The Recovery and Resilience Facility, based on the European Union's #NextGenerationEU axis, is a unique opportunity for a structural transformation of its Member States. The Facility mobilizes up to 723.8 billion to support reforms and initiatives, integrated into their national Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs).
Portugal is no exception, and this is a lever that has enabled innovation in three main areas: Resilience, Climate Transition and Digital Transition, the latter through significant investments in the digitization of companies, the state and the provision of digital skills in education, health, culture, etc.
As October is Digital Skills Month in Portugal, it's crucial that we take this opportunity to understand how the PRR, namely through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), has been boosting its third line of action, in terms of science. "Ciência + Digital" is one of the programs allied to this support, which is being implemented by the FCT.
With funding of 48 million euros, approved in 2023, 56% of which has already been implemented, this program aims to accelerate the digital transformation of the National Scientific and Technological System. Its aim is to promote greater competitiveness in the economy, society, public administration and the business community, through five core projects.
Its first action will be to create a Science and Technology Campus, open to society and geared towards the future, which, together with the Science Desk, will provide researchers with the main services and funding mechanisms.
With regard to Advanced Computing, the PRR is making it possible to create a National Centre for Advanced Computing (CNCA) by reorganizing the country's existing advanced computing centers and networks into a single entity. This pillar will support the operation of the Deucalion and MareNostrum 5 supercomputers.
It is also expected that 94 funded projects will be completed by 2026 in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Data Science. The implementation of the National Program for Open Science and Open Research Data (PNCADAI) is also one of the axes of this fund, providing a network of infrastructures, services and tools to support open science and, in particular, the management of research data.
Finally, also with regard to Digital Skills, the RRP provides for the availability of 50 new courses offered through the national platform for massive online courses (NAU), developed by FCCN - FCT's Digital Services. This action will make it possible to promote the training and digitization of the Portuguese population, encouraging the acquisition of new skills free of charge and in a completely online format.
This investment will boost the digital skills of the Portuguese in the medium and long term, making the population better able to keep up with constant innovation. In addition to being more digital, the PRR will also boost science (and technology) that is more innovative, digital and open to all.
