Portuguese EU presidency wants mobility to boost research careers

Portugal’s science minister Manuel Heitor tells Research Professional News about his country’s plans

The Portuguese government wants to use its January-June presidency of the Council of the EU, during which it will chair the EU-related activities of the bloc’s member states, to facilitate mobility initiatives it hopes will boost researchers’ careers, the country’s science and higher education minister Manuel Heitor has told Research Professional News.

For example, mobility could be facilitated by simplifying the “difficult and complex” recruitment process for cross-border joint academic posts shared among institutions, he suggested. “We need to facilitate mobility through joint careers, particularly in areas where we can better integrate education, research and innovation,” he said.