A new cycle begins for SPOT Nordic

Message from the President of SPOT Nordic on the past, present and future of the Association as a result of the General Assembly of 7 December 2024.

In 2020, when the Association of Portuguese Researchers and Graduate Professionals in the Nordic Countries, SPOT Nordic, was founded, we already anticipated a long journey to build an organization with conditions to reach its full potential.

Over the past two years, this direction has sought to ensure the necessary structure so that we can reach this potential identified at the founding of the association. Based on a lot of work, dedication and aware of the task ahead of us, we assumed with responsibility the ambition to create an organization able to be in 5 different countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway (hereinafter treaties as Nordic Europe), but also able to create a set of connections to Portugal that until then were non-existent at this scale.

The potential of which I am speaking can be summed up to three fundamental aspects: institutionalize professional and academic relations between Portugal and these countries, provide a bridge of connection to highly qualified Portuguese professionals resident in these countries, and create conditions for the proximity between Portugal and these markets is consolidated, especially due to a set of characteristics that although not visible at first glance represent many points in common between Portugal and Nordic Europe. This ambitious task was designed at the beginning of this mandate, in September 2022, based on the vision of "promote the organic growth of SPOT Nordic through the development of its structure, by means of its professionalization and the dynamization of relations between Nordic Europe and the members of the Association". Aware that the path is far from being completed, especially because much remains to be done, we were able to fulfill in fullness this purpose.

With the introduction of a set of new rules based on the new Statutes of the association, we formalized the creation of a Scientific Council with a group of recognized Portuguese researchers resident in Portugal and the Nordic countries, We have formalised the constitution of 5 national representatives, one per country, and we have embarked on a set of structural changes essential for future success. In the set of these transformations, we highlight the creation of an online platform that not only serves as a website, but also as a tool for interaction between members, with a set of tools that enhances the dissemination of the work of its members and promotes interaction with other organizations. We have also initiated a financial restructuring to increase the association’s financial resources, from a budget of 200.00 euros per year in 2022 to 45,000,00 euros in 2025, allowing through the signing of a strategic protocol with the Foundation for Science and Technology in Portugal, to allocate research grants to Portuguese doctoral students to visit the Nordic countries among other initiatives highlighted in our activity report.

However, not satisfied, we went even further. After all the structuring work developed in 2023, we started the consolidation phase in Nordic Europe with the first face-to-face events in Stockholm and Helsinki, after having already done so continuously in Copenhagen. We set up the first task force in Sweden and started a similar process in Finland. Making it a strategic goal for the 2025 start-up to do the same in Oslo, Norway. In addition, we began to work together with the Embassies of Portugal with working meetings with all the Ambassadors or Deputy Heads of Mission in these countries and we bet on the relationship with AICEP, that led us to the signing of the first partnership with a Portuguese company dedicated to innovation and artificial intelligence, Quidgest, SA.

After this phase, we are now prepared to take a more daring step seeking to be closer and closer to achieving all the potential initially addressed. With this purpose we are already working on a critical moment for the organization, the presentation of the Mapping Report of Research and Innovation Collaborations between Portugal and Nordic Europe. Project increasingly close to being completed and which we hope will be presented at an event dedicated to the effect in March 2025 in Copenhagen. We are also planning the Annual Event of the association to be held in Stockholm dedicated to the debate of the effects of Artificial Intelligence on society after the "hype", scheduled for April 2025. With the purpose, as already mentioned, to complete the phase of expansion and consolidation in Northern Europe we are also organizing the first face-to-face events in Oslo so that we can establish a task force also in this country.

In addition, we have two fundamental aspects that we are absolutely focused on and that will put SPOT Nordic into this new phase (and dimension). First, the deepening of the Science to Industry project, which through a set of initiatives aims to deepen strategic partnerships with the Portuguese and Nordic private sector, especially through the creation of conditions for collaboration between new Portuguese companies and new Nordic companies through joint liaison initiatives. This purpose aims to create conditions for the Portuguese market to realize the growth potential of its companies, but also to gain knowledge of public policies essential to economic growth and that we believe have a word to contribute. Second, the promotion of a more active scientific diplomacy through a set of meetings and approaches to research and innovation entities representing the governments of Nordic Europe. Not wanting to replace any of the public entities able to promote these links, is part of the agreement with FCT as it is also part of our DNA to make these connections so that we can contribute to a relationship that we believe can be extremely beneficial for all stakeholders.

Having reviewed the current and future situation of SPOT Nordic, which I considered to be an extremely opportune moment to do so, I understood that the team that composed this direction had the conditions to continue this ambitious journey. For this reason we assume the will to remain in office, with the necessary adjustments, allowing me also to have the privilege of continuing to lead this organization.

To all those who have contributed to this success, in particular the associates who have contributed from the beginning to the survival of this project, we thank you.

Without further comments,

David Pereira de Castro

Board President of SPOT Nordic