The newly appointed area directors in Portugal have met at INESC TEC to refine the scope and future initiatives of the Program.
After a brief reception and introductions of the participants, José Manuel Mendonça, National Director of the partnership, offered an overview of the Program presenting its strategic guidelines and governing structure.
A brainstorming session followed. The area directors formed working groups to identify and discuss initiatives and specific topics of action for the Program. The team has started a thorough mapping of Portuguese research groups and companies working in the broad areas of the Program that will be later extended and completed with the UT Austin counterpart.
The meeting was concluded with the presentation of the conclusions from each working group and the elaboration of an action plan.
The entire group has, in the meantime, met again through videoconference, together with the American leadership team, for a wider presentation of the Program. The area directors from both sides have started meeting regularly to prepare the visit of the Portuguese leadership team to Austin, scheduled to February 2019. Until then, the Program will visit Portuguese and American research groups to present the Program and the forthcoming initiatives.
