Applications for the 2nd edition of RESTART Programme on April 9

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) will open applications for the 2nd edition of the RESTART Programme on April 9. The Notice of the Call is now available.

Portugal is one of the countries in the world that has made the most progress in terms of gender parity indicators in scientific research. However, there are still significant inequalities that need to be addressed. In this context, with a greater impact on female researchers in the early stages of their careers, parenthood creates additional challenges, with impacts ranging from scientific production to team and project management, and even fundraising.

The RESTART Programme support a competitive return to research activities after parental leave, minimizing the impact of parenthood on career prospects and research planning for researchers. It aims to promote gender equality and equal opportunities in R&D activities and careers, as well as work-life balance, with a particular focus on female researchers working in national institutions. This is achieved through Call for proposals, with funding of up to €50,000 for individual projects lasting 18 months. The second edition of this program has a budget allocation of €1.6 million.

The first edition ofRESTART (2023) approved 31 projects in all scientific fields, with total funding of €1.5 million. Thirty of the 31 projects approved in 2023 were submitted by women.

RESTART is aimed at researchers who have recently taken parental leave, including for adoption. It also covers shared parental leave, subject to specific eligibility conditions.

This program supports researchers in pursuing and developing original and innovative research ideas, with the possibility of associating other human and/or material resources, according to the funding available and the expected execution time.

National, foreign, and stateless researchers may apply, with the commitment of the host institution, provided they cumulatively meet the following requirements by the deadline for submission of applications: (i) hold a doctoral degree; (ii) be a full member of an R&D unit, or have a contractual relationship with a state laboratory; (iii) have benefited from parental leave, including for adoption, of 120 days or more, or shared parental leave, including for adoption, of 72 days or more, between February 16, 2023, inclusive, and the start date of the application submission period. By defining this eligibility period sequentially to the same period as the 1st edition, FCT ensures that there is no gap between the two editions.

The RESTART Programme also RESTART Programme researchers who hold a Studentship contract.

The application period for the 2nd edition of RESTART Programme from April 9 to May 14, 2024.

This financing instrument is aligned with the concerns and recommendations of the Council of the European Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in this area, with Portugal being one of the pioneering countries in responding to these issues.