This AI² project aims to support the definition of national research and innovation priorities within the scope of the creation of the  Agência para a Investigação e Inovação (AI²). To this end, the project’s main objective is to promote a collaborative Strategic Evaluation that guides the agency’s future actions and supports the preparation of its multi-year program contract, identifying strategic options, opportunities, and risks. Therefore, the objectives are:

1. Define the strategic domains of AI². To achieve this, the aim is to evaluate and determine how many and which strategic domains, including possible subdomains, should be integrated into the program contract to be established between the Government and the new agency.
2. Structure the global and detailed budget allocation. The intention is thus to define the percentage of the budget to be channelled to the Research and Development (R&D) areas, the strategic domains, and the Innovation Promotion Unit (UPI), as well as the exact distribution of funding among these areas.
3. Foster public and institutional participation. Using dialogue spaces and decentralised methodologies, the goal is to involve citizens, experts, and other entities, ensuring that the definition of funding and priorities is the result of a collective effort validated by society.
4. Apply rigorous evaluation methodologies. To this end, the process focuses on using Critical Decision Factors and structured criteria to analyse strategic options, ensuring that the decisions guiding the agency have a solid and sustained foundation.