Bilateral Cooperation

FCT attributions in the domain of International Relations

The FCT ensures international relations in the domains of Science and Technology, without prejudice to the coordination exercised by the General Secretariat for Education and Science and the attributions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, promoting, among others, bilateral cooperation in order to enhance the internationalisation of the national science and technology system and cooperation with international teams and organisations.

The Department of International Relations is responsible for monitoring and preparing proposals for negotiating Agreements and the respective Cooperation Programs.

Bilateral Cooperation in Science and Technology

Within the framework of bilateral cooperation in Science and Technology, the strengthening of scientific and technological cooperation is promoted through various mechanisms that favours scientific exchange, including the launch of joint calls to support research or mobility projects, support for training of researchers, the publication of joint scientific articles, the presentation of joint communications or participation in international congresses. The dynamics created through these activities promote the creation of new networks of researchers and the strengthening of existing international partnerships, allowing an international consolidation of teams that enhances access to other sources of funding for international science and technology programs.

Bilateral cooperation agreements

There are more than 70 countries with which Portugal has bilateral cooperation agreements, whether within the scope of cultural cooperation (which include references to science and technology) or scientific cooperation, the latter of which may be intergovernmental or institutional.

You can consult the existing Cultural Agreements on the Camões, I.P. website.

The countries with which Portugal has Cooperation Agreements in Science and Technology with recent activity are presented below. To learn about the bilateral cooperation that Portugal has established with each of these countries in the scientific and technological field, click on the country to access the respective presentation page.