During the Executive Board meeting which took place on the 20 June, in Brussels, Prof. Dr Sierd A.P.L. Cloetingh, the outgoing President and Dr Ronald de Bruin, Director of the COST Association have warmly welcomed Prof. Paulo Ferrão, the incoming President of the COST Association. His mandate is officially due to start on 21 June 2019 for the next 2 years.
“COST is well-positioned to reinforce its engagement in Horizon Europe. Bottom-up and excellence-driven networks for research and innovation are key in addressing Europe’s scientific, technological, and societal challenges. I wish my successor, Prof. Paulo Ferrão, lots of success and inspiration during his Presidency.” Prof. Dr Sierd Cloetingh.
Above: picture of COST President Prof. Paulo Ferrão and COST outgoing President Dr Sierd A.P.L. Cloetingh
“COST has been instrumental to the consolidation of the European Research Area and to its openness to the world. COST represents a global, open and inclusive networking mechanism, connecting researchers and innovators, empowering institutions, and contributing to the production and dissemination of breakthrough knowledge and its impact on society. It is, for me, an honour to be part of this programme and to contribute to its continuous growth.” Prof. Paulo Ferrão.
Prof. Paulo Ferrão, is currently a full Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico – University of Lisbon – and co-founder of IN+, Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research. He has been the President of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) from 2016 to 2019, and the Director of the MIT-Portugal Programme from 1996 to 2016. He is a member of the Environmental Advisory Committee of Rolls-Royce. Prof. Paulo Ferrão extended CV is available on the President’s page
Prof. Ferrão’s scientific career has evolved within the areas of “Laser diagnostics for turbulent combustion systems”, “Analysis of Energy Systems”, “Industrial Ecology” and “Urban Metabolism”. He has been active in the area of “Sustainable Cities”, where he published a book at MIT-Press on “Sustainable Urban Metabolism” co-authored with John Fernandez from MIT, and has been engaged with the U.S. National Academies as a member of the Sustainability Roundtable, the Committee on “Sustainability Linkages in the Federal Government” and the committee of “Pathways to Urban Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities for the United States”.