- Report produced by CoLAB ForestWISE was presented on 18 September and is now available
- Webinar “Path to impact: Benefits of scientific research for rural fire management” brought together representatives from academia, the public and private sectors, and civil society
- €15 million was invested in 56 projects under the R&D Programme for the prevention and fighting of forest fires, promoted by FCT between 2017 and 2019
The report ‘R&D Mobilisation Programme for the Prevention and Fighting of Forest Fires – path to impact’ was presented on 18 September at the webinar ‘Path to impact: Benefits of scientific research for rural fire management’.
This study presents an analysis of the results produced and an impact assessment of the research projects developed under the R&D Programme for the Prevention and Combating of Forest Fires, promoted by the FCT between 2017 and 2019, which was created by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 159/2017, following the major fires of 2017. Through this call for proposals, the FCT funded 56 scientific research and technological development projects, with an investment of around €15 million.
This event was organised by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and CoLAB ForestWISE, the Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest and Fire Management, which was responsible for producing the report, which is now available for consultation.
The webinar, which had over 100 participants, promoted a relevant, useful and timely debate in a round table moderated by José Manuel Mendonça, Director of INESC TEC and Professor Emeritus at the University of Porto. Under the theme ‘transfer and appropriation of research results as a driver for societal impact’, the round table was attended by Daniela Fraga, Deputy Head of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Command, Luís Fontes, Research and Development Manager at Altri Florestal, Manuela Pintado, Professor at the School of Biotechnology of the Portuguese Catholic University, and Paulo Lucas, Member of the Board of Zero – Sustainable Earth System Association.
During this moment of reflection and experience sharing, it was possible to explore different perspectives on the evolution of the relationship between entities of the National Scientific and Technological System and various organisations in society, identifying challenges and opportunities associated with this process. In addition, key factors that can support strategies to strengthen the transfer and appropriation of applied research results were discussed, with the aim of increasing their impact on society.
The R&D Programme for the prevention and fighting of forest fires had the mission of promoting research and innovation activities aimed at solving specific problems and disseminating knowledge for citizen mobilisation, with a view to fostering an active scientific culture in the various dimensions of forest planning, management and enhancement, as well as in the prevention and fighting of rural fires.