Manuel Heitor

| caption = Heitor in 2017

| caption = Heitor in 2017

}}

}}

'''Manuel Frederico Tojal de Valsassina Heitor''' (born 1958) is a Portuguese politician who served as [[Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education|Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education]] in the government of [[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]] [[António Costa]] {{as of|2015|11|26|since=y|lc=y}} until 30 March 2022 when he was succeeded by [[Elvira Fortunato]].<ref name=govprofile/><ref>{{Cite web |last=FCT/UNL |title=Elvira Fortunato appointed as Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education |url=https://www.fct.unl.pt/en/news/2022/03/elvira-fortunato-appointed-minister-science-technology-and-higher-education |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.fct.unl.pt |language=en}}</ref>

'''Manuel Frederico Tojal de Valsassina Heitor''' (born 1958) is a Portuguese politician who served as [[Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education|Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education]] in the government of [[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]] [[António Costa]] {{as of|2015|11|26|since=y|lc=y}} until 30 March 2022 when he was succeeded by [[Elvira Fortunato]].<ref name=govprofile/><ref>{{Cite web |last=FCT/UNL |title=Elvira Fortunato appointed as Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education |url=https://www.fct.unl.pt/en/news/2022/03/elvira-fortunato-appointed-minister-science-technology-and-higher-education |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.fct.unl.pt |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and education==

==Early life and education==

Heitor graduated with a PhD in mechanical engineering from [[Imperial College London]], and did a post-doctoral at the [[University of California, San Diego]].

Heitor graduated with a PhD in mechanical engineering from [[Imperial College London]], and did a post-doctoral at the [[University of California, San Diego]].

==Career==

==Career==

===Political career===

===Political career===

From March 2005 to June 2011, Heitor served as the secretary of state for science, technology and higher education under minister [[Mariano Gago]] in the government of [[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]] [[José Sócrates]].<ref name=govprofile>{{cite web|url=https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc21/ministries/science-technology-and-higher-education|title=Manuel Heitor|work=portugal.gov.pt|accessdate=8 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906124607/https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc21/ministries/science-technology-and-higher-education|archive-date=6 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

From March 2005 to June 2011, Heitor served as the secretary of state for science, technology and higher education under minister [[Mariano Gago]] in the government of [[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]] [[José Sócrates]].<ref name=govprofile>{{cite web|url=https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc21/ministries/science-technology-and-higher-education|title=Manuel Heitor|work=portugal.gov.pt|accessdate=8 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906124607/https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc21/ministries/science-technology-and-higher-education|archive-date=6 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

During his time as minister, Heitor notably announced plans in 2018 to build an international launch pad for small satellites on [[Santa Maria Island]] and agreed with China to set up a joint research centre to make satellites on the mainland.<ref>Andrei Khalip (6 November 2018), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-websummit-space-idUSKCN1NB25K/ Portugal to build satellite launch pad, lab with China] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref> When Portugal held the rotating [[presidency of the Council of the European Union]] in the first half of 2021, he chaired the meetings of the EU research ministers.

During his time as minister, Heitor notably announced plans in 2018 to build an international launch pad for small satellites on [[Santa Maria Island]] and agreed with China to set up a joint research centre to make satellites on the mainland.<ref>Andrei Khalip (6 November 2018), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-websummit-space-idUSKCN1NB25K/ Portugal to build satellite launch pad, lab with China] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref> When Portugal held the rotating [[presidency of the Council of the European Union]] in the first half of 2021, he chaired the meetings of the EU research ministers.

In 2023, the [[CESAER|Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research]] (CESAER) appointed Heitor as its Envoy on Research Careers.<ref>[https://www.cesaer.org/news/supporting-modern-and-stable-research-careers-in-europe-1510/ Supporting modern and stable research careers in Europe] [[CESAER|Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research]] (CESAER), press release of 30 June 2023.</ref>

In 2023, the [[CESAER|Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research]] (CESAER) appointed Heitor as its Envoy on Research Careers.<ref>[https://www.cesaer.org/news/supporting-modern-and-stable-research-careers-in-europe-1510/ Supporting modern and stable research careers in Europe] [[CESAER|Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research]] (CESAER), press release of 30 June 2023.</ref>

Also since 2023, Heitor has been chairing an expert group entrusted to support the interim evaluation of the European Union's [[Horizon Europe]] programme.<ref>[https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-research-and-innovation-news/expert-group-interim-evaluation-horizon-europe-kicks-its-work-2023-12-05_en The expert group on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe kicks off its work] [[European Commission]], press release of 5 December 2023.</ref> Their report "Align, Act, Accelerate: Research, Technology and Innovation to boost European competitiveness" was published in late 2024.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Several Authors |url=https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/2f9fc221-86bb-11ef-a67d-01aa75ed71a1/language-en |title=Align, act, accelerate: research, technology and innovation to boost European competitiveness |date=2024 |publisher=Publications Office of the European Union |year=2024 |isbn=978-92-68-20719-2 |doi=10.2777/9106236}}</ref>

Also since 2023, Heitor has been chairing an expert group entrusted to support the interim evaluation of the European Union's [[Horizon Europe]] programme.<ref>[https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-research-and-innovation-news/expert-group-interim-evaluation-horizon-europe-kicks-its-work-2023-12-05_en The expert group on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe kicks off its work] [[European Commission]], press release of 5 December 2023.</ref> Their report "Align, Act, Accelerate: Research, Technology and Innovation to boost European competitiveness" was published in late 2024.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Several Authors |url=https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/2f9fc221-86bb-11ef-a67d-01aa75ed71a1/language-en |title=Align, act, accelerate: research, technology and innovation to boost European competitiveness |publisher=Publications Office of the European Union |year=2024 |isbn=978-92-68-20719-2 |doi=10.2777/9106236}}</ref>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:21st-century Portuguese politicians]]

[[Category:21st-century Portuguese politicians]]

[[Category:Alumni of Imperial College London]]

[[Category:Alumni of Imperial College London]]

{{Portugal-politician-stub}}

[[Category:Government ministers of Portugal]]

[[Category:Government ministers of Portugal]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Politicians from Lisbon]]

[[Category:Politicians from Lisbon]]

[[Category:Portuguese people of Italian descent]]

[[Category:Portuguese people of Italian descent]]

{{Portugal-politician-stub}}