Calls of Exploratory Projects at CMU Portugal, MIT Portugal and UT Austin Portugal

Applications are open to Calls for Exploratory Projects in the scope of FCT's International Partnerships - CMU Portugal, MIT Portugal and UT Austin Portugal, opened on October 11 and will run until 5pm (Lisbon time) on November 17, 2022.

The proposals to Call should be disruptive scientific projects, with high risk, but with a high potential impact, likely to be further developed and valorization of the scientific results obtained.

The UT Austin Portugal program seeks to mobilize teams of researchers from the National Scientific and Technological System (SCTN) and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) as well as business partners for research activities. The projects to be supported should be able to stimulate the capacity for innovation in science and technology in Portugal and promote the country's international competitiveness, focusing on opportunities associated with the data economy as a driver of growth and change. This Call covers the following thematic areas: Advanced Computing; Medical Physics for Emerging Cancer Therapies; Nanomaterials for New Markets; and Space-Earth Interactions. The projects will be supported for a maximum period of 12 months, with an overall budget of 400 thousand euros for Call.

The Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) program aims to bring together teams of researchers from Portuguese institutions, CMU and business partners to develop research activities that promote competitiveness and innovative capacity in science and technology in the internationalization of Portugal in the area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Applications are sought in the area of ICT, with special focus on the opportunities offered by the data economy as a driver of growth and change. For this Call a budget of 400 thousand euros is foreseen and each project will be supported for a period of 12 months.

Applications for the MIT Portugal program should aim to develop research activities between entities of the National Science and Technology System (SNCT), public and private partners and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with a view to creating intelligent solutions that promote the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy and stimulate multidisciplinary approaches. The planned budget is 400 thousand Euros, with a maximum funding limit of 50 thousand Euros for each project. The projects must address the following thematic areas: Climate Change and Climate Science; Earth Systems: from Oceans to Space; Digital Transformation in Industry; Sustainable Cities; and Data Science.

International Partnerships are a strategic collaboration between Portugal and foreign universities recognized as world leaders in their fields. They aim to support the internationalization of national science and technology through a platform for education, research and innovation, with economic and social impact and benefits. The first Partnerships, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Texas at Austin (UTA), were launched between 2006 and 2007 by the Government of the Portuguese Republic, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and with the support of the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP).

These programs are, since 2018, included in the GoPortugal initiative - Global Science and Technology Partnerships Portugal - which expands the initial objectives by associating them with the stimulation of scientific and business development, the promotion and affirmation of Portugal in the world through scientific and economic enhancement, and the innovative agenda on "Atlantic Interactions". The Calls now open are part of the 3rd edition of exploratory projects of the phase that began in 2018, having been approved in previous editions 45 projects, with total funding of 2,398,605.43 €.

More information at CMU Portugal, MIT Portugal, UT Austin Portugal program pages.