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

Under the 2017 Call R&D Projects, support has been confirmed for 1,618 applications through the joint efforts of FCT, COMPETE2020, and the Portugal2020 Regional Operational Programs, totaling approximately €375 million over the next three years.

The FCT acknowledges the delays that have been associated with communicating the results of Call recent months, but also recognizes the collective effort of the FCT, COMPETE2020, and Regional Operational Programs, which facilitated a significant increase in the initially planned budget allocation of only €110 million (which would have financed only 460 projects). This is effectively the largest amount of funding ever allocated to R&D Calls 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 decision-making process and communication of the results of Call been particularly complex, as it involves seven different institutions and interlocutors, requiring their sequential intervention (see diagram). The phased communication of results is a consequence of this process, which began on February 9 and should be completed during the month of April. To date, the results of about half of the applications approved for funding have been communicated.

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

Communication of results

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

The preliminary hearing period begins immediately after notification via Balcão2020, except for projects eligible for Call but not eligible for Portugal2020 funding. The Principal Investigators of these projects must await notification of the decision by the FCT.