PORTUGAL RENEWS COMMITMENT TO LISBON OBJECTIVE.

• Position: Brief Article

The Portuguese government adopted in January 2003 a new economic policy emphasising the significant role that research and development (R&D) and innovation can play within the framework of achieving the aims of the Lisbon strategy. The document "Agenda for growth: economic reform in Portugal and the Lisbon strategy" was presented by the deputy minister for the economy Franquelim Alves at a meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on April 29 in Paris. In his speech, Mr Alves insisted on the measures to be taken to meet the Lisbon agenda, which aims to make the EU knowledge-based economy the most dynamic and competitive in the world by 2010.

"In Portugal, the level of R&D activities initiated by companies is low. But public spending allocated to this type of activity is near the European average. The challenge facing Portugal in this context consists in creating favourable conditions for greater involvement of companies and effectively encouraging relationships between research centres and companies," Mr Alves said. The reform policy means that the ministers for science and the economy must collaborate more closely, working together to launch actions in the field...