This Winter Meeting 2024 discussion report 1 looks at how the five INESC institutes can strengthen their position in EU research and innovation ahead of FP10 and the uncertain period after 2027, when Portugal expects to receive less cohesion funding. It sets out the EU R&I landscape: Horizon Europe’s directionality, a funding gap that leaves 71% of high-quality proposals unfunded, and the FP10 timeline and points of contention. It also notes Portugal’s structural weaknesses, including limited funding, brain drain, weak private-sector involvement and low international visibility. The report then maps INESC’s shared thematic areas to EU policies and funding streams. It highlights European Partnerships and EU tenders as ways to shape EU agendas, not just to win projects. It ends with a seven-point action plan built on acting as one coordinated network, with the INESC Brussels HUB as facilitator.
