Following the successful kick-off of the Enhanced Dialogue on Research and Innovation (R&I) in July 2025, Portugal and the European Commission convened a critical follow-up meeting to advance collaborative efforts in aligning national reforms with EU priorities. This continued engagement underscores the strong commitment of Portuguese authorities to strengthening Portugal’s R&I ecosystem and contributing to the broader goals of the European Research Area (ERA).
The follow-up discussions, held online on 17 November, centered on two pivotal themes: the ongoing reform of Portugal’s science law and the decision to establish a new dedicated agency for research and innovation. The new agency will merge the current two agencies, Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the National Innovation Agency (ANI), in one single entity. These topics reflect Portugal’s proactive approach to modernising its innovation framework, progressively increase funding for research and innovation, ensuring coherence with EU strategies such as the ERA Policy Agenda and the upcoming ERA Act, while fostering domestic competitiveness.
The meeting brought together high-level Portuguese officials, including Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre and Secretary of State for Science Helena Canhão, alongside the European Commission representatives led by Director-General Marc Lemaître.
Building on the July 2025 kick-off event, discussion focused on how ongoing reforms will streamline governance, enhance research funding efficiency, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration. The decision to create a new R&I agency was highlighted as a strategic move to better link with science and innovation and reduce the fragmentation of the R&I governance. In the framework of the meeting, Portugal has confirmed its desire to request a Policy Support Facility review to support its on-going reforms.
The continued dialogue between Portugal and the EU reflects a shared commitment to turning R&I into a cornerstone of economic resilience and sustainable growth. As Portugal moves forward with its reforms, the Enhanced Dialogue remains a platform for aligning national ambitions with European strategic frameworks, ensuring mutual support in achieving innovation-led prosperity.
Background
Enhanced dialogues with EU countries are a new, bottom-up channel of cooperation with the European Commission. These dialogues aim at creating a country-tailored approach to foster Research and Innovation in the participating EU country. They are organised on a voluntary basis and built around topics matching the interests of the country. Portugal is one of the 17 countries who have started an enhanced dialogue with DG research & Innovation.
