FCT introduces greater flexibility in the Financial Implementation Rules for Research Units

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) has revised the Financial Implementation Rules for multi-annual funding of R&D Units (UI&D) for the period 2025-2029, with the aim of providing greater flexibility in the use of core and programmatic funding. This measure aims to respond to the specific needs of UI&D, ensuring that they can manage their resources more effectively and flexibly, in order to boost scientific research in Portugal.

Among the main changes introduced, the following stand out:

1. The financial management of multi-year funding allocated for the period 2025-2029 will now be carried out in an integrated manner, combining core funding and programmatic funding, where applicable;

2. It is no longer necessary to inform the FCT in advance of the need to make budgetary changes between budget items allocated to a particular UI&D management institution. However, any maximum limits accepted for each item, as set out in the rules document, must be complied with. It will still be necessary to request authorization from the FCT for budget changes between management institutions within the unit.

3. The possibility for UI&D to use funds from their multi-year financing tobuy outteaching hours. This change will allow for the partial or total exemption from teaching duties for PhD researchers who are full members of R&D units and who are employed under teaching positions (ECIC, ECPDESP, or ECDU), in accordance with agreements to be reached with the respective higher education institutions. With this measure, the FCT intends to enable R&D Units to allow their full members to devote more time to research excellence, while simultaneously enhancing the careers and research carried out by all national researchers, regardless of the career in which they are employed.

4. The FCT now allows multi-year funding to be used to co-finance, in the portion not covered by other sources, positions awarded under the FCT-Tenure program and individual scientific Calls . This measure strengthens support for institutions in creating opportunities for the consolidation of research careers, contributing to the rejuvenation and strengthening of the scientific community in Portugal;

5. The monthly maintenance allowance or other associated costs of Studentships whose opening notices are published on or after January 1, 2026, will no longer be considered eligible. The aim of this change is to prioritize the conclusion of employment contracts with Doctoral Researchers.

This flexibility in the execution of funds will take effect on January 1, 2025.

With these changes, FCT reinforces its commitment to: promoting greater administrative simplification, enabling more efficient financial management; supporting more stable and sustainable scientific careers, valuing scientific research activities that form the basis of both teaching and research careers; allowing greater autonomy and capacity for UI&Ds in the management of their human resources; promoting greater synergy between the activities of UI&Ds and the strategic research priorities defined by each Higher Education Institution.