MIT Portugal and Flagships Projects joined for a working session
There are now 7 MIT Portugal flagship projects approved and financed under the Go Portugal Program – Global Science and Technology Partnerships Portugal.
Sustainable cities, digital transformation, climate change, and earth systems are the areas of the projects financed. This represents “an investment in Portugal of 15.M€ for the next three years,” announced the National Director of MIT Portugal, Pedro Arezes, at the MIT Portugal opening office ceremony.
This ceremony was preceded by a working session with the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor and all the Flagships Projects. In attendance was also Zita Martins, National Co-Director of MIT Portugal, as well as members of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), National Innovation Agency (ANI), Atlantic International Research Center (AIR Centre), and PT Space.
These projects, supported by national companies (NOS, EFACEC, Zenithwings, Ubiwhere, Stratosphere, DSTelecom and Edisoft,) in partnership with research institutions and Portuguese universities (Minho, Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon), as well as research groups at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) “will allow us to take a relevant step towards internationalization and strengthening the national scientific and technological structure”, said Pedro Arezes.
Manuel Heitor highlighted the “increasing relevance” of the MPP strategic areas, namely the Space-Earth interactions, which in coordination with the – AIR Center are particularly significant in strengthening the relationship between space agencies in Europe and the USA. “If MIT Portugal can leverage this relationship, it will be a major step in Portugal’s Atlantic position and in Europe’s relationship with USA.”
More details about the MPP projects here!
Media Coverage | in PT| :
MIT Portugal New Coordination Office
MIT Portugal has now a new office with headquarters at Minho University. “More than a space, we are strengthening international and collaborative research between Portuguese universities, research institutes, laboratories, companies, and MIT,” said Pedro Arezes, National Director of MIT Portugal. At his speech Pedro Arezes mentioned the MIT Directors, Dava Newman and Doug Hart, and the MIT team who were unable to travel and join this ceremony due to the current COVID-19 situation.
Located at Campus de Azurém, Minho University, Guimarães, this Coordination Office works with all Portuguese universities, all research centers, institutions, and companies.
To Manuel Heitor these international partnerships, such as MIT Portugal, contribute to enhance Portugal’s positioning in the World “as a country that fosters research and innovation”.
The MIT Portugal opening office ceremony was attended by the rector of the University of Minho, Rui Vieira de Castro, who highlighted the importance of MIT Portugal to reinforce the national scientific and technology research, and higher education system that “contributes to the common goal of promoting a better Portugal”.
Also present was Zita Martins, National Co-Director of MIT Portugal; Isabel Furtado and António M. Cunha from MPP Governing Committee; the MPP area leaders; Ana Camanho and Alexandra Moutinho; as well as members of the Minho academic communities and members from partner companies.
Media Coverage | in PT| :
Photo Credits: UMinho