Abstract

SP as the principal national statistical authority belonging to the European Statistical System has specific and unique competences that guarantee the independence and security of information.
The increasing digitization generates a large volume of data. Their transformation into knowledge is only possible with adequate processes of storage, treatment, and analysis, in a safe, consistent, and reliable way.
The National Data Infrastructure has the aim of adopting the most intensive and integrated use of data in the production of statistical information, taking advantage of the entire production chain of Portuguese official statistics, which ensures the protection and integrity of data, from the development of platforms, applications and algorithms, data collection and validation, to the analysis of statistical information.
The information integrated in the NDI and available at the level of anonymized microdata with multiple intersections and scientific research outputs gains a new dimension and opens numerous opportunities for partnerships and knowledge sharing, while assuring compliance with the statistical law, and with respect to statistical confidentiality.
Statistics Portugal, aware of the fact that the academic community has special needs regarding statistical information, namely for the development of research work and for the preparation of Master and PhD theses, established a set of procedures with the purpose of facilitating the access of researchers to official statistical information needed to carry out their activities.
The presentation will explain the procedures required for scientific accreditation as well as the set of databases already prepared specifically for this purpose.
Access to this information is free of charge for duly accredited researchers.
In addition, and to meet the needs of other users, but also of researchers, to access more detailed information, Statistics Portugal has prepared and makes available some files with information at the observation unit level - the so-called Public Use Files (PUFs).
These files (data and metadata) contain anonymized records, treated, and prepared in such a way that the observation unit cannot be identified directly or indirectly, except when it is individual statistical data on Public Administration. They are freely accessible and comply with the principle of statistical confidentiality and protection of personal data. This access implies prior acceptance of the conditions of use and is directly available for download from the Statistics Portugal's website (www.ine.pt).