The National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CNCTI) is the new advisory body of the Portuguese Government.
The National Director of the UT Austin Portugal Program, José Manuel Mendonça, was appointed President of the CNCTI.
As officially announced by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education on February 23, the new advisory body of the Portuguese Government for the areas of science, technology and innovation will work “in close collaboration with the Minister of State for the Economy and Digital Transition, Pedro Siza Vieira, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, for the development, reinforcement and support of the national scientific and technological system, ensuring scientific advice and fostering cross-cutting and inter-ministerial dialogue on science policies, technology and innovation”. In parallel, the Assembly of the Republic, Portugal’s parliament, may summon the CNCTI to participate in parliamentary debates.
CNCTI met for the first time on March 1, “within the scope of the ongoing hearings for the public consultation of Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan” in response to the socio-economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The plenary session was attended by the presidents of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the National Innovation Agency (ANI) and IAPMEI – the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation, as well as 20 acknowledged experts from various areas of knowledge and economy.
