Portugal’s strategic international partnerships with U.S. Universities: A comprehensive evaluation
Portugal’s longstanding international partnerships with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) have played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s research, education, and innovation landscape since their establishment in 2006. These collaborations are now the focus of a detailed evaluation and impact analysis study conducted by Technopolis Group, led by its Portuguese office and involving the United Kingdom and Belgium offices.
The study aims to provide an informed assessment of the partnerships’ key achievements, challenges, and recommendations for future development. It serves as a vital resource for deciding on the potential renewal of these agreements. The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) has made the report publicly available, offering insights into the outcomes of these collaborations and outlining strategic options for their advancement.
Three Distinct Phases of Evolution
The programmes evolved through three key phases:
- Phase 1 (2006–2012): These initiatives were introduced as part of the Portuguese government’s strategic plan to strengthen national scientific and technological capacities.
- Phase 2 (2013–2017): During this period, the focus expanded to include entrepreneurship and innovation, despite the financial and economic crisis affecting Portugal.
- Phase 3 (2018–2024): Operating under the GoPortugal framework, this phase successfully navigated challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This phased approach reflects the adaptability of the partnerships in responding to Portugal’s evolving priorities and external challenges.
Principal Findings
- Collaboration Dynamics The partnerships facilitated transformative collaborations between Portuguese and U.S. institutions, resulting in significant organisational enhancements within Portugal’s research and development (R&D) ecosystem. At an individual level, researchers benefited from advanced training and short-term research placements in the United States. These initiatives fostered long-term connections between Portuguese institutions, U.S. universities, and industry stakeholders.
- Education A central achievement of the partnerships has been the establishment of dual-degree doctoral and master’s programmes, particularly under CMU’s leadership. These programmes have bolstered academic cooperation, advanced human capital development, and yielded enduring benefits for academia and industry in Portugal.
- Research Outputs The partnerships have had a profound impact on scientific productivity. Publications resulting from these collaborations receive, on average, 60% more citations than comparable works, and they are frequently cited in patents and public policy documents. This underscores their significance in driving scientific excellence and policy influence.
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation The programmes played a critical role in fostering entrepreneurial activity, with the UTEN initiative standing out for its support of start-ups and spin-offs. Companies associated with the partnerships raised venture capital at a rate eight times higher than their peers, with several achieving unicorn status, including Feedzai, Talkdesk, and Sword Health. These successes highlight the partnerships’ ability to connect Portuguese enterprises with the sophisticated U.S. innovation ecosystem.
- Industry Collaboration Large-scale collaborative research projects were instrumental in engaging Portuguese companies, attracting €9.3 million in private-sector co-investment. Industry affiliates benefited from tailored research initiatives and access to advanced training, strengthening academia-industry linkages.
- Knowledge Transfer The partnerships contributed to the professionalisation of knowledge transfer practices in Portuguese institutions, fostering sustained university-industry relationships and enhancing the country’s innovation capacity.
Challenges Identified
The evaluation highlights several governance and operational challenges. These include funding delays, fragmented monitoring systems, and an absence of standardised metrics for evaluating outcomes. Furthermore, some stakeholders expressed concerns regarding the narrow thematic focus of the programmes, which limited broader participation across disciplines and geographic regions. However, incremental improvements in governance and transparency were observed during Phase 3.
Recommendations for Future Development
The report provides a series of strategic recommendations to ensure the partnerships’ continued relevance and impact:
- Sustaining Funding: Allocate at least 3% of the Foundation for Science and Technology’s (FCT) budget to support the partnerships.
- Enhancing Education and Exchanges: Expand dual PhD programmes, increase faculty and student exchanges, and reinstate executive master’s programmes.
- Strengthening Governance: Implement a more dynamic and transparent governance framework, with the National Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation (CNCTI) playing a central coordinating role.
- Broader Inclusion: Define thematic priorities through a participatory process, aligning U.S., EU, and Portuguese interests to maximise outcomes.
- Reinforcing Innovation Ecosystems: Relaunch the UTEN programme with a broader mandate and increased funding, and establish capacity-building initiatives for science and technology management professionals.
- Improved Monitoring: Develop a comprehensive programme logic model framework with clearly defined objectives, success metrics, and indicators to enhance accountability.
A Vision for the Future
The report underscores the enduring relevance of these partnerships, both in advancing Portugal’s scientific and technological capabilities and in strengthening its international standing. Beyond tangible outcomes, such as PhD graduates and entrepreneurial successes, the relational capital and collaborative networks established through these initiatives are seen as vital assets.
However, sustaining these gains will require a renewed political commitment, strategic refinements, and a balanced approach to ensure excellence while expanding the programmes’ reach across Portugal’s scientific and technological landscape. By addressing the identified challenges and implementing the proposed recommendations, the partnerships can continue to serve as a cornerstone of Portugal’s innovation and international collaboration strategy. Read the full report here.
