Alcatel-Lucent has signed four Memorandums of Understanding with leading Portuguese government, scientific and academic institutions. Two MoUs are with the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia – the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), UMIC (Portuguese Knowledge Society Agency).

With the first agreement the students of Portuguese universities will have the opportunity to benefit from Master & Doctorate Degree Scholarships in Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs. The second one will enable the creation of an Alcatel-Lucent ‘Professor Chair’ being celebrated under the Programa Ciência 2008 (Science Program 2008).

The third MoU, signed with the Universities of Porto and Aveiro and the Instituto Superior Técnico de Lisboa (Technical University of Lisbon), applies scholarships for projects within a Master or PHD Degree.

The fourth MoU was signed with the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications, the Technological Plan, Alcatel-Lucent & Bell Labs to foster collaboration in innovative telecommunication projects. It will include an award for innovation in telecoms and the main projects will be concerned with wireless technologies, networks and applications and next generation networks and network management applications.

“We are proud to partner with the Portuguese Ministries and universities to implement these important programs that will benefit Portuguese technology and science students as well as the country’s larger innovation community,” said Debasis Mitra, chief scientist's office, vice president Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs. “Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs believes that innovation, which plays a key role in a country economic success, can only flourish in an environment where government, educational institutions, and private sector closely collaborate and partner and we are proud to be an active partner in helping Portugal is creating such an innovation culture.”