Technology Management and Policy
About
The research agenda for Technology Management and Policy aims at policy analysis through multidisciplinary activities, namely in terms of science, technology, and industry policies formulation and the need to secure sustainable development.
The conditions for social construction of technological systems in developed and developing societies are addressed taking into consideration their impact on the emergence of new social realities and potential as factors of economic and social change and development on a global scale.
Goals
Case studies are developed worldwide, particularly in Portugal and Europe. The emphasis is on issues in which the interaction of technology, humans, and institutions is of importance to foster quality of life.
Our current objectives for this research area are to:
Derive science and technology policies and innovation strategies in terms of socioeconomic development.
Develop and apply advanced research methodologies for the analysis of technoeconomic systems.
Promote the exchange of knowledge in advanced technologies
Promote the management of technology and innovation for the optimisation of industrial processes.
Sample Current initiatives and projects
European research and innovation policy to boost competitiveness and better address societal challenges:
Research carreers in Europe: “CESAER Research Careers Survey 2024”
CESAER task force - The new report will be released in early December 2024.
Portugal in Europe and its global links - public policies 2000-2030 (propective studies)
Interview on the book "What human piramid"
Research and Innovation methodologies
Design Thinking: From inspiration to innovation
"K4P Alliances – Knowledge for People, The Planet and Prosperity, through Partnerships"
The activities of IN+ consider a new international joint venture promoting the inclusive development of the Global South, with emphasis on Africa and Latin America, through the mobilization of pilot projects aiming to foster sustainable and healthier societies and reduce inequalities in the digital age. The goal is to help accomplish the target of greening our economies and promoting Sustainable and Healthy Territories, together with achieving carbon neutrality, or “net zero”, by 2050, through a network of data centres and collaborative projects in Latin America and Africa and, eventually in the Indo-Pacific, providing capacity building and fostering new jobs through community-based participatory research and innovation. Collaboration with European institutions is particularly envisaged and an few case studies will be reported.
The research Issue: Which structural changes must be considered in the design of public and private policies and strategies, as well as in the processes of knowledge production, diffusion and governance, so that we move effectively towards safer, cleaner and more resilient, cooperative and knowledge societies to face the climate disaster we all are facing, as well as demographic forecasts and emerging nationalistic movements, or the tensions resulting from increasing water scarcity, which are affecting the most vulnerable communities of the world? How far can we concentrate research efforts on the emerging needs affecting population growth in the Global South?
To answer these questions we must rely on the hypothesis that current challenges associated with increasing uncertainties in modern societies require a novel understanding of “Human Agency” and the dynamics of emerging data ecologies integrated with complex network systems and collective behaviors, in a way to promote our global well-being and accelerating the path towards carbon neutrality, avoiding a climate disaster.
Coordination: Manuel Heitor
Website: https://k4palliances.com/
Download White Paper (PDF 16 MB)
Space systems and policy research and innovation
Research in this topic includes the analysis of forms of public and private policies and strategies, as well as in the processes of knowledge production, diffusion and governance, promoting space systems, together with institutional innovations promoting new space activities.
It includes the analysis of “downstream” markets for Space related activities, in particular “Earth Observation systems”, as well as critical issues for sustainability of space supply chains. It includes the analysis of “Low Earth Orbit – LEO” constellations and directions towards long-term sustainability issues and resources, as well as design systems accordingly. In addition, the work involves collaboration wioth an range of expertises in academia and industry, regarding analysis of artificial intelligence, machine learning and technologies related to autonomous systems and intelligence, sensing and reconnaissance.
The engagement with industry and governmental organizations consider looking at advanced materials, MEMS, telecommunications, sensing, systems and space, together with the analysis of system goal definitions, risk analysis, stakeholder analysis, resource allocation, as well as skills development and the training of human resources.
Coordination: Manuel Heitor
Collaborative innovation
Research in this topic includes the analysis of forms of institutional innovations promoting the diversification and densification of the research landscape together with multidirectional knowledge flows in an global system of increasing fragmented production. In addition, it considers the analysis of factors shaping how global universities can open new pathways to social and economic growth.
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New institutional architectures fostering innovation-based growth
Publication in preparation
Context: Institutional innovations promoting the diversification and densification of the research landscape together with multidirectional knowledge flows in an global system of increasing fragmented production
Coordination: Manuel Heitor, with Ana Gonçalves, José Luis Encarnação, Joana Mendonça -
Networks of Opportunity
Publication in preparation
Context: How Global Universities Can Open New Pathways to Social and Economic Growth.
Coordenation: Manuel Heitor, Jose Moura e João Barros
Science diplomacy
This is an area of interface between scientific practice and diplomacy (the implementation of a country's foreign policy through privileged channels of dialogue and negotiation). It has gained an increasing attention and conceptual insights in the last decade, although it is a traditional area of cooperation among researchers and diplomats for which a diversified set of practices have been developed for many centuries. Anyway, Science diplomacy should not be confused with international scientific cooperation, although these must be areas that work in interconnection and complementarity. In addition, Scientific diplomacy and cultural diplomacy are complementary but not overlapping areas, nor can they be exercised indifferently by individuals with the same profile.
Overall, the practice of Scientific diplomacy and the building up of an evolving body of knowledge in association with emerging needs affecting our societies requires effective policy action at the level of qualified human resources, training, structuring skills profiles and career profiles. In particular, the development of dedicated research careers on Scientific diplomacy require an careful attention of research organizations in all areas of knowledge.
