The projects approved under the “Vale do Côa International Research Awards” they were presented, on Saturday, June 20, at the Côa Museum, in a session attended by the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, the Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Higher Education, João Sobrinho Teixeira, and the Secretary of State for the Enhancement of the Interior, Isabel Ferreira.

The “Vale do Côa International Research Awards” is an International Research Program on  Côa Valley, financed by the Foundation for Science and Technology (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia – FCT), which aims to stimulate the production of scientific knowledge in the area of ​​influence of the Côa Valley Archaeological Park, taking advantage of the potential of this region, classified by UNESCO as World Heritage, as a living laboratory for interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary research projects and with a strong international dimension.

The creation of a specific competition from the Foundation for Science and Technology, to be opened annually, for research projects that may be developed within the scope of the Safeguarding and Enhancement of the Côa Valley, aims to develop new knowledge in several thematic areas, from a scientific perspective, cultural and artistic multidisciplinarity and contributing to a new international R&D agenda on the heritage Côa Valley region, including:

Earth observation and knowledge;

Climate and climate change;

Origins of life and dynamics of socio-cultural interactions over time;

Biodiversity and biological resources, natural and cultural heritage and sustainable regional development.

FCT approved seven scientific research projects, to be developed over the next four years, to which it has allocated a total of two million euros. The projects will be developed by the Côa Park Foundation, Universities of Coimbra, Minho, Trás os Montes e Alto Douro, Aveiro and the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança