DoutorAP Program

Program of the Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., which aims to strengthen the scientific capacity of the Portuguese Public Administration and strengthen its ties with academia.

The Doctor AP Program is a new FCT funding instrument designed to promote the scientific capacity of Portuguese public administration entities through advanced training and qualification of their human resources, by supporting the allocation of protected time for the implementation of research work plans leading to the award of a doctoral degree by the employees of those entities.

The program is an essential pillar for promoting a more resilient, innovative, and capable public sector to face current and emerging challenges in all sectors of society. Professionals from various areas of public administration, such as health, education, culture, justice, and central and local administration, among many others, may benefit from this program.

Recipients

The final beneficiaries are individuals who, cumulatively, prove in the contract that:

Have an employment relationship with any central, regional, or local government agency, or with any company in the state or municipal business sector, and beactivelyemployed by any of these entities;
Be holders of a legal employment contract previously established for an indefinite period with any of the entities referred to in the previous paragraph, except in cases where the employment relationship necessary for the acquisition of a qualification or access to professional categories is mandatorily established, in accordance with the law, through fixed-term contracts;
Prove that they have entered into an agreement with their employer to reduce their working hours by at least 20% for a minimum of one year during the first three years of support to be granted by the FCT.
Do not hold a doctoral degree or other legally equivalent or comparable academic qualification.