With the State of the Nation as a backdrop, the Público newspaper made an assessment of the various domains of national policy, based on the public policy report developed by the ISCTE (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa).
For science policy, the analysis signed by Tiago Santos Pereira, from the Center for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra, was entitled “Challenges to be met” and pointed out three essential challenges, which remain to be resolved – the governance model, employment scientific research and the socio-economic impact of research.
Seeing closely, what was accomplished?
From the 8th to the 10th of July, the largest national political action on science took place at the FIL Congress Center – the 2019 Science Meeting – which annually brings together Portuguese researchers and is jointly promoted by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FGT) with Ciência Viva – National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture and the Parliamentary Commission for Education and Science, with institutional support from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education.
On the first day, the inaugural session was marked by the protest of the precarious of Science and Technology, during speeches by the 1st Minister and the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education.
The question now will be: Why? A Scientific Employment Incentive Program has been implemented. The approval of another 1800 doctoral scholarships for September of this year is under evaluation. Research centers were evaluated (about 350) and more than 60% were considered excellent or very good, thus deserving funding for the period 2020 to 2023, and the allocation of 430 million euros through the Multiannual Program is in progress. from the Research and Development (R&D) Units to these units (80% of the total are financed).
So why the discontent? The network of centers evaluated included 62 new units. A number very close to 19500 PhD researchers (5 times more than 20 years ago), which is interesting.
In the redistribution of funding in this assessment, a significant number of these units classified as “excellent” saw their funding reduced (as is the case with the CCMAR of the University of Algarve), and thus their activity and their contractors were compromised (mostly young PhDs ).
FCT's funding cake (80%) is to cover personnel and operating costs. Scientific employment is associated with a complex, precarious system that lacks opportunities for career advancement, which makes it difficult to retain young researchers and promotes their flight abroad.
In Portugal, the VAT (Value Added Tax) on goods and services of research projects is 23%, when, in a large number of European countries, exemption or reimbursement is already foreseen.
Science in Portugal accounted for 1,36% of the Gross Domestic Product, while the European Union has an average investment of 2% and proposes 3% as a whole as a target for 2030.
Is it a current issue? No. But the discussion of party A, B or C, or of this Government, is of little interest, and the discussion is not just about money. We continue to hope that it will "mark" in this political area, not because of the constant change in competitions and their access rules, but in the creation of systems that reward excellence and promote the stability of a structuring area of any society.
Science and technology have struggled with many difficulties, heavily dependent on government changes and too-short funding assessment cycles, which hamper prospective and strategic planning.
Let us compare the research units of the Universities with other units associated with Foundations and private entities. Science as a whole is not expected to make a profit and we know how some research requires components, products and technology development that can be very expensive. We also know that there is research that is needed in the various sciences that have other types of returns to society.
In turn, the polytechnic education career and that of university education stimulate and promote research as one of its essential axes for career progression and performance evaluation, but Universities are increasingly lacking in funding and means to to carry out this mission, which also greatly enriches education and establishes the relationship with companies, the territory in which they are located and from which answers to various societal challenges can emerge.
Is this one more way to derail the development that everyone wants, asking for what we know there is no way to promote on a regular basis?
Responses remain insufficient. Having a logic of cutting investment in research at the base is a brand that is not understood.
It is essential to rethink the Science and Technology Agenda beyond marketing and image, as scientific knowledge translates into continuous improvement of our lives and the future of other generations.
We want Science to stand out for its requirement and excellence.
Author: Alexandra R. Goncalves
Adjunct Professor at ESGHT/University of Algarve and Integrated Researcher at CinTurs
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