Mission
The Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP) aims to research ways to improve economic efficiency and inform social policy and governance practices. GOVCOPP is a multidisciplinary unit that combines researchers from a broad set of disciplines and thus uses different methodological approaches. It draws from diverse approaches but has a shared focus on place-based policy and governance. Yet it has a clear analytical core that provides coherence and purpose to this diversity, which stands out as an international reference. This core of its mission is the Unit's focus on place-based policy and governance.
There is a growing understanding that different places have unique needs, challenges, and opportunities; failure to address these contributes to various adverse social and political consequences. The Research Unit engages with place-based policy and governance from a deliberately wide lens. This encompasses, inter alia, decision-support systems, economic efficiency, entrepreneurial governance and management structures, policy formulation, political systems and governance, and tourism ecosystems. GOVCOPP seeks to bring together researchers with different backgrounds and scientific expertise, including those from economics, environmental sciences, management, operations research, political science, tourism, and urban planning. This diversity allows GOVCOPP to capture and bring together diverse yet related facets of its subject from disciplinary and multidisciplinary perspectives.
Previous Mission and Strategic Plan (2018-2024)
The mission of the research unit on Governance, Competitiveness, and Public Policies (GOVCOPP) is to research ways to improve economic efficiency, and to inform social policy and governance practices in specific geographical contexts; We research at the European, national, and regional levels, while having a particular focus on the regions of Portugal Centro and Aveiro.
To achieve this objective, GOVCOPP brings together researchers with different backgrounds and scientific expertise, therefore benefiting from a diversity of approaches and methodologies.
Structure
Scientific Coordinator
This position is elected by the effective members of the Scientific Council that are linked to the University of Aveiro. The Scientific Coordinator position is held for three years and the Scientific Council may choose to renew the term after this period.
The Scientific Coordinator is responsible for the direction, management, and administration of GOVCOPP.
Scientific Council
All effective members of the GOVCOPP form the Scientific Council. Chaired by the Scientific Coordinator, it is responsible for giving advice on strategic, scientific, organizational, and budgetary issues related to the research unit, and may also fulfill other functions when required.
Coordination Council
The Coordination Council, formed by the research group's Coordinators and Vice-Coordinators of the GOVCOPP and chaired by the Scientific Coordinator, is responsible for assisting the Scientific Coordinator in the management of the research unit.
Research Groups Coordinators and Vice Coordinators
Elected by and from among the effective members of the respective research group for a three-year term of office, which may be renewable. They are responsible for representing the research group and contributing to organizational planning and the annual report of activities of their respective group. Coordinators and Vice Coordinators also sit on the Coordination Council.
External Advisory Commission
Constituted by three to five external members, national or foreign, of recognized international merit in the scientific areas of action of GOVCOPP, proposed by the Scientific Coordinator and approved by the Coordination Council.
The External Advisory Commission is responsible for monitoring and analyzing the functioning of GOVCOPP, as well commenting on the organisational planning, the annual activities report, and the budget of GOVCOPP. Each member holds their position for three years, and can be renewed. The External Advisory Commision must meet at least once annually.