Depreciation of scientific and technical equipment

The FCT has been promoting initiatives to establish a more appropriate context for accounting for equipment amortization expenses within the scope of R&D activities. After analysis of the opinion of the Accounting Standardization Commission by the FCT and the Operational Programs, the FCT releases a clarification on the accounting policy applicable to scientific and technical equipment, addressing the issues raised by the institutions.

Considering that, in order to be competitive and innovative, research must be supported by cutting-edge equipment, subject to significant technological obsolescence, SCTN entities may adopt different accounting methods: i) adjust the depreciation rate of the equipment to its real level of usefulness, provided that it is validated by the Official Auditor (ROC) and thus recorded in the accounts; ii) define the useful life of the equipment based on its expected use, provided that it is justified on a case-by-case basis by the entity's management body and thus recorded in the accounts.

This clarification, which can be consulted here , will also be subject to Technical Guidance by the Portugal 2020 Operational Programs.