The report evaluating the potential for collaboration between the University of Texas and national institutions was handed over to the Ministry of Education on the 7th of this month, having been placed in public consultation within the next 15 days. Contrary to what was initially guaranteed by the Ministry of Science, Science, Technology and Higher Education, through Mariano Gago, technological collaboration programs with the three North American universities, inserted in the State’s «Commitment to Science», do not were completed by the end of the year, with the agreement with the University of Texas at Austin still missing.
In March last year, an agreement was signed that aimed at identifying programs, activities and instruments that would enhance the intended bilateral relations. At the time, it was thought that the analysis would be completed by July 2006, and the institutional agreement between the two parties was subsequently signed.
To date, the plans have not been fulfilled, because «the mutual interest expressed by Portuguese and Austin groups to work in other areas» – mathematics and network computing -, in addition to those previously established – in the production and dissemination of digital content and multimedia and in the economic valuation of new ICTs – led to the extension of the evaluation period of the proposals. Another novelty is the interest that the University of Texas has shown in collaborating with Portugal in the area of ​​nanotechnologies, the ministry said in a statement.
The report evaluating the potential for collaboration with national institutions and the American University was delivered on the 7th to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and the document is available for public discussion during the next two weeks. The document results from the analysis carried out by UTA experts, departments and research centers to national institutions and identifies the main points of scientific and technological cooperation with them.
Contacted by TeK, a source from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, she did not give any details regarding the conclusion of the agreement with the University of Texas, and the date for the protocol signature linking the Portuguese state to the North American institution is unknown.
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