Call R&D Projects 2017 supports more than 1,600 new projects with 375 million euros

Within the scope of the 2017 Call for R&D Projects, support for 1,618 applications has been confirmed through the joint efforts of FCT, COMPETE2020 and the Portugal2020 Regional Operational Programs, for a total amount of around 375 million euros over the next 3 years.

FCT acknowledges the slowness that has been associated with communicating the results of the Call over the last few months, but also recognizes the collective effort of FCT services, COMPETE2020 and the Regional Operational Programmes, which facilitated the significant increase in the initially planned budget allocation of only 110 million euros (which would have allowed only 460 projects to be funded). This is effectively the largest amount of funding ever allocated to Calls for R&D projects in Portugal.

The amount of funding now available will allow for a success rate of around 50% of the 3,300 applications considered eligible and around 35% of the total applications submitted in 2017 (i.e. 4,593 applications).

The FCT also notes that the process of deciding and communicating the results of the Call has been particularly complex as it involved seven different institutions and interlocutors, implying their sequential intervention (see diagram). The phased communication of results is a consequence of this process, which began on February 9th and should be completed during the month of April. As of today, the results of around half of the applications approved for funding have been communicated.

FCT also notes that the existence of different sources of funding does not affect the final result of the Call. Funding is awarded in order of the merit of the projects according to the ranking made in each of the 33 evaluation panels organized by FCT. The success rate of eligible applications is similar in all panels and for all areas of knowledge.

Communicating results

The researchers responsible for the applications should access Balcão2020 as soon as they receive notification of the proposed decision from the Managing Authority (MA) of the Operational Programs. There they can find the GA's decision and the FCT's technical opinion, which includes the justification for approving or rejecting the application for funding.

The prior hearing period begins immediately after the communication, via Balcão2020, except for projects eligible for the Call but not eligible for Portugal2020 funding. The Principal Investigators of these projects must wait for FCT to communicate its decision.