Mr. Prime Minister, we know that for sufficiently clarified and nebulous reasons, given the absence of assigned responsibilities, the country plunged into a deep crisis and that everyone, in all sectors, we continue to feel its gravity and the weight of consequences.
Mr. Prime Minister, we know that for sufficiently clarified and nebulae, given the lack of responsibilities assigned reasons, the country plunged into a deep crisis and that everyone, in all sectors, we continue to feel the its gravity and the weight of their consequences.
We know we are, and will continue to be for several years in a national emergency, always on the verge of bankruptcy. But we must distinguish between the absolute value of budget cuts and the current and future impact of these cuts.
Theresectors to cut in the state budget over tens of millions of euros have serious consequences for the country’s future in the medium and long term. In other sectors is not so. There are sectors where such cuts lead to loss of economic competitiveness and the emigration of Portuguese professionals with excellent track record in engineering, science, technology, innovation and also in the various fields of culture and art.
mobility and internationalization are essential for those professionals, but to create conditions that favor the forced exodus of more differentiated, and those in whom the country has spent more in his training, is indicative of the inability of our leaders to create a motivating project for Portugal.
The sector of science and higher education are an example of an unnecessarily destructive policy. In addition to budget cuts, those sectors are faced with a set of limitations on university autonomy that hinder the ability of universities and their research units seek alternatives to the state budget revenues.
Is this understandable? The increased bureaucracy in higher education and research sectors ruled by the state is truly amazing and is consuming precious time teachers and researchers, who should use to do what they do, ie, teach and investigate, and seek alternative sources of funding.
In a recent speech, on 28 November, the Academy of Sciences, Professor Miguel Seabra, president of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), which oversees scientific research and technological development in Portugal, said and insisted that our country is not competitive with the other countries of the European Union (EU) on indicators of scientific production. We already knew this, Professor! What is now needed is to know how to improve our situation. But with the increased bureaucracy that imposes FCT researchers, it is very unlikely that this level improves.
Currently, researchers who rely largely FCT for its research activities are submerged in bureaucratic. The lack of quality extensive range of computing platforms that the FTC requires the use is impressive. It is a rare situation in which these platforms function as said FCT should work.
Corrections, postponements, the setbacks and the inefficiency of the process led by the FCT are not competitive within the EU. There is no question the commitment and dedication of so many people who work in the FCT, whose performance known personally for many years. What is at stake is the management model, excessive bureaucracy and inadequate procedures face the reality of what is the management of scientific research in countries that are competitive in terms of indicators of scientific production.
I will give just one example. According to the website of the institution, “the FCT will also assess the units of scientific research and technological development with the aim of strengthening the role of R & D units as a key pillar in consolidation of a system of R & D modern and competitive. ” This contest is obviously crucial for all researchers of the current R & D units, especially since it is expected that a significant number of proposals are rejected, due in large part to budget cuts.
Also according to the notice of tender, dated July 9 this year, “the form for submission of applications for review is available from the 19th August, and, after completion of the registration process the unit should be sealed up to 17 hours (Lisbon time) on October 31, 2013. ” Portuguese researchers launched to work in July, but the August 26 FCT warned them that the deadline for submission of proposals was postponed to November 18. On 18 October were again advised that the deadline has evolved to 2 December. On November 26 FCT pushed that date for December 16 and December 13 made it to migrate back to December 30th!
course the direction of the FCT will say that all the postponements were requested vehemently by some units of R & D. But is not the point. The issue is the mismatch between a crucial process, but little mature and highly controversial, and the everyday reality of most researchers faced with increasing difficulties of professional achievement in our country. The point is that four successive postponements in four months and 18 days, reveal a dysfunctional and without much chance of being “modern and competitive” in the EU system.
Is it reasonable to make a major reorganization of the science and technology system funded by the state in a financial hardship and great uncertainty about the future? Would be preferable to consolidate through a review which, despite all the difficulties, continues to operate and make the necessary adjustments clearly?
reorganization of R & D units is consuming all researchers inordinate time against possible benefits that this reorganization may perhaps bring some researchers and to the country. The importance of FCT and its reform is not measured by the time spent in, but by bureaucratic simplification that is capable of introducing to leave us more time to reflect, observe and experience. Without this additional time, the competitiveness of research in Portugal within the EU will not improve.
Imagine, Professor, the advantage would come to our country in terms of competitiveness, if only part of the time consumed in the endless bureaucracies management of research projects and submission of proposals to all types of contests FCT, whose success rate is generally very low, was spent preparing proposals for research funding programs of the EU and in particular the Horizon 2020.
One of the most important tasks of Portuguese researchers is to establish partnerships with other research groups across Europe to form consortia who are likely to be funded in the EU tenders, in particular Horizon 2020. For those who are teachers as well as researchers, where is the time to take classes, take exams, meet the growing academic bureaucracy to address growing bureaucracy of the FCT, doing research of excellent quality and compete for the Horizon 2020
Unfortunately there is a secular trend in Portugal to act and behave for “english see”, now replaced by ‘Brussels to see. ” This trend manifests itself in various sectors of national activity and also, as might be expected, in science and technology. Reveals a surprising lack of self-confidence in a country with more than eight and a half centuries of nationality.
Both now and in the recent past, the great and seemingly sole purpose of FCT is excellence in scientific research. It is virtually impossible to find anyone disagrees that we should seek to do in Portugal research of excellent quality, one that is publishable in Science and Nature , to give a concrete example.
But is that the sole purpose of science in Portugal? Will provide excellent bibliometric indicators of scientific publications in Brussels and the OECD should be the main aim of scientific activity in Portugal? And the contribution of science and technology, made in Portugal, to enhance their social and economic development, to enhance competitiveness and export capacity, to use the language in effect at the present time?
We know that the more industrialized, and more developed with better quality of life countries invest heavily in science and technology. The main reason for this investment is to defend national interests and economic competitiveness internationally. An important part of this investment is to meet and monitor the territory, natural resources and the environment. Without these activities can not be policies for natural resource management and appropriate environment.
Clearly, knowledge processes, evaluation and monitoring of the territory, natural resources and the environment is not the shortest way to publish in Science or Nature . In Portugal there is sometimes the feeling that we are still trying to prove to the world that we are able to write many articles per year and per capita (5, 10, 20 or more) in journals with system the peer of great impact. Of course we are!
In most industrialized countriesscience and technology serve mainly to help build and validate public policies in various sectors. In Portugal ever systematic and quantified manner we evaluated the benefits that the state’s investment in science and technology effectively brought to public policy? What has been the evolution of the return to society of this type of investment? At this point it is very important to note that the return of applied research is more direct, tangible and quantifiable than basic research, although this is also essential.
strong investment in science and technology over the past two decades has overcome much of the scientific and technological backwardness of Portugal. However, do not just say generically that this advance is essential to promote social and economic development, improve the quality of life and make the country more competitive internationally. You must prove it in a quantitative way, inescapable, presenting and analyzing in detail the specific cases of success.
Let us return to the question of mobilizing project for our country. I am sure that our leaders have a vision for the future of Portugal and that it was probably what motivated them to take on the burden of governance in a particularly difficult situation. The puzzle is in knowing what is this prevailing view in the Council of Ministers and that apparently goes through divesting heavily in higher education and science and technology, leaving universities to the brink of financial meltdown and forcing a significant proportion of the country’s best researchers formed to emigrate.
is urgent to explain us what is happening. Is an urgent need to rationalize spend some time before all of us Portuguese, which the mobilizing vision they have for the future of Portugal.
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