Introduction

cepese

CEPESE – Research Centre for the Study of Population, Economics and Society is a Public Utility Institution devoted to scientific research, with an inter-University nature, with its own bylaws, founded by the University of Porto and the Foundation Eng. António de Almeida.

Its research is carried out in the most diverse areas of Political Science, International Relations, Contemporary History and all areas of the Social Sciences and Humanities that contribute in some manner to the study, analysis and understanding of society, understood in a broad sense, its historical evolution, current characterization and future challenges.

With that purpose, CEPESE supports the accomplishment of studies and research projects, allowing the debate of the research results in seminars and other international and multidisciplinary scientific meetings, and promoting their publication in a journal, População e Sociedade (Population and Society), published once a year, and of specific collections such as Economia e Sociedade (Economy and Society), Os Portugueses no Mundo (The Portuguese in the World), Arte e Património (Art and Heritage) and Militarium Ordinum Analecta.

In addition to its own research projects, CEPESE carries out projects in cooperation with other Portuguese and foreign universities and research centres, with some of which it established cooperation agreements.

CEPESE has its own premises in an autonomous building belonging to the University of Porto, which includes four offices, two meeting rooms and a Library. It is equipped with computers with broadband internet access, its own servers, colour laser printers, professional scanners, a photocopier and a video-projector.

Currently, CEPESE has over 300 individual members, besides two dozen collective partners and honour patrons, including universities, municipalities, foundations and private companies aware of the importance of scientific research.

CEPESE’s base financing is assured by the Foundation for Science and Technology through multiannual funding, by the research projects it carries out, by the supports granted by scientific patronage, meant for publications and seminars, and by the fees paid by collective and individual members.

CEPESE’s mission

To carry out research in History and Social Sciences, through the publication and dissemination of the achieved results in books, peer reviewed national and international journals and at digital platforms;
To promote and disseminate the scientific culture in the Portuguese society, thus contributing for the development of the information and communication society;
To strengthen the Portuguese presence in the world through the establishment of relations with the international scientific community, paying special attention to Southern European countries and to Portuguese-speaking countries;
To train and support, both scientifically and materially, young researchers, namely those preparing their Master’s and PhD thesis.

CEPESE’s strengths

Autonomous and modern premises with all the necessary computer equipment, including its own servers;
An important social and cultural integration in the Portuguese civil society, through the cooperation with several public and private institutions (municipalities, foundations, universities and companies);
A large number of eligible doctorates able to participate in research projects, allowing with the remaining researchers the formation of teams with reasonable dimension and unity;
Its activities have achieved an important degree of internationalization, maintaining privileged relations with Brazil, Spain and Italy;
A strong presence in several digital platforms that make available to the general public databases, publications and other results of the research projects carried out;
A specialized library, totally computerized and with its collections continuously enlarged and improved;
The support of a specialized staff working full-time, with the necessary skills to support CEPESE’s activities and researchers.