Country Overviews
Introduction
Transport projects in Portugal are currently financed through multidisciplinary research programmes managed by several government agencies. At present, there is no national research programme specifically targeting transport activities. Two national multidisciplinary programmes from two ministries provide financial support for transport research activities: PRIME (Ministry of the Economy) and POCTI.
The Ministry of Economy has contributed to research projects funding through the PRIME programme (Incentive Programme for the Modernisation of the Economy). This programme ended in 2006 and included participation by firms and other private parties.
The main aim of the programme is to promote technological change in Portuguese industry, by integrating research activities into operational projects.
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has supported transport research projects through the POCTI programme (Operational Programme "Science, Technology, Innovation"), which ended in 2006. Its main objective was to overcome backwardness in terms of human resources qualification for research activities.
PRIME and POCTI funds are managed and allocated by different sub-programmes and public agencies. The most important are the ADI (Innovation Agency) and the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology).
National Government Departments and Agencies
Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications / Ministério das Obras Públicas, Transportes e Comunicaçoes
Ministry of Economy and Innovation / Ministério da Economia e da Inovaçao
Ministry for Science, Technology and Higher Education / Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior
www.mces.pt and http://alfa.fct.mctes.pt
ADI-Innovation Agency / ADI Agência de Inovaçao
Cabinet for International Relationships in Science and Higher Education (GRICES) / Gabinete de Relaçoes Internacionais da Ciência e do Ensino Superior
QREN - National Strategic Reference Framework (2007-2013) / Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional
Multi-sector programme.
www.qren.pt
POVT - Thematic Operational Programme - Territory Valorisation / Programa Operacional Temático - Valorizaçao do Território
Sub-programme of QREN, including transport, the environment, territorial connectivity and urban issues.
www.povt.qren.pt
PRIME - Incentive Programme for the Modernisation of the Economy/ Programa de Incentivos à Modernizaçao da Economía
The Ministry of Economy's PRIME programme covers a set of tools designed for industry, energy, transport, tourism, trade and services sector. It aims to promote change in the economic fabric of Portugal.
www.prime.min-economia.pt
POCTI - Operational Programme "Science, Technology, Innovation" (Innovation agency) / Programa Operacional "Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovaçao"
Programme aimed at the formation of a solid "innovation culture" through the support of applied scientific and technological activities. It ended in 2006.
www.fct.mctes.pt/pt/programasinvestimento/pocti
IDEIA - Support to Applied Business Research and Development (Innovation agency) / Apoio à Investigaçao e Desenvolvimento Empresarial Aplicado
Encouraged cooperation between enterprises and public research bodies. The main goals were to promote technological development and to facilitate the transfer of research results to the productive economic sector.
www.adi.pt/Ideia.htm
Pilot Projects (Innovation Agency) / DemTec - Projectos Demostradores
Supported pilot projects that develop technologically innovative solutions and promotes their use in industrial production.
www.adi.pt/DemTec.htm
NEST - New Technological Support Enterprises (Innovation agency) / Novas Empresas de Suporte Tecnológico
Supported the establishment of new enterprises and recently established enterprises through public participation.
www.adi.pt/Nest.htm
Bilateral Cooperation Programmes / Programas de Cooperaçao Bilateral
GRICES (Cabinet for International Relations of Science and Higher Education) supports several bilateral cooperation programmes, with the aim of exchanging researchers from different fields of knowledge, including transport research projects.
www.grices.mctes.pt
