FCT execution reaches 569 million euros in 2021

FCT's financial execution in 2021, 25 years after its creation, shows a new annual high of around 569 M€, growing by around 7% compared to 2020 and 50% since 2016, when it was 378 M€, as illustrated in figure 1. FCT's financial execution includes investment in R&D of 556 M€ and internal operating expenditure of around 13 M€.

The continued growth of the FCT's implementation has been based on a clear S&T policy based on the qualification and employment of qualified human resources and the enhancement and diversification of scientific institutions, thus resulting in an effective process of