The Insider

The Insider , Season 2, Episode 9 “Applied Sciences at the Crossroads: Polytechnics, Place-Based Innovation, and Europe's Competitiveness Future” Europe is entering a new phase in how it thinks about research, innovation and competitiveness. New instruments are being designed, new priorities are emerging, and the pressure to deliver impact is stronger than ever. But, as these discussions unfold, o...

The Insider , Season 2, Episode 8 “From Wall Street to Science|Business: Richard Hudson on the Past, Present and Future of R&I” Research and innovation policy rarely develops in isolation. It evolves alongside markets, institutions, and the broader geopolitical environment shaping how knowledge, technology and investment move across borders. In this episode of The Insider ,, host Ricardo Migué...

The Insider , Season 2, Episode 7 "The Legal Argument Brussels Doesn't Want to Hear" Europe is redesigning its research and innovation architecture. FP10, the European Competitiveness Fund, defence research, dual use, competitiveness and security are all being pulled into the same conversation, and often treated as if the only question is how fast we can move. But there is a more fundamental quest...

The Insider , Season 2, Episode 6 “Partnerships in the Age of Strategic Autonomy” Europe’s research and innovation system relies heavily on partnerships, but how well do we understand the machinery behind them? And what will it take for these partnerships to deliver the kind of strategic outcomes Europe now expects? In this episode of The Insider , Ricardo Miguéis sits down with Niklas Blomberg ,...

The Insider, Season 2, Episode 5 “Building the R&I Agency of the Future” Europe is not short on ideas. Over the past decades, it has built world-class universities, produced exceptional science, and developed some of the most advanced policy frameworks in the world. Yet when it comes to turning knowledge into strategic technologies, industrial strength and long-term innovation capacity, the re...

The Insider, Season 2, Episode 4 “A 2026 Deep Dive with Muriel Attané” Europe enters 2026 with a strong inheritance in research and innovation. Well-established frameworks, mature institutions, and a long-standing reputation for scientific excellence continue to underpin its global position. But the year ahead will test something more demanding: Europe’s ability to act strategically in a context s...

The Insider, Season 2, Episode 3 “Beautiful Frameworks, Precarious Reality: How Europe Designs Research Careers” Europe has spent years refining its approach to research careers. New frameworks, recommendations and initiatives now promise sustainability, fairness and better working conditions for researchers across the European Research Area. And yet, for many people working inside the system, pre...

The Insider - Season 2, Episode 2 "European Innovation Scoreboard 2025 Explained: Bridging Data and Policy with Alasdair Reid" Season 2 continues with a topic that sits right at the crossroads of evidence and strategy in European research: the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) 2025 . We talk a lot about innovation in Europe — but do we really understand the numbers we rely on to judge how well...

The Insider Podcast - Season 2, Episode 1 "Progress Reimagined: Putting Societies at the Heart of European Research" We’re back! Season 2 of The Insider opens with a big question – maybe THE question – for European research right now: What happens when society becomes an afterthought in how we fund and govern science? And what would it take to put people back at the centre of the picture? In this...

The Insider – Season 2, Episode 0 Season 2 of The Insider starts with a special Episode 0 – a pre-launch recorded live during an internal INESC webinar in October: “ Understanding FP10 & the European Competitiveness Fund: Strategic implications for INESC .” In this episode, host Ricardo Miguéis talks with Carla Matias dos Santos , Research and Space Counsellor at the Permanent Representation o...

In this episode, Ricardo Migueis speaks with Matthias Björnmalm , Secretary General of CESAR , about the shifting role of European universities in a time when science, sovereignty, and security are increasingly intertwined. Matthias reflects on his international journey through different research environments and how those experiences have shaped his views on collaboration, responsibility, and the...

In this episode, Ricardo Migueis sits with Eszter Lakos, a member of the European Parliament, to explore the concept of widening in European research and innovation. They discuss the importance of leadership, trust, and cultural shifts in fostering collaboration across Europe. Eszter shares her personal journey and insights into the challenges and successes of widening initiatives, emphasizing the...

