Strengthening to Move Forward: SPOT Nordic’s Next Phase

Message from the President of SPOT Nordic following the General Assembly held on January 31, 2026.

In our message marking the transition from 2024 to 2025, we emphasized that SPOT Nordic had entered a new stage in its development: a phase of consolidation, following years of organic growth, geographic expansion, and institutional affirmation. One year later, that diagnosis holds true. The year 2025 clearly represented the consolidation of SPOT Nordic as a bridge-building platform between Portugal and the Nordic countries, with a consistent capacity for action in the fields of science, innovation, and scientific diplomacy.

In 2025, the Association strengthened its institutional presence, deepened its relationships with strategic partners, and consolidated an increasingly structured approach, one oriented toward long-term projects, enduring partnerships, and medium-term impact. Rather than focusing solely on increasing the number of initiatives, SPOT Nordic enhanced its credibility, coherence, and coordination capacity: essential elements for any organization aspiring to play a meaningful role in today’s European landscape.

This progress was only possible thanks to the ongoing involvement of our members, the dedication of our national representatives, the valuable contributions of our Scientific Council, and the trust placed in us by institutional partners in both Portugal and the Nordic countries. To all of you, I express my sincere gratitude. SPOT Nordic’s development is, above all, a collective effort: built on trust, commitment, and a shared vision.

The General Assembly of January 31, 2026 thus marks a continuation of this deliberate transition. SPOT Nordic enters 2026 with a solid foundation that allows it to embrace greater ambition in a responsible and structured way. The 2026 Activity Plan and Budget reflect this evolution: they ensure continuity while clearly signalling the strengthening of the organization's strategic scope.

The European context in which we operate demands this ambition. Europe faces significant challenges in competitiveness, in its ability to translate knowledge into economic and social value, and in building truly integrated innovation ecosystems. In this context, transnational cooperation, science diplomacy, and the connection between science, industry, and public policy are no longer optional: they are strategic necessities.

It is within this framework that SPOT Nordic affirms its role as a neutral, credible, and unifying entity, capable of building bridges between Portugal and the Nordic countries. Projects like From Science to Industry reflect this ambition, not merely to promote collaboration, but to structure enduring mechanisms that reduce fragmentation, build trust among stakeholders, and enable the transformation of knowledge into real impact.

At the same time, 2026 marks the beginning of a critical process for the future of the Association: the development of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan. The decision to initiate this process reflects our recognition that SPOT Nordic has grown in scale, complexity, and responsibility. It is therefore both legitimate and necessary to reflect on whether our current structures, operating model, and statutory framework are suited to this new reality.

It is important to stress that this process will be phased, participatory, and transparent. The General Assembly approved the opening of a period of reflection and preparation, not immediate changes. Final proposals will be developed with the involvement of members and submitted for decision at an Extraordinary General Assembly by the end of 2026. This approach reflects the institutional maturity of SPOT Nordic and respect for its founding principles.

To consolidate in order to advance means exactly this: to acknowledge the path taken, to preserve what has brought us here, and at the same time, to prepare the organization to respond to the challenges ahead, with ambition, but also with prudence; with strategic vision, but also with institutional responsibility.

SPOT Nordic enters this new year with confidence in its journey, and with the firm belief that its future will continue to be shaped collectively. To all members, partners, and collaborators who make this work possible, I extend my deep appreciation and invite you to continue playing an active role in shaping the next chapter of this extraordinary project.

With kind regards, David Pereira de Castro President of the Board SPOT Nordic