Portugal and China set five scientific priorities
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Telanon
Portugal and China have selected five priority areas for scientific cooperation, including energy, health and the blue economy, at a ministerial meeting in Beijing. The two countries plan to launch a joint action programme in 2027 to guide their cooperation in science and innovation through to 2030, according to Portugal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation.
Portugal and China have chosen five priority areas for scientific and technological cooperation at a meeting held in Beijing on Monday. Portuguese Minister Fernando Alexandre and China’s Yin Hejun signed a joint declaration after the meeting, according to Portugal’s Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, cited by news agency Lusa.
The five areas are the ocean and blue economy; energy, climate, batteries and hydrogen; agriculture, the bioeconomy and food; health, healthy ageing and medical technologies; and the conservation of cultural heritage through science.
The two countries committed to developing a Joint Programme of Action for Science and Innovation from 2027, to guide their cooperation until 2030. Technical meetings are to define the arrangements for collaboration, which could include bilateral research funding, researcher mobility and the creation of joint laboratories and research consortia.
The declaration provides for cooperation that is “safe, transparent and reciprocal”, respecting academic freedom, scientific integrity and national legislation, including European rules in Portugal. It also highlights links with higher education, particularly to strengthen academic mobility and develop joint supervision of doctoral degrees. The meeting resumed the work of the Joint Commission on Science and Technology, which had been suspended since 2019; resumption had been agreed in June during a previous visit to China by Fernando Alexandre.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