In this episode of The Insider, Ricardo Migueis discusses the evolving role of research performing organizations in Europe, emphasizing the need for systemic thinking in research and innovation policy. He introduces the concept of the 'Fraunhofer moment' to illustrate how these organizations are becoming strategic actors in shaping Europe's future. Ricardo highlights the importance of building eco...

How can Europe’s Research & Technology Infrastructures (RTIs) create real impact, beyond research labs and into industrial resilience, digital transformation, and societal well-being? In this episode of The Insider , host Ricardo Migueis discusses the key takeaways from the HUB Winter Meeting in Porto , where experts examined one of the biggest gaps in EU innovation policy: the missing framewo...

This conversation explores the evolution of INESC TEC, a pioneering institution in Portugal that transformed from a national entity to a global leader in research and innovation. Professor José Manuel Mendonça discusses the challenges and decisions that shaped INESC TEC's trajectory, including its governance structure, collaboration with the University of Porto, the impact of structural funding, a...

Welcome to The Insider, the podcast where we dissect the most pressing debates shaping Europe’s research and innovation future. And today, we go straight to the heart of one of the most defining battles in EU policymaking: Will we still have an independent, standalone Framework Programme 10? Will European research and innovation remain a driving force for competitiveness and discovery—or will it b...

In this episode, Ricardo Migueis interviews Francesco Molinari , a prominent figure in European research and innovation. They discuss Molinari's extensive career, the concept of EraHubs , and the challenges facing European innovation ecosystems. The conversation highlights the importance of collaboration, knowledge valorization, and the need for a cultural shift in public administration to foster...

Has Europe's approach to innovation shifted? This episode of "The Insider" examines the European Commission's Competitiveness Compass, a strategic initiative that aims to redefine how research and innovation are funded across Europe. The Competitiveness Compass introduces changes that align research funding more closely with economic and industrial objectives. This shift has sparked extensive disc...

In this second part of this conversation, Ricardo Migueis and Pirita Linholm delve into the critical role of regions in shaping Europe's research and innovation landscape. They discuss the importance of innovation ecosystems, the challenges of fragmentation, and the need for interregional collaboration to address the innovation divide. The conversation highlights the significance of inclusive poli...

This is the Insider's Original Solo Episode with Ricardo Migueis. Where he explores the transformative impact of Portugal's partnerships with leading academic institutions like Carnegie Mellon, MIT, and UT Austin. It evaluates the achievements, challenges, and future potential of these collaborations in reshaping Portugal's scientific and innovation landscape. The discussion emphasizes the importa...

This is the second part of the series with with José Manuel Mendonça. It explores the unique governance model of INESC TEC, its evolution in relation to industry collaboration, the role of academia in research institutes, and the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in research. José Mendonça shares insights on how INESC TEC was established to bridge the gap between academia and industry, th...

In this insightful conversation, Professor José Manuel Mendonça shares his journey from a young engineer in post-revolution Portugal to becoming a prominent figure in research and innovation. He reflects on the challenges faced during his education, the cultural shocks experienced while studying abroad, and the lessons learned from martial arts that shaped his approach to leadership and resilience...

In this final episode of the Insider podcast for 2024, Ricardo Migueis reflects on the transformative forces shaping European research and innovation, focusing on the evolution of research infrastructures, the critical role of technology infrastructures, and the impact of AI. He discusses the need for alignment with European policy priorities, the ethical dimensions of AI, and the importance of ad...

In this episode of the Insider Podcast, Ricardo Migueis and Pirita Lindholm discuss the critical role of regions in shaping European research and innovation. They explore the challenges and opportunities within the innovation landscape, emphasizing the importance of place-based approaches and collaboration among diverse stakeholders. The conversation highlights the mission of ARIN, the significanc...

The Cyber Frontier: Europe’s Digital Defense in Action In this episode, we look into the high-stakes world of cybersecurity in Europe , where every click matters and every byte counts. From the escalating sophistication of ransomware to the invisible power of social engineering , this conversation pulls back the curtain on the challenges reshaping Europe’s digital future. Here’s the big picture: H...