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PT: Portugal  FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

The Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT) is a publicly funded government agency, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education. It started its activity inAugust 1997, succeeding the Junta Nacional de Investigação Científica e Tecnológica (JNICT). Since March 2012, FCT coordinates public policies for the Information and Knowledge Society in Portugal, after the integration of the UMIC – Knowledge Society Agency. In October 2013, FCT took over the attributions and competences of the Fundação para a Computação Científica Nacional (FCCN), [Foundation for National Scientific Computation].

FCT supports research with over 400 million euro per year (on average), which accounts for approximately 30% of Portugal’s annual public funding for science. The budget of FCT is provided mainly by the national state budget (approximately two thirds) and the European Union Structural Funds.

FCT’s vision is to establish Portugal as a global reference for science, research and innovation, and to ensure that knowledge generated by research is used fully for economic growth and the well-being of all citizens.
In summary:

  • FCT supports the brightest minds, ground-breaking ideas, internationally competitive research centres and state-of-the-art research infrastructures, across all research areas;
  • FCT acts internationally with both established and emerging science nations, ensuring researchers in Portugal have access to international research programmes, funding and networks;
  • FCT connects research with industry for greater economic impact and growth;
  • FCT connects research with society, by sharing FCT-funded research with citizens, and promoting open access to all publications arising from FCT-funded research;
  • Through its FCCN department, FCT supports the internet communication needs of the research and education need in Portugal,
  • FCT contributes to inform public research and information society policies, in Portugal, Europe and globally. FCT is an active voice in high-level international dialogues on science and Information Society policies. 

FCT’s mission is to continuously promote the advancement of knowledge in science and technology in Portugal, attain the highest international standards in quality and competitiveness, in all scientific and technological domains, and encourage its dissemination and active role in society and in economic growth.

FCT pursues its mission by funding fellowships, studentships and research contracts for scientists, research projects, internationally competitive research centres and state-of-the-art infrastructures, via competitive calls with international peer-review. FCT ensures Portugal’s participation in international scientific organisations, promotes the participation of the scientific community in international projects, and stimulates knowledge transfer between R&D centres and industry. Working closely with international organisations, FCT coordinates public policy for the Information and Knowledge Society in Portugal and ensures the development of national scientific computing resources. FCT also provides the institutional framework for the Research Councils.