This is because the recent unexpected threats to our common safety and public goods, including public health, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the increasing activity of individual digital terrorism or the Russian invasion of Ukraine have shown that our societies are not as safe as we thought. In association with the climate disaster we all are facing, the tensions resulting from increasing water scarcity affecting the most vulnerable communities of the world, demographic forecasts and emerging nationalistic movements, such as BREXIT among many other, we all are facing unprecedent threats that should foster a clear call for action requiring an revisited approach to scientific diplomacy. Any deep reflection on these issues must lead us to safer, cleaner and more resilient and cooperative societies, making use of novel forms of digital governance that must necessarily consider “human agency”, be centered on people and based on changing collective behaviors. Under this context, eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities and achieving sustainable development, in a way fostering an inclusive and green transition in the emerging digital age should mobilize our common interests.
Prospective Studies
IN+ and the “Institute for Prospective Studies” (“Instituto de Prospectiva”) collaborate in promoting free thinking and debate around fundamental issues for the future of Portuguese society and Europe. This includes:
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The Annual Prospective Meetings of Arrábida, aiming to stimulate prospective analysis in Portugal and ensure an annual space for critical and open reflection around structuring issues for the development of the country and its international positioning, as well as Europe and its global positioning. This includes the promotion of human capital in Portugal, the maturity of the national scientific and technological capacity and its relationship with social and economic development. More recently, the Meetings were critical for the preparation of the Portuguese space strategy, the future of work and the fight against precariousness at work, as well as the development of broad international platforms, namely in the educational, scientific and technological fields. Since 2022, an special focus has been given to European cooperation for the sustainable development of the Global South.
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José Mariano Gago Prospective Analysis Award (since 2022), promoted by Fundação Oriente and The Instituto for Prospective Studies (IP- “Instituto de Prospetiva”) in collaboration with IN+/ISt and Ciência Viva, this award aims to stimulate research activities on prospective analysis and the involvement of young researchers in this type of analysis and transdisciplinary studies, valuing the legacy of José Mariano Gago in this area, in Portugal and in Europe. It is awarded biannually, in the form of a grant in the amount of 10,000 Euros (ten thousand Euros) by Fundação Oriente for the pursuit of research work and prospective studies during a period of up to two years after the award is awarded. More information >>>
Main international event series
Since 2018: "Gago Conferences in European Science Policy", in collaboration with Ciência Viva, the Institute for Prospective Studies ("Instituto de Prospectiva") and an diversified set of European institutions and partners. See at: https://www.cienciaviva.pt/gagoconf-landing
- 1st Gago Conference: February 14th 2018 - Policy Perspectives for Cancer Research in Europe, Porto; PT
- 2nd Gago Conference: September 21st 2018 - Science, society and policy towards a Europe of knowledge, Vienna; Austria
- 3rd Gago Conference: October 15th 2018 - Greening Europe: the next challenge for science and science policy, Nicosia; Cyprus
- 4th Gago Conference: June 13th 2022 - Europe supporting young researchers in times of uncertainty, Brussels; Belgium
- 5th Gago Conference: October 6th 2022 - Cancer research: society at the frontiers of knowledge, Heidelberg; Germany
- Forseen:
- 6th Gago Conference: Summer 2023 – European Energy futures: challenges for science and science policy, venue tbd
- 7th Gago Conference: Summer 2023 – Challenges and opportunities in Advanced Computing for Europe, BSC, Barcelona, Spain (date to be confirmed)
- 8th Gago Conference: Winter 2023 –Advances in Earth Observation and challenges for science policy: Global Europe and the Global South, venue tbd
Coordination: Manuel Heitor, Rosalia Vargas (Ciência Viva), Julio Celis (EACS), Teresa Riera Madurell (Former mmeber of EU parliament)
Policy actions / Manifestos
The Heidelberg Manifesto on European Cancer Research
Europe supports an innovative patient-centred cancer ecosystem built on infrastructures for basic and translational research, clinical trials, and outcomes research with improved public engagement and understanding
https://webstorage.cienciaviva.pt/public/pt.cienciaviva.www/gagoconf/Heidelberg-Manifesto-15oct2022.pdf
also at: https://www.europeancanceracademy.eu/news/the-heidelberg-manifesto-on-european-cancer-research
Prepared and promoted in the context of the “5th Gago Conference on European Science Policy”, in collaboration with Ciência Viva, the “European Academy of Cancer Sciences, EACS” and “DKFZ – German Cancer Center, Heidelberg”
October 2022
A MANIFESTO: Europe supports early research careers and stimulating research workplaces
https://webstorage.cienciaviva.pt/public/pt.cienciaviva.www/gagoconf/manifesto_v2.pdf
https://initiative-se.eu/manifesto/
Prepared and promoted in the context of the “4th Gago Conference on European Science Policy”, in collaboration with Ciência Viva, the “Initiative for Science in Europe, ISE” and CNRS
September 2022
See also Press news at:
A road map aims to improve the lives of junior scientists in Europe (Nature, 18/10/2022)
Press Release: A Manifesto for Early Career Researchers (26/09/2022)
Endorsers of the Manifesto for Early Career Researchers (updated on 24/10/2022)
Manifesto to save ‘lost generation’ of researchers (Science|Business, 14/06/2022)
Leadership and main PI's
Manuel Heitor (Director)
Joana Mendonça
Miguel Preto
Miguel Amaral
