Knowledge is one of the main pillars of science and humanity. Since the dawn of civilization, human beings have sought knowledge in order to better understand the world around them and to develop new technologies and solutions to complex problems. Without knowledge, science would not be able to advance and humanity would not have achieved the progress we have access to today.
The importance of knowledge in science is evident in all areas. In physics, for example, it is from knowledge of the fundamental principles that scientists can develop new theories and discoveries. In medicine, knowledge is crucial to the development of new treatments and medical technologies. In biology, knowledge is the basis for the study of life and its evolution.
The Unit FCCN provides relevant infrastructures and services in the field of knowledge. Through b-on, it ensures that the community has access to sources of scientific information of recognized prestige and quality. It promotes, supports and facilitates the practice of open science by the national community, especially in the areas of open access, through RCAAP and PubIn, and open data, through POLEN. In addition, FCCN works to facilitate the management of and access to information on science and technology in Portugal, through PTCRIS and CIÊNCIAVITAE.
The services mentioned are constantly being optimized. In the year 2022, for example, the Online Knowledge Library initiative had a great impact, with nearly 20 million downloads of scientific publications. In addition, transformative agreements were established, allowing authors to publish in open access without additional costs, promoting greater dissemination of national scientific knowledge.
The year 2023 will be marked by the availability of services for the management of research data, in particular on the POLEN website, with the launch of the research data plan management service and the research data repository. These services aim to facilitate the management and sharing of such data, strengthening research and collaboration among researchers.
It is also important to highlight the work done to launch the new open access policy for scientific results of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), which was recently subject to public consultation. This policy aims to promote open access to publications resulting from research funded by the FCT, thus widening the dissemination, visibility and impact of scientific knowledge.
In summary, FCCN provides a comprehensive set of infrastructures and services that drive the advancement of teaching and research. Its initiatives to promote open science and science management are key to strengthening collaboration, knowledge sharing and scientific advancement in Portugal.
