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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 governmental agency, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation. FCT started its activity in 1997, succeeding the Junta Nacional de Investigação Científica e Tecnológica (JNICT), operating since 1967.

In March 2012, the coordination of information society and computing policy was transferred to the FCT, after the integration of the UMIC – Knowledge Society Agency and of the FCCN - Foundation for National Scientific Computation into FCT. FCT is currently the organisation responsible for advanced computing policy and digital services for science.

In 2023, the approved budget for FCT was 658 million euro. The budget of FCT is provided mainly by the national state budget (approximately 70%) and the European Union Structural Funds (around 30%).

FCT’s vision is to establish Portugal as a global reference in science, technology 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 and R&D entities in Portugal have access to international research programmes, funding and networks;
  • The FCT funds scientific employment in Portugal, as well as the research activities of around 400 organisations in the scientific and technological system;
  • 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 digital services, FCT provides high-speed Internet connectivity and IT services to the Portuguese higher education and research system.
  • FCT contributes to inform public R&D policies, in Portugal, Europe and globally. FCT is an active voice in high-level international dialogues on science and advance computing 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 R&D and ensures the development of national scientific computing resources. FCT also provides the institutional framework for the Research Councils.