The PTCRIS program was launched in 2015 with the goal of facilitating the management of and access to information on national scientific activity. To this end, it has been committed to developing an integrated and open ecosystem in which scientific information flows between various systems, thus alleviating the bureaucratic burden inherent in science management.
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Simplification and Transparency
In recent years, we have focused our efforts on developing interoperability standards and infrastructures to facilitate the flow of information between academic and scientific systems. A notable initiative in this regard is the project to assign unique identifiers (DOI – Digital Object Identifier) to national public funding allocated by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). Launched in 2023, this project aims to unequivocally link funding to the resulting scientific output, as well as to the researchers and institutions that implement it, promoting transparency and open access to information on national public funding.
Another important advance in simplifying science management processes is related to the development of the curriculum management platform SCIENCEVITAE. Embedded in the PTCRIS core principle “Register once, reuse multiple”, since its conception, the SCIENCEVITAE has been integrated into multiple national and international systems, allowing researchers to import previously registered data and thus save significant time in registering curriculum information. It is estimated that the scientific community has saved more than 9 million minutes of curriculum information recording due to these integrations.
Impact Measurement and Open Science
The ability to measure research activity and monitor the impact of scientific policies is another area in which PTCRIS has invested. To this end, we have developed a system of indicators that allows us to analyze the funding allocated by the main funding agencies to scientific activity carried out in Portugal, from a global or institutional perspective. In the short term, this system will also allow us to analyze national scientific production and monitor compliance with the Open Access policy of the Foundation for Science and Technology.
Recognizing the importance of Open Science, PTCRIS is also developing a national science portal, which will allow everyone to search and access scientific information in a holistic and transparent way. This project not only strengthens the connection between the scientific community and society, but also promotes a broader and more informed understanding of science carried out in Portugal, especially publicly funded science..
International Collaborations
Science is a global activity and PTCRIS has established important international partnerships to ensure adherence to global norms and standards.
Among the main international entities and networks, the ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID), an interdisciplinary organization whose activity focuses on developing an open registry of unique identifiers for researchers and academics, and automating the links between them and their information, namely scientific production and projects. The FCT, through PTCRIS, is an associate member of ORCID since 2015.
Also worth highlighting is our collaboration with the Research Organization Registry, through continued participation in the Community Advisory Group, which allows us to actively contribute to the development of this initiative and Crossref, a non-profit organization that provides the community with a range of services, including registration of Two for financing, recently adopted by PTCRIS.
Finally, we highlight the fundamental role of EuroCRIS in supporting the implementation of PTCRIS, by providing standards and resources that promote the interoperability and effectiveness of science information systems, as well as by providing a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experiences between different countries and institutions. This has enabled the strengthening of the skills needed to effectively implement and maintain PTCRIS.
Benefits and Future
The effort dedicated to promoting the unequivocal identification of researchers, institutions, scientific production, and funding, combined with the development of infrastructure, has enabled significant progress in the management of scientific information. This progress translates into significant benefits to stakeholders in the national science system, especially with regard to simplifying administrative processes carried out by the scientific community and R&D institutions and promoting transparency in scientific activity.
As next steps, PTCRIS is focused on developing a governance model to ensure the quality and integrity of scientific information. Furthermore, we will continue developing standards and infrastructure, such as the DOI assignment project, while consolidating the SCIENCEVITAE as a central tool in the S&T ecosystem.
We are also committed to developing high value-added services, such as the S&T ecosystem indicators service and the science portal, while strengthening communication through the review of the branding and the new website institutional, aiming for greater visibility and effectiveness of our initiatives.
In short, PTCRIS not only facilitates the work of researchers and R&D institutions but also strengthens Portugal's position in the global scientific landscape. It is a clear example of how innovation and collaboration can transform science management, fostering a more efficient, transparent, and accessible ecosystem for all.
