Science and Innovation at the service of people and the planet
Science and Innovation at the service of people and the planet
My training and professional experience as an engineer always involved me in the subjects of Science and Innovation. And these have influenced my entire political career, which started precisely as minister of Science and Higher Education of the XV constitutional government. In my first term in the European Parliament, from 2009 to 2014, I was in charge of the simplification report for the Horizon 2020 framework program, to democratize access to funds by universities and research centres, namely Portuguese. In that term I was elected best MEP in the area of Science and Innovation (MEP Awards). I was also principal advisor on these topics, first to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and afterwards to the European commissioner Carlos Moedas. Currently, among other dossiers in these areas, I am responsible for the report on the strategic agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). I am convinced that the so-called knowledge triangle - Science, Innovation, Education - is the key to ensure the prosperity and sustainable future of our species on this planet.