This paper presents a systematic but essentially descriptive account of the policy measure of stimulating human research capacity development under the policy program "Commitment to Science" in Portugal in the period 2006-2009. It explores the conditions that contributed to the development of the policy program and the measure to contract 1000 doctorates to Portuguese public and private research and development (R&D) units, and addresses the outcomes of the program within the overall science and technology policy development in Portugal. The results underline the importance of strategic policy planning and stable funding allocation for the success of policy initiatives. Further, the results indicate that the policy initiative was successful inasmuch as the Portuguese scientific community significantly increased, and also internationalised; however subsequent economic and political austerity hampered the absorption of young researchers into the public and private systems. The previous situation has been reversed since 2011 with a significant and perceivable decline in public investment in research, a decline of budgetary allocations to universities, and the migration of young researchers abroad. The analysis urges the revision of science and technology policy in Portugal and funding mechanisms available to R&D in consideration of the country's socioeconomic situation, and with respect to other segments of the economic ecosystem.
This paper presents a systematic but essentially descriptive account of the policy measure of stimulating human research capacity development under the policy program "Commitment to Science" in Portugal in the period 2006-2009. It explores the conditions that contributed to the development of the policy program and the measure to contract 1000 doctorates to Portuguese public and private research and development (R&D) units, and addresses the outcomes of the program within the overall science and technology policy development in Portugal. The results underline the importance of strategic policy planning and stable funding allocation for the success of policy initiatives. Further, the results indicate that the policy initiative was successful inasmuch as the Portuguese scientific community significantly increased, and also internationalised; however subsequent economic and political austerity hampered the absorption of young researchers into the public and private systems. The previous situation has been reversed since 2011 with a significant and perceivable decline in public investment in research, a decline of budgetary allocations to universities, and the migration of young researchers abroad. The analysis urges the revision of science and technology policy in Portugal and funding mechanisms available to R&D in consideration of the country's socioeconomic situation, and with respect to other segments of the economic ecosystem. ; Este artigo apresenta uma análise sistemática mas essencialmente descritiva da iniciativa política de estimular o desenvolvimento de recursos humanos em ciência e tecnologia, no âmbito do programa de política "Compromisso com a Ciência", em Portugal, no período de 2006-2009. O artigo explora as condições que contribuíram para o desenvolvimento do programa de políticas, as medidas para contratar 1000 doutorados para o setor de investigação público e privado português, abordando também os resultados do programa no âmbito de desenvolvimento de políticas de ciência e tecnologia em Portugal. Os resultados sublinham a importância do planeamento estratégico e da alocação de financiamento estável para o sucesso das iniciativas políticas. Além disso, os resultados indicam que a iniciativa foi bem-sucedida, dado o aumento significativo na comunidade científica portuguesa, e também a sua internacionalização; no entanto, a subsequente austeridade económica e política dificultou a absorção de jovens investigadores nos setores público e privado. A anterior situação foi revertida desde 2011, com um declínio significativo e percetível do investimento público em investigação, um declínio de dotações orçamentais às universidades e a emigração de jovens investigadores para o estrangeiro. A análise insta a revisão das políticas de ciência e tecnologia em Portugal e mecanismos de financiamento disponíveis para investigação, tendo em consideração a situação socioeconómica do país, e em relação a outros segmentos do ecossistema económico. ; Cet article présente une étude systématique et essentiellement descriptive de l'initiative politique de stimuler le développement des capacités de recherche humaine, réalisée au Portugal pendant la période 2006-2009, suivant la politique du programme "L'Engagement pour la Science". Ce travail explore les conditions qui ont contribué au développement de ce programme, aux 1000 doctorants engagés dans les unités de recherche et développement des centres portugais, publiques et privés, et l'impact des résultats du programme dans le développement des politiques globales de science et technologie au Portugal. Les résultats soulignent l'importance de la planification stratégique des politiques et du financement stable pour garantir le succès de ces initiatives. De plus, les résultats indiquent que l'initiative a réussi, étant donnée l'augmentation et l'internationalisation significative de la communauté scientifique portugaise. Cependant, l'austérité politique et économique postérieure du pays a difficulté l'absorption de jeunes chercheurs dans les systèmes publiques et privés. Depuis 2011, la situation s'est retournée et il est possible d'observer une baisse significative et perceptible dans l'investissement public en recherche, une baisse dans les budgets cédés aux universités, ainsi que la migration des jeunes chercheurs à l'étranger. Cette analyse signale l'importance d'une révision des politiques de science et technologie au Portugal et de ses mécanismes de financement pour la recherche et le développement, tout en considérant la situation socioéconomique du pays et le respect envers d'autres segments de l'écosystème économique. ; Este artículo presenta un estudio sistemático y al mismo tiempo descriptivo de la iniciativa política que se llevó a cabo en Portugal durante el periodo 2006-2009, bajo el programa político "Compromiso con la Ciencia", sobre cómo estimular el desarrollo de la capacidad humana de investigación. Este trabajo explora: las condiciones que contribuyeron al desarrollo de dicho programa, la medida de contratar a 1000 dotores en las unidades de investigación y desarrollo de centros públicos y privados portugueses y el impacto de los resultados del programa en el desarrollo de las políticas de ciencia y tecnología en Portugal. Los resultados subrayan la importancia de la planificación estratégica de las políticas y la asignación estable de financiación, para el éxito de tales iniciativas. Aún más, los resultados indican que la iniciativa fue un éxito, ya que la comunidad científica portuguesa aumentó significativamente en número y en grado de internacionalización. Sin embargo, la posterior austeridad política y económica, obstaculizó la absorción de estos jóvenes investigadores por los sistemas públicos y privados. Desde 2011 la situación se ha invertido, se observa una disminución significativa y perceptible de la inversión pública en investigación, una disminución de las asignaciones presupuestarias a las universidades, así como la migración de los jóvenes investigadores hacia el extranjero. Este análisis insta a la revisión de las políticas de ciencia y tecnología en Portugal y de sus mecanismos de financiación para la investigación y el desarrollo, considerando la situación socioeconómica del país, y con respecto a otros segmentos del ecosistema económico.
This paper presents a systematic but essentially descriptive account of the policy measure of stimulating human research capacity development under the policy program "Commitment to Science" in Portugal in the period 2006-2009. It explores the conditions that contributed to the development of the policy program and the measure to contract 1000 doctorates to Portuguese public and private research and development (R&D) units, and addresses the outcomes of the program within the overall science and technology policy development in Portugal. The results underline the importance of strategic policy planning and stable funding allocation for the success of policy initiatives. Further, the results indicate that the policy initiative was successful inasmuch as the Portuguese scientific community significantly increased, and also internationalised; however subsequent economic and political austerity hampered the absorption of young researchers into the public and private systems. The previous situation has been reversed since 2011 with a significant and perceivable decline in public investment in research, a decline of budgetary allocations to universities, and the migration of young researchers abroad. The analysis urges the revision of science and technology policy in Portugal and funding mechanisms available to R&D in consideration of the country's socioeconomic situation, and with respect to other segments of the economic ecosystem. ; Este artículo presenta un estudio sistemático y al mismo tiempo descriptivo de la iniciativa política que se llevó a cabo en Portugal durante el periodo 2006-2009, bajo el programa político "Compromiso con la Ciencia", sobre cómo estimular el desarrollo de la capacidad humana de investigación. Este trabajo explora: las condiciones que contribuyeron al desarrollo de dicho programa, la medida de contratar a 1000 dotores en las unidades de investigación y desarrollo de centros públicos y privados portugueses y el impacto de los resultados del programa en el desarrollo de las ...
