FCT Announces Preliminary Results of the 2025 R&D Project Competition

On October 28, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) announced the provisional results of the 2025 R&D Project Competition across all scientific fields. A total of 720 research projects were recommended for funding, of which 320 fall under the Scientific Research and Technological Development (IC&DT) category and 400 under the Exploratory Research (PEX) category.

The program has a total budget allocation of more than 100 million euros, funded entirely by the State Budget.

The recommended projects fall into two categories:

• Scientific Research and Technological Development (IC&DT) projects, with a maximum duration of 36 months and funding of up to 250,000 euros per project. A total of 320 projects have been proposed for funding, distributed across the following scientific fields:
  • Engineering and Technology – 24.1%;
  • Medical and Health Sciences – 20.6%;
  • Natural Sciences – 18.4%;
  • Social Sciences – 11.9%;
  • Exact Sciences – 10.6%;
  • Humanities – 5.6%.

• Exploratory Research Projects (PEX), with a maximum duration of 18 months and funding of up to 60,000 euros per project. A total of 400 projects have been proposed for funding, distributed across the following scientific fields:
  • Medical and Health Sciences – 20.0%;
  • Engineering and Technology – 18.5%;
  • Social Sciences – 17.5%;
  • Natural Sciences – 15.5%;
  • Exact Sciences – 11.75%;
  • Humanities – 9.75%;
  • Agricultural Sciences – 7.0%.

Most of the projects recommended for funding are led by female researchers (51.4%). Of all principal investigators, 12.6% are foreign nationals, representing 25 nationalities. The most represented nationalities are Italian (2.36%, corresponding to 17 projects), Spanish (1.67%, 12 projects), and French (1.53%, 11 projects). These foreign researchers are affiliated with research centers based in Portugal and coordinate 91 of the projects recommended for funding.

Applications were accepted from November 27, 2025, through March 25, 2026. A total of 4,746 proposals were submitted, of which 4,723 were accepted for evaluation, in accordance with the call for proposals’ “ Notice of the Call .”

The evaluation process involved 33 scientific panels and included the participation of 598 evaluators affiliated with foreign institutions in 35 countries. The applications were reviewed in accordance with the criteria set forth in the call for proposals ( Notice of the Call ).

Considering the applications accepted in each category, the provisional success rates are 11% for IC&DT projects and 22% for PEX projects.This call for proposals represents a strategic shift in the funding of R&D and science projects in Portugal by consolidating a model based on simplified costs, specifically through the introduction of lump sums in the IC&DT category. This approach aims to simplify procedures and strengthen the focus on scientific results, as part of the commitment to promote a more stable, predictable, and impactful science funding system.

Principal investigators can view the details of the results for their respective applications on the myFCT platform.

Candidates who wish to present their arguments at the preliminary hearing for interested parties may do so within the prescribed time limits. Once this phase is complete, the final results of the competition will be announced.