Policy recommendations for an increased support of Citizen Science in Portugal

This policy brief, developed by the European Citizen Science (ECS) project, presents strategic recommendations to strengthen support for Citizen Science (CS) in Portugal. A national event titled “Citizen Science Ecosystems and Local-Regional-National Policies”, organized by the Portuguese Citizen Science Network (RPCC) in Lisbon, brought together stakeholders from academia, civil society, and the public and private sectors. Using a backcasting methodology, participants assessed the current CS landscape, identified key motivations and challenges, and co-created policy solutions. The brief calls for the formal recognition of CS, enhanced professionalisation, dedicated funding, the development of multilevel science-for-policy ecosystems, and institutional support for the RPCC. These recommendations aim to better embed CS within Portugal’s research and innovation ecosystem, fostering scientific excellence, democratic participation, and societal resilience.