This projects aims to contribute to a substantive and deeper knowledge on this subject. Thus, the central question and driver of the project is that of scientific development in Associated Laboratories – this choice of the empirical object is justified in the “Plan and Methods”- and their contribution to improve technological innovation in firms. To achieve this goal, particular attention will be given to the following analysis dimensions: the forms of producing and organizing scientific activity in laboratories, the scientific life of researchers and their values orientation, the types of funding (public/private) and their impact in the scientists careers and in the modalities of “transfer of knowledge” to firms, as well as to the internationalization of science.

The central concept behind this project is to analyze the emergence and consolidation of social entrepreneurship within the context of the changes undergone by Portuguese society over the last decades, taking on board the international debate and alternatives to the capitalist model.

Using a gender perspective, the aim of this quantitative and qualitative research project is to examine entrepreneurship patterns and dynamics in Portugal, how these patterns and dynamics affect daily functioning of PT SME,and how they affect life course of individual entrepreneurs, especially women.It is crucial for the project to examine the gendered nature of entrepreneurship in Portugal, something which will be connected to a broader, integrated analysis of main determinants explaining the identified patterns of entrepreneurship.This framework needs to be addressed if a deeper understanding of social and cultural determinants of women and men’s entrepreneurship behaviour is to be achieved.A number of articulated methodological strategies will be used in this research.As we wish to achieve an in-depth, understanding of the determinants of entrepreneurship it is necessary to use a multi-level approach.