Ricardo, Portuguese, holds a PhD in Applied Economics (Spain); a Master in International Business (Norway) and a degree in Economics (Portugal).
Currently is the coordinator of the Border Focal Point in European Commission’s DG REGIO in the unit for Cross-Border Cooperation (BFP fosters to enhance Cross-Border interactions in EU internal borders, in several thematic areas).
In the European Commission he has also worked on ERDF management in DG REGIO; Skills and Qualifications in DG EMPL and on Opening Up Education (inclusion of more ICT and OER in Education and Training systems) and University-Business Cooperation in DG EAC.
Before joining the European Commission Ricardo has been a professor of economics at the Portalegre Polytechnic Institute (PT) for about 15 years. During that period his main research area was on Cross-Border interactions, mostly focusing on interregional trade on the Portuguese-Spanish Border.