and academia and how to make profit from your scientific discoveries? How to transform an idea into a successful business project and how to start your own business? Do the "Incubators of Companies" in Universities make possible the transformation of ideas into business plans? The answers to these and other questions will be given by four guests of our panel - the people who make their ideas work not only in academia but also in the business world. Two main topics to be discussed include: (i) collaborations between industry/private companies and universities, what helps and what precludes these collaborations in Portugal, and (ii) what are today's major challenges to start your own science & technology- based business? Session V – Science Communication and Dissemination Chairs: Natascha van Hattum (UMinho) and Myrta Grüning (UC) Panel Members: Ana Godinho, Ana Simões, Carlos Fiolhais, Joana Barros One of the ANICT objectives is to contribute to the dissemination of scientific knowledge to the general public. In this panel discussion, the public will be confronted with the experience of four researchers, in whose careers the communication and dissemination of science play a central role. The researchers have a range of experiences that aim to make scientific research more accessible to the general public and to specific populations like school children. They will discuss their strategies for dissemination and communication like books, seminars and meetings to explain why and how the general public is to be informed about scientific research in all areas. Interesting young people for a research career is also part of the discussion in this panel. Confirmed Speakers - Mariano Gago (Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education)- João Sentieiro (President of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) - António Rendas (Rector of UNL and President of CRUP) - Nuno Cerca (President of ANICT) - Luiz Fagundes Duarte (President of Comissão Parlamentar Educação e Ciência) - João Caraça (Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian) - Maria Arménia Carrondo (Vice-Rector for R&D, UNL) - Alexandre Quintanilha (IBMC/UP & CLA Secretary) - António Firmino da Costa (CIES-ISCTE-IUL) - Maria Carmo-Fonseca (IMM/FMUL) - Paulo Freitas (INESC & INL) - António Câmara (CEO Ydreams) - José Luis Moreira (CFO Biotecnol) - Paulo Pereira da Silva (CEO Renova) - Maria João Teixeira de Queiroz (CEO Eurotrials) - Ana Godinho (IGC) - Ana Simões (UL) - Joana Barros (Associação Viver a Ciência) - Carlos Fiolhais (UC) |