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Mestrado inInnovation and Research for Sustainability

ISEG has just introduced the Masters in Innovation and Research for Sustainability.

The world of companies and organizations is increasingly specialized and competitive, with Innovation and Sustainability playing an important role in core issues. If you want to lead these developments, enroll in this Masters programme at ISEG. Let’s help you antecipate what’s coming.

The Masters in Innovation and Research for Sustainability results from the transformation and improvement of the previous “Mestrado em Economia e Gestão de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação”, which was taught in Portuguese for many years and has dozens of graduates who have followed successful careers.

Caixa Geral de Depósitos Merit Award
Prize awarded by Caixa Geral de Depósito to the best student in the Master’s in Innovation and Research for Sustainability (with the highest final average).
MIRS students benefit from a collegiate and openminded atmosphere, in which the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) play a special role.
Acreditação
Duration
3 Semesters
Schedule
Evening Classes
Taught in
English
Numerus Clausus
30
Need some help?
Please send us an email to

Top reasons to do the Masters in Innovation and Research for Sustainability

01

The Master in Innovation and Research for Sustainability (MIRS) was designed for those willing to be change agents for sustainability in organizations, society and the economy.

02

The complexity of incorporating sustainability in economic development and organizational processes will be a key challenge for governance in public and private sector entities over the next decades. MIRS is intended for those committed to be involved in the processes towards a more sustainable future.

03

Our students will be provided with the theory, concepts and methods to better understand and articulate the roles of research and innovation activities in practice. Among other methods, we adopt active learning strategies based on case-studies, current research projects and transversal workshops. The classes will use both informative and dynamic tools for enhancing collaborative processes and teamwork (namely world cafe exercises, design thinking, scenario methods, 3Dmapping).

04

MIRS was designed to provide our students with high levels of technical competences, critical judgment for action and significant capacity to collaborate and to build bridges in their organizations, society and the economy.

05

More and more businesses and public organizations need to have specialists with the capacity to manage technical activities related to research and innovation.

06

Our students will have the possibility to choose in the second semester between two different tracks, one oriented towards entrepreneurship and innovation and the other oriented towards the administration of research and science.

07

After attending MIRS, our graduates will have the necessary analytical and communication skills to effectively manage impactful research and innovation for a better and sustainable future.

08

They will be able to design solutions that maximize the benefits for society and the organizations while minimizing the impact on the ecosystems.

09

Further, they will be able to integrate science and technology to respond to the grand challenges of climate change and sustainable development, which include larger societal challenges related to poverty elimination, discrimination and segregation, in accordance with the principles and objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

10

MIRS graduates will follow professional careers in a diversity of areas, such as business companies who adhere to the principles of sustainability, in research and academic institutions, in international development organizations, or in new professions linked to the core issues dealt with in the course.

10 things you’ll gain by joining ISEG

An outstanding faculty and benchmark research centres are responsible for placing ISEG at the forefront of Economics, Management and Finance.
Top 10 Reasons

The Next Step in Your Career

Your partner in achieving your career goals. Our consultants guarantee you all the necessary support, helping you prepare for your job search or find an internship.
Career Office

Broaden your horizons.

Our mobility programs allow students to explore any part of the world while studying abroad for a semester.
International Mobility Office

If you want to know more about ISEG’s MIRS, let us help you:

I chose to study at ISEG because it combines a traditional and rigorous education in economics and management, with a recognized international reputation. Another determining factor was the unique academic program that the school offers for studying matters related to science, technology and innovation. The teachers at ISEG are highly qualified and have always been willing to listen to and engage with students, which made the learning experience more personalized and interactive. The school’s diverse and multicultural environment fosters meaningful discussions and debates among students and teachers, which enhances not only intellectual development but also interpersonal relationships. In addition to the many academic advantages of the school, it’s worth mentioning that Lisbon is a wonderful place to live, with a rich history, beautiful architecture, and delicious food. The city is on the rise and is already a relevant and dynamic economic center with many professional opportunities. Choosing to do a master’s degree at ISEG was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Bernardo Motta
My experience in ISEG has been very enriching, both for the quality of the teaching staff and topics covered, and for the diversity of the course colleagues. Science, technology and innovation are fundamental pillars to respond to the current challenges of society. Governments and organizations play a key role in the design, management and adaptation of the various systems and networks associated with these pillars, this is how an in-depth knowledge of theories, best practices, tools and experiences make this master’s degree a valuable option for the co-creation of knowledge and the development of skills and competences associated with innovation. We live in a world in constant change, in which organizations must adapt continuously and in an increasingly accelerated way. The development of capabilities, processes and tools that facilitate this constant adaptation with decisions taken at the right time, combined with the need for continuous improvement to transform our organizations and society in general, is necessary for us to achieve a more intelligent, resilient and sustainable Europe , which is able to act in a timely manner in the face of local, regional and global challenges with the necessary speed. This master’s degree has expanded my horizons with great expectations for the future. It has been a privilege to be part of the large ISEG family and especially this master’s degree. This is a school that promotes diversity, that it’s open to the world and for the world.
Juan Portillo
I can testify that the knowledge I acquired in that Masters programme allowed me to become a professional with a richer background in my field of work. Aware that my professional needs, along with my personal interests, went beyond the isolated study of science and technology, I decided to write my dissertation in relation to the Circular Economy, which is essential to achieve sustainability. Recently I learned that the master’s programme I followed would undergo some changes, including in its designation. Those changes, towards a closer connection to sustainability, are of central importance for any professional in the innovation area. And, if on the one hand I felt somewhat sad for having finished my master’s degree before the recent refocusing of the programme, on the other hand I was very happy to realize that ISEG is aware of the great current challenges in the innovation area, in connection to the great objective of the planet’s sustainability. I am glad to realize that the sustainability issues will now be central in this master’s program. Personally, it seems to me that a master’s degree that unites research, innovation and sustainability is like a perfect marriage between current and future giants that cannot be ignored by those who work or aspire to work in research and innovation.
Marta Campino

Programme Details

This Masters is especially for those who wish to obtain a professional specialization in the areas of management and analysis of Innovation, Research and Sustainability, with a view to guaranteeing and enhancing their employability and future career prospects.


Syllabus

Year 1 – Semester 1 Credits
Economics of Innovation6
Science, Technology and Society6
Innovation Management6
Future Studies and Innovation Strategy6
Sustainability Sciences and Policy6
Year 1 – Semester 2Credits
Evaluation and Management of R&I Projects6
Communication for Research and Innovation3
Research, Innovation and Global Trends3
Elective*3**
Research Methods and Masters Project3
Choose your Major:
Major in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship6
Marketing for Innovation and New Products6
Major in Research Management and Policy
Research Management and Public Policy6
Research Policy for Sustainability6
Year 2 – Semester 1Credits
Masters Final Work – MFW
Dissertation
Project
Internship
30

*The list of possible elective courses will be published annually by ISEG.
** At least 3 ECTS.

See the description of each Curricular Units here.

Duration
3 Semesters
Schedule
Evening Classes
Taught in
English
Numerus Clausus
30
Need some help?
Please send us an email to

What will you attain by enrolling in MIRS

Upon successful completion of this Masters programme, you’ll qualify to be awarded a Master’s Degree by Universidade de Lisboa, which is the largest and most internationally recognized Portuguese university.

This Masters programme has a duration of three semesters. In the initial two semesters students take their courses, while in the third semester they do their “masters final work”, which might be a dissertation, a project or a report from an internship carried out in relation to the topics of interest of our programme.

MIRS is in itself an innovative endeavor aiming at offering you a fulfilling experience, one that takes into account the fast pace of change in technologies, professions and society.

What is the MIRS focus

By “innovation” we understand the introduction and deployment of new ideas that create value for individuals and society. This might be new products,
new processes, new organizational modes or new business models. Innovations are adopted by individuals, firms, government and other types of entities. In general innovations generate returns for the innovators, while answering problems faced by local communities or society at large.

By “research” we refer to activities organized with the purpose of developing new knowledge. Those activities include the research and development (R&D) performed by business firms and the scientific research carried out by universities and other research organizations.

Why Research and Innovation for Sustainability

MIRS is about how research and innovation can be stimulated and pursued in accordance with sustainability principles and objectives. We mean by “sustainability” the ability of using existing resources in an efficient and responsible way, in order to produce benefits for individuals, business companies and society both in the short- and the longer-term, so that sustainable development might be achieved.

Why MIRS offers two tracks

In the second semester MIRS branches out in two tracks. One of them is “Innovation and Entrepreneurship”. This stream is intended for those who are seeking to learn more about innovation in a practical context, to further economic and social benefits. For a successful implementation of innovation an entrepreneurial mind is needed. You can be an entrepreneur by setting up a start-up company around your own project, but you can also be an entrepreneur within the organization you work for or in a local community within which you may be willing to make a social innovation to advance.

The other stream is “Research management and policy”. This is intended for those willing to acquire more specialized competencies in order to manage research activities in organizations such as universities, government labs or collaborative research infrastructures that draw together the business and university sectors. With this stream, MIRS brings also the policy perspective, for those interested in the more macro view of public policies towards science, research and technology.

Why MIRS is a coherent system for furthering your knowledge

The chart on the previous page provides a rationale for the organization of MIRS. MIRS offers a set of courses which deliver the basic knowledge about the economics, management and social aspects of innovation and research activities. There are several other courses focused on the more practical dimensions, aiming at the acquisition of specific competencies associated with communication, marketing, project appraisal, policy design and evaluation. At the same time, we bring in the strategic dimension, which is essential for advancing innovative and entrepreneurial projects.

A unique characteristic of MIRS is that we are providing those operational and strategic competencies, while keeping an eye on how technologies and science are moving fast forward. MIRS considers innovation and research in the context of global changes, including the most recent advances in science, the digital and energy transformations and climate change. The external ring of the chart displays that perspective. Our “Global Trends” and “Future Studies” courses provide the long-term view and the tools to devise appropriate strategies.

Duration
3 Semesters
Schedule
Evening Classes
Taught in
English
Numerus Clausus
30
Need some help?
Please send us an email to

Admissions & Fees

Applications for all masters at ISEG are online.


Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Master in Innovation and Research for Sustainability are:

  • Those who have an undergraduate degree in Management, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Mathematics Applied to Economics and Management, or other similar areas. Applicants with other degrees are considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • All applications considered to be appropriate by the selection panel will be evaluated on the basis of a curricular analysis.
  • Those students who have not yet completed the 1st Study Cycle (Bachelors) are eligible to apply conditionally, provided that they satisfy the conditions for obtaining the degree by the end of September (of the same academic year as their application).

Ranking and Selection Criteria

  1. The ranking is based on a score awarded to each candidate and calculated according to the criteria referred to below. This only applies to students who have satisfied the prerequisites.
  2. The score mentioned above stems from the consideration of the following criteria: a) academic background and grade; b) professional experience and other previous activities; and c) motivation for the course.

Application Documents

  • Certificate of the undergraduate degree
  • Academic Transcript
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Motivation Letter
  • English Diploma (optional)
  • Reference Letter (optional)

All candidates should have a good knowledge of the English language, written and spoken.


Tuition Fee

These are provisional tuition fees for 2024/25, subject to confirmation by the Universidade de Lisboa statutory bodies.

Students from    First Year  Second Year   Total
Within the European Union€ 3,750  € 2,000     € 5,750
Outside the European Union   € 4,500   € 2,500   € 7,000

Financial restrictions should never come in the way of your access to higher education, and that is why we believe in providing equal opportunities for everyone.

A specific tuition fee payment schedule may be agreed upon request by the student.


Student Visa

If you are not an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, you need a Student VISA.
Once you have decided to join the master’s programme and paid the 1st tuition fee to secure your place, you can issue the acceptance letter on the FENIX Portal. This document will be needed later to apply for a Student Visa. The student visa must be requested at the nearest Portuguese Embassy or Consular Office in the country of origin.

Duration
3 Semesters
Schedule
Evening Classes
Taught in
English
Numerus Clausus
30
Need some help?
Please send us an email to
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