More research, more technology, more knowledge. The idea seemed simple: investing in science would naturally lead to more economic growth. A recent study by the University of Minho shows that this relationship exists, but it is far from automatic, and in the case of countries like Portugal, it becomes even more interesting to analyse.

The data is clear. European regions where science is at the heart of innovation have higher productivity levels, and the strongest companies are able to grow even more in this environment. At first glance, this confirms the path followed by many public policies. However, the same study reveals a less evident side. Not all companies benefit in the same way. The least prepared, with less technological or organisational capacity, find it difficult to keep up with these more demanding ecosystems and, in some cases, end up falling even further behind.

This changes the way we should look at innovation in Portugal. As part of southern Europe, the country has historically developed not on the basis of intensive science, but rather through adaptation, creativity, and the ability to apply knowledge from abroad. For a long time, this model was seen as a sign of backwardness. Today, it is beginning to be perceived in a different way. Not as a problem, but as a stage that can be evolved.

What the study suggests is that the true value is in the combination. It is not enough to produce knowledge; it is essential to know how to use it. Regions that manage to link science to practical application tend to have better results over time. And it is exactly here that Portugal still has room to grow. The country has been strengthening its scientific base, with universities and research centres becoming more and more relevant, but there is still a gap between this knowledge and the companies that could transform it into economic value.

This distance cannot be solved only with more investment. It requires a change in the way companies operate and the way they relate to innovation. The ability to absorb knowledge becomes central. Companies that manage to integrate new technologies and ideas into their processes benefit the most. The others, even though they are surrounded by science, end up not being able to keep up.

That is why the discussion should not only be about science, but also about connection. Connection between universities and companies, between research and market, between knowledge and execution. Portugal does not necessarily need to compete with the largest scientific centres in Europe, but it does need to ensure that what it produces is used effectively.

At its core, innovation is not just about creating something new. It is to be able to transform this new into real growth. And in this way, perhaps Portugal's greatest advantage is not in trying to replicate external models, but in building its own model, more balanced, more applied, and closer to the reality of its companies.

Because in the end, it is not the amount of science that defines the success of an economy, but the way that science is used.