Horizon Europe

In 2019, the PERIN -Portugal in Europe Research and Innovation Network was created with the aim of pursuing a national strategy that should double Portugal's participation in European Union (EU) Programs in 2021-2027 compared to 2014-2020, attracting around two billion euros in EU funding, as well as tripling the number of higher education student mobility.

PERIN evolved from the GPPQ - Office for the Promotion of the R&D Framework Program - and extended its activities to Research & Innovation, Erasmus+, Space and Digital funding programs.

FCT will ensure national representation and coordination of the promotion of research and innovation activities in Pillar I and Horizontal Activity(Widening) of Horizon Europe (2021-2027), through its Delegates and National Contact Points (NCPs).

The FCT coordinates support to the scientific and technological community for:

European Research Council (ERC)

A researcher-oriented program that supports excellent research through a pan-European competition in all fields of research.

• Starting Grant (StG) for researchers with experience between 2 and 7 years after completing their doctorate.
• Consolidator Grant (CoG) for researchers with experience between 7 and 12 years after completing their doctorate.
• Advanced Grant (AdG) for established research leaders.
• Synergy Grant (SyG) for 2-4 principal investigators with complementary scientific backgrounds.
• Proof of Concept Grant (PoC) to explore the innovation potential of the principal investigator's previous results.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

In addition to individual Studentships , MSCAs help to develop training networks, promote inter-institutional mobility of human resources and fund mobility programmes with an internationalization orientation. Support provided by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions is available for all stages of a research career. Beneficiaries include researchers at doctoral level and later in their careers.

• Doctoral Networks (DN) (formerly ITN) for universities, research centers and entities from other sectors with the aim of training researchers at doctoral level.
• Postdoctoral Fellowships (IF) for more experienced researchers who want to further their careers by working abroad.
• Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) for short-term inter-institutional mobility of human resources between academic, industrial and commercial organizations around the world.
• Cofunding of regional, national and international programs (COFUND) provides organizations with additional funds for their own research training (doctoral) and career development (post-doctoral) programs.
• MSCA and Citizens (CITIZENS) (formerly Researchers' Night) is an annual Europe-wide public event dedicated to citizen science and fun science learning. Around 30 countries and 300 cities are involved.

Research infrastructures

The 2023-24 work program includes 5 Destinations (packages of actions designed to contribute to their objectives and expected impacts). Each Destination will be implemented through Calls. Each Call will include one or more topics.

• INFRA-DEV: a framework of well-functioning European research infrastructures.
• INFRA-EOSC: implement an operational, open EOSC ecosystem under the FAIR (Findable-Accessible-Interoperable-Reusable) principles.
• INFRA-SERV: research infrastructure services to support research, accelerate the green and digital transformation and advance fundamental knowledge.
• INFRA-TECH: next generation scientific instrumentation, tools, methods and advanced digital solutions.
• INFRA-NET: network connectivity - enabling collaboration without borders.

Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area

A set of different funding instruments aimed at i) connectivity and networking at human resources and institutional level (COST and Twinning), ii) balanced circulation of brains in Europe (ERA-Chairs, and ERA Policy linked to MSCA), iii) institutional and regional reform and transformation (Teaming and Excellence Universities), iv) articulation between science and the business sector (Excellence Hubs and EIC Accelarator) and v) empowerment and inclusion (Support to NCPs, "Hop On", Seal of Excellence). The main Widening actions are described below:

• Twinning promotes institutional networks with the aim of strengthening a specific field of knowledge. An organization from a Widening country establishes a network with at least 2 leading R&D institutions in that field. Projects worth €1.5M over 3 years.
• Teaming to create new (or significantly improve existing) centers of excellence in Widening countries through a partnership process with a leading scientific institution. 6 to 8 year projects with up to €15M in funding.
• ERA-CHAIRS: bringing excellence to institutions by attracting renowned scientists and their teams as actors of change to universities or R&D institutions in Widening countries. Projects worth around €2.5 M over 5-6 years.
• Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)Open and inclusive networks in all fields of knowledge and focused on people and their training and career development. Each thematic network runs for 4 years with an average budget of 0.5 M€.

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