University - industry relations in Portugal

Mestrado em EcoconomiaAfter the 1970s recession we have been observing in the 1980s several sharo changes in the structures of our societies. The emergence of a new wave of technologies, the intensification of international competition and the relative change of the governments roles in the post-Welfare State era some of these transformations. In this new context the traditional role of universities (suppliyng graduates, production and reproduction of knowledge) has also been changing. The responsiveness of universities to the needs of the comunity has been increasing and the colaboration with the business world has meant a relative "industrialization" of higher education institutions. How can these changes affect the Portuguese University? What impacts can we expect in a small semi-industrialized country, witn an economy lergely dependent on external markets? Through a case-study of one of the largest Portuguese universities (the Technical University of Lisbon) an examination will be made of the possible role of the University in the new context, how the country specific features may mean new opportunities for a intentional action, on the part of the University. Thios action has two basic directions: (i) transfer of tecnhology to upgrade the technological level of industry; (ii) cultural intervention, changing minds and attitudes in a low-risk proxe environmentN/