The Portuguese Presidency, with the support of the European Commission, and in coherence with national strategic priorities aims organising an event entitled: Climate Science from Space: Synergies for a greener innovation economy. This event (conference) is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education underlying issues of major relevance to the Societal Challenge Climate Action. Hence, featuring innovation and technologies towards clean transformation with the aim of providing an appropriate balance between environmental, economic and social elements. The concept dovetails with the 18-month Trio (DE-PT-SI) Programme of the Council on the need to foster a competitive space sector and its integration into European economy, including in promoting market driven approaches and opening space to new actors. The conference shall be focused on how European space programmes, with especial relevance for Copernicus, can be meaningful for the implementation and monitoring of climate actions. Space activity encompass an important innovation component, always at the edge of the scientific-technological development. Fighting climate change and achieving the transition to a climate-neutral society with investments in space related programs always ensure a very high level of research and innovation, and the generation of new high skilled jobs. Assessing the benefit and overall coherence of existing and planned actions in the field of research and innovation in the context of a wider European strategic global role in the space ecosystem is also behind the concept. Therefore, underpinning the outputs of past R&D activities, their positive impact on improved resource efficiency, climate resilience and the contribution of Earth Observation data will positively foster other endeavours in the downstream involving scientists, businesses, investors, local authorities or environmental organisations.

With Portugal holding the Presidency of the EU Council during the first semester of 2021, it provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen and promote the main EC priorities, including the European Green Deal and A Europe fit for the digital age. The "All-Atlantic R&I for a Sustainable Ocean: High-level & Stakeholders Conference" contributes to the implementation of these priorities based on strengthening R&I Cooperation across and along the Atlantic Ocean, from “pole to pole”. This conference will bring together high-level representatives and marine R&I stakeholders, from along and across the Atlantic Ocean, in a dialogue that will contribute to enhancing the science diplomacy efforts that began in 2011 at the European level, with the launching of the Atlantic Strategy and its 1st. Action Plan (2013) and the signing of the Galway and Belém Statements (respectively in 2013 and 2017). The event will be a step forward in the All-Atlantic Cooperation; it will be the opportunity to discuss the progress made so far, endorse a vision for the next years and launch a Pledging Platform as a new approach to the existing cooperation. This Platform will provide an understanding of the Atlantic marine R&I cooperation, enhancing stakeholder participation to co-design future actions and to monitor the progress enlarging the cooperative efforts. Discussions on the need for upscaled cooperation and new methodologies for ocean observation linked to digitalization processes represent an important innovative look forward to the integration of the Ocean-Space-Climate Nexus contributing to the topic of Ocean Sustainability. The conference’s Ministerial dimension linked to the stakeholders dynamic participation and side events will ensure the adequate involvement of the “All-Atlantic'' States and players and contributing to taking this All-Atlantic R&I Cooperation by two main legacy outputs, the Azores PPEU Conference Declaration and the All-Atlantic Pledging Platform.

The Portuguese national funding agency for Science and Technology - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - proposes an investment (>45 million Euros) whose ultimate objective is to develop a new centre of excellence on Smart Agriculture and Forestry (SMARTAgriFor) by teaming with the Wageningen University and Research Centre in a long-term sustainable partnership. This centre is to become an international reference in the field, with the critical mass of competence to engage Portugal strategically in a path of innovative growth and also for global impact. Due to the strategic importance and leverage value envisaged for SMARTAgriFor, there is already strong support from important stakeholders including regional development authorities ensuring access to European structural funds. Further, 10 universities and 1 public research institute – representing the top performing organizations in the selected scientific domain in Portugal - will support FCT by helping develop SMARTAgriFor’s business plan in collaboration with WUR. This plan will demonstrate the centre’s potential value as a radical new approach to the topics in question. Through dynamic interaction with stakeholders, strategic partnerships will be established, funding secured, and commitments formalised to transfer infrastructure/ staff in exchange for a share in its ownership, ensuring its sustainability and financial autonomy in the long run. Clear choices have been made regarding SMARTAgriFor’s scientific focus and innovation strategy. Topics have been selected for maximum positive societal, economic and scientific impact, leveraging strategic advantage from the centre’s location in Portugal. International benchmarking will identify the optimum approach for SMARTAgriFor. Further, innovative management practices will ensure feasible implementation. Further its innovative and impact focused RTD management will allow it to connect effectively at national and international level for the application of results.

Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials play a major role in our daily life as they guarantee the functioning, long term durability, safety, and environmental compatibility of many devices, machinery and services. Advanced materials can boost the transition to greener technologies, with improved characteristics and enhanced performance, contributing to a more sustainable future and contributing to the objectives set by the European Green Deal. Giving this central role of nanotechnology and advance materials and its relevance for a sustainable, social- and environmental-friendly growth, the EuroNanoForum 2021 will be addressing the role of nano-enabled industries in the drive towards a green and resilient Europe. Nanotechnology and advanced materials play a pivotal role in advancing technologies that can offer efficient solutions to societal challenges of our time and important issues that continue to haunt the global industrial supply chains. They exert a great impact on a large range of industrial sectors and are cornerstone to build a sustainable and green economy. Supporting this industrial transformation towards the EU prosperity requires reinvigorating the research and industrial ecosystem, establish new communities and involve all groups in society in identifying nano-enabled technological priorities. The EuroNanoForum 2021 conference will be addressing the role of nano-enabled industries in this transformation towards the EU prosperity. The event will bring together experts across different sectors to identify policy options and priorities, to share insight on technical, industrial and social challenges, their views and ideas about the role of nanotechnology and advanced materials. This will be achieved with the collective effort of several actors encompassing researchers, innovators, industries, regions, public authorities, investors and civil society, in the co-creation of innovative solutions.