FCT presented the Atlas of R&D Units

FCT presented the Atlas of R&D Units (Atlas of Research Units 2022) during the conference "25 years of FCT in Science: Opportunities and Challenges", which took place at the Thalia Theater, on January 14. The conference opened a cycle of 12 sessions that will mark the 25th anniversary of FCT this year, which will address important issues for the future of science in Portugal and Europe.

The Atlas of R&D Units is an FCT publication that gathers information about the 312 R&D Units selected for funding in the last FCT evaluation process, namely data about their area of activity, the work developed, the number of researchers with doctoral degrees, among others. These Units were part of the last evaluation process, carried out in 2017/2018, which approved a total funding of 531 million euros for the period 2020-2023.

The R&D Units may be entities integrated into different universities or polytechnics, or constitute partnerships between universities, or have an independent status and autonomous operation. Overall, about 19,000 doctoral researchers carry out research activities in the R&D Units funded by FCT.

The evaluation is based on the analysis of the report of activities carried out in previous years and the plan for the next period, being complemented with direct contacts with researchers and units with visits that take place to the units. The evaluation of R&D units has been carried out by FCT since 1996, every 4-5 years, using panels of evaluators with international experts in areas such as Exact Sciences; Natural Sciences; Health Sciences; Engineering Sciences and Technologies; Social Sciences; Arts and Humanities; and Thematic Areas.

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 application dictate the quality classification to be attributed to the Units. The overall classification of "Excellent", "Very Good" and "Good" grants the Units two types of funding:

- Base Funding, indexed to the overall classification of the unit and to the weighting of Ph;

- Programmatic Funding, awarded at the proposal of the respective evaluation panel according to the appreciation of the activities planned by the R&D Unit and the detection of specific needs.

Through the evaluation and funding process of the Units, FCT intends to enhance the development and valorization of the National System of Science and Technology (SNCT) in all areas of knowledge and its territorial strengthening.

ANNEX:
Atlas of Research Units 2022