Page 76 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 8

CPS2196 José A. Pinto Martins et al.

The national data infrastructure in statistics
Portugal and the data access for scientific
research purposes – evolution and challenges
José A. Pinto Martins, Maria João Zilhão
Statistics Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract
The access to anonymized official microdata by researchers in Portugal is
guaranteed by Statistics Portugal. This paper describes how researchers access
the data free of charge, highlighting the most important issues of the process,
namely the legal framework and the cooperation protocol with the Ministry of
Education and Science, describing the process accreditation of researchers.
Some statistics about the use and demand by accredited researchers to
databases are presented. The paper also presents the Statistics Portugal
already in movement project the National Data Infrastructure (NDI), that will
allow data access maximization, namely for scientific and research purposes,
and for the production of Official statistics for better decision making.

Keywords
Microdata databases; Researchers’ accreditation; anonymized individual
statistical data; free access

1. Access to anonymized official microdata
Statistics Portugal (SP) being aware of the fact that the academic
community has special needs regarding statistical information, namely for the
development of research projects and for the preparation of Master's and PhD
theses, has established a Protocol with the Ministry of Education and Science,
specifically the Foundation of Science and Technology (FCT - entity
responsible for funding R&D in Portugal) and the General Directorate of
Statistics for Education and Science (DGEEC), in order to facilitate the access
of (accredited) researchers to the official statistical information needed to carry
out their activities. The protocol concerns researchers from universities and
other legally recognized higher education and research institutions.
Researchers with proven affiliation in international organisations such as:
specialised agencies of the United Nations (International Labour Organisation
(ILO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nation Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), The World Bank Group and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), and OECD, are also eligible for
accreditation concerning their expertise and reputation in quality scientific
research.

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