2017/2018 R&D Units Evaluation

(English version available soon)

FCT today opened the period for applications to Evaluation of R&D Units 2017/2018 for funding during the period 2019-2022, by making the R&D Unit Register available at Portal of Science and Technology. The Call ends on January 31, 2018.

The evaluation is based on the Regulations for Evaluation and Pluriannual Funding of R&D Units, which are the result of a long process of discussion with the scientific and technological community and the recommendations of the Reflection Group on the Evaluation of Science and Technology by FCT. This evaluation follows on from the exercises carried out in 1996, 2000, 2007 and 2013.

The indicative funding amount is 400 Million Euros. In addition to this amount, FCT plans to fund 400 Studentships PhD s per year through the R&D Units. These Studentships will be in addition to those granted through the individual Calls and FCT PhD Programs in progress.

FCT will also support the hiring by R&D Units of around 400 doctor al researchers in the period 2019-2022. This hiring will complement the annual Calls for individual applications for doctoral researchers to be opened by FCT, the support for institutional plans for scientific employment and scientific career development and hiring through R&D projects.

The evaluation of R&D units aims to develop and enhance the National Scientific and Technological System (SCTN) in all areas of knowledge, and to strengthen and densify it territorially. It is planned to expand the areas of evaluation, with its own evaluation panels, in thematic areas of particular strategic relevance or linked to sectors of technical activities, which were not considered in previous evaluation exercises. The specialization of the evaluation of the R&D units by scientific and thematic areas is resumed and expanded by the provision of more than 40 Evaluation Panels, from foreign institutions.

The evaluation of the scientific quality and the analysis of the relevance, merit and timeliness of the activity carried out by the researchers associated with the R&D Unit's application will focus on quality and not on quantity without consideration of the respective quality. Institutional diversity is considered a factor for the development and enrichment of the SCTN, so that consideration is encouraged of diverse organizational models that ensure good use of human resources, technical means and infrastructures, and that strengthen the international affirmation of Portugal.