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SPOT Nordic at the Portugal Global Nation Forum: Strengthening the Role of the Diaspora in Science and Innovation


On April 29, SPOT Nordic attended the Portugal Global Nation Forum, represented by Joana Lobo Vicente, current representative of SPOT Nordic in Denmark and coordinator of the organization’s scientific council. In a session dedicated to the Portuguese scientific diaspora, a topic that is becoming increasingly central to the debate on the future of research and innovation in Portugal. The event took place as part of a session dedicated to the Portuguese scientific diaspora, a topic of growing relevance in the debate on the future of research, innovation, and knowledge transfer in Portugal.


The Portugal Global Nation Forum has established itself as a strategic meeting place between Portugal and its communities abroad, bringing together policymakers, experts, and professionals from various fields. More than just a moment for reflection, this forum seeks to recognize the diaspora as a strategic asset for the country, promoting greater coordination between global talent, national institutions, and public policies.


The session in which SPOT Nordic participated focused on a key question: How can the Portuguese diaspora contribute in a more structured way to Portugal’s science and innovation system?


From left to right: Joana Lobo Vicente (SPOT Nordic representative in Denmark and coordinator of the organization’s Scientific Council), Pedro Correa de Sampaio (member of PARSUK), Emídio Sousa (Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities), Silvia Curado (President of PAPS—Portuguese American Post-Graduate Society), Flavio Ramos (President of ASPPA – Association of Portuguese Postgraduates in Germany) and Catarina M. Liberato (President of PARSUK – Portuguese Association of Researchers and Students in the United Kingdom)
From left to right: Joana Lobo Vicente (SPOT Nordic representative in Denmark and coordinator of the organization’s Scientific Council), Pedro Correa de Sampaio (member of PARSUK), Emídio Sousa (Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities), Silvia Curado (President of PAPS—Portuguese American Post-Graduate Society), Flavio Ramos (President of ASPPA – Association of Portuguese Postgraduates in Germany) and Catarina M. Liberato (President of PARSUK – Portuguese Association of Researchers and Students in the United Kingdom)

The discussion highlighted the importance of strengthening long-term ties between researchers abroad, national institutions, policymakers, and innovation ecosystems. These ties should not be viewed as one-off or parallel relationships, but as part of an integrated system in which ongoing collaboration, trust, and knowledge sharing are fundamental.

In this context, science emerges not only as a driver of development but also as an instrument of diplomacy, capable of bringing countries closer together, aligning interests, and creating opportunities for sustained cooperation. Diplomatic science, based on relationships of trust and shared goals, thus plays an increasingly important role in how Portugal positions itself internationally.


SPOT Nordic’s participation in this forum underscores its commitment to serving as a bridge between Portugal and the Nordic countries, promoting talent mobility, scientific collaboration, and the development of strategic partnerships among academia, industry, and the public sector.

Beyond the formal discussions, the forum also served as an opportunity for professionals, researchers, and institutional representatives to reconnect, highlighting an often-overlooked aspect: professional networks are, above all, human networks. It is on this foundation of trust and closeness that lasting collaborations with real impact are built.


From left to right: Paulo F. Gomes (President of the Association of Portuguese Graduates in Switzerland—AGRAPS), Joana Lobo Vicente (SPOT Nordic representative in Denmark and coordinator of the organization’s Scientific Council), Catarina M. Liberato (President of PARSUK—Portuguese Association of Researchers and Students in the United Kingdom), Joana Lobo Antunes (professor, researcher, and specialist in science communication at the Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon—panel moderator), and Silvia Curado (President of Paps—Portuguese American Post-Graduate Society).
From left to right: Paulo F. Gomes (President of the Association of Portuguese Graduates in Switzerland—AGRAPS), Joana Lobo Vicente (SPOT Nordic representative in Denmark and coordinator of the organization’s Scientific Council), Catarina M. Liberato (President of PARSUK—Portuguese Association of Researchers and Students in the United Kingdom), Joana Lobo Antunes (professor, researcher, and specialist in science communication at the Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon—panel moderator), and Silvia Curado (President of Paps—Portuguese American Post-Graduate Society).

There was a session dedicated to the Portuguese scientific diaspora, moderated by Joana Lobo Antunes, which brought together representatives from various Portuguese associations and networks abroad to discuss the role of the diaspora in research, innovation, and knowledge transfer to Portugal. The discussion featured Joana Lobo Vicente representing SPOT Nordic, as well as representatives from PARSUK, AGRAPS, and the Portuguese American Post-Graduate Society, fostering a reflection on the importance of strengthening sustained connections between Portuguese researchers abroad, national institutions, and international innovation ecosystems.


It was also an opportunity for SPOT Nordic to present the strategic report “Reconfiguring Innovation Funding in Portugal: Industrial Foundations and Private Capital Mobilization,” a study focused on new approaches to strengthening sustainable funding for research, development, and innovation in Portugal.


SPOT Nordic would like to express its gratitude for the opportunity to participate in this important forum for dialogue and, in particular, to Joana Lobo Vicente for her representation and contribution to this discussion.

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