R&D Units - Financing 2020-2023

Expenditure on human resources dedicated to R&D activities (HR), as defined in the OECD Frascati Manual, and belonging to the R&D Unit's research team, can be charged to the HR heading, including expenditure on employment contracts and fellowships directly borne by the beneficiary. (It is advisable to carefully read point 11. Annex, of the Normas_Execucao_Financeira_2020-2023.pdf (fct.pt)).

When submitting salary expenses for employment contracts or Studentship contracts, the research team must first be updated (integration of elements and submission of mandatory documentation for validation by the FCT).

Expenditure must be submitted in accordance with pages 22 and 23 of the Expenditure Submission Manual, i.e:

• 1st line - basic salary + SA (days worked);
• 2nd line - employer's social charges.

• Salary slip and bank proof of salary payment (mark the researcher's name in the payment flow);
• Payment lists for social security, finance and other charges, if applicable, and respective bank payment receipts (please indicate the researcher's name on the lists and payment flow).

Regardless of whether only the 1st line (Salary + Food Allowance) is selected as the sample, the documentation relating to compulsory social security contributions must also be submitted.

In the "Supplier name" and "Supplier NIPC" columns, the name/organization to which the amount of the expense is paid must be identified. In other words, in the case of expenses arising from the payment of social security contributions, the "Supplier Name" column should mention the Social Security Institute and the "Supplier NIPC" column the corresponding NIPC.

Yes, the costs of compulsory work accident insurance can be charged.

With regard to the hiring of a Science and Technology Manager, it is important to bear in mind the provisions of the Financial Implementing Rules (NEF), in particular Annex 11. If the functions of the HR person you intend to hire fall within the scope of the NEF, it can be accepted.

Human resources dedicated to R&D activities include highly qualified researchers, technicians with high levels of qualification and technical experience, and other support staff who contribute directly to the development of R&D projects and activities. This classification refers to the function, in terms of tasks (see Annex 11), of the resources contributing to R&D activities. With regard to technicians and other support staff, only staff who carry out their tasks exclusively in the R&D Unit are considered.

The academic degree and other recruitment conditions must be defined by the hiring entity, in compliance with the legislation in force and what is mentioned in the NEF, and a doctorate or master's degree is not mandatory for the position mentioned. If they choose to hire a doctorate, they should also take into account Decree-Law no. 57/2016, of August 29, amended by Law no. 57/2017, of July 19.

Prior to submitting expenses, the supporting documents for the Studentship processes identified in point 11.1. of the Rules for the Award and Management of Studentships within the scope of R&D Projects, Infrastructure Projects, the Multiannual Funding Program for R&D Units and other FCT funding instruments - Version 2021, i.e. Notice of the Call Call, contract and documentation relating to renewal, termination or suspension, if applicable, must be submitted on the team update platform. The respective funding dossier at the contracting entity must include all the elements of the Call, contractualization and execution of the Studentship.

The total or partial costs of enrolment, registration or tuition fees for degree or non-degree courses associated with the funded Studentships are eligible. The eligibility of these expenses is provided for in the NEF.

It is recommended that the amount of the tuition fee to be reimbursed by the entity to the scholarship holder, which will then be charged to the R&D Unit's funding, should be proportional to the period during which the Studentship is funded under the R&D Unit's funding.

The way in which this proportionality is calculated, or the amount to be reimbursed and charged to the Unit's funding, will be at the discretion of the Studentship's contracting entity. The maximum limit established for this type of subsidy (€2,750 for Studentships in Portugal and €8,000 for Studentships abroad), which is generally annual up to a limit of 4 years for a scholarship holder enrolled in a doctoral program, may not be exceeded.

As researchers who will be funded under the Unit's funding, the costs of publishing the announcement are eligible.

For contracts funded by Scientific Employment which, after the Call, become open-ended or indefinite contracts, the FCT will continue to pay the value of the fixed-term contract through Scientific Employment until it reaches the limit stipulated for this type of contract. Entities will be able to charge the Associate Laboratory funding for the difference between the value of the fixed-term contract paid by the FCT and the value of the open-ended or open-ended contract.

This change does not require an addendum to the initial contract, since we are dealing with two separate contracts (a first fixed-term contract and a second open-ended contract).

When the member's contractual situation changes on the team update platform, with a view to charging their costs to Associate Laboratory funding, both contracts must be submitted (the first fixed-term contract and the second open-ended contract).

If the candidate already has a fixed-term contract with an institution, financed through the R&D Unit's funding, and is awarded a new contract through the international Call for research career integration, the cost of the contract may be covered in full by the Associate Laboratory's funding, provided that all the other conditions necessary to accept their eligibility under this funding are met.

Depending on the framework of the employment contract, these are carried out with the managing institutions and not in particular with the R&D Unit and/or Associate Laboratory, and their costs can then be charged to their funding if the member of the team carries out an activity that falls within these (UID or LA), is considered relevant by them and complies with the eligibility rules defined in the rules that regulate them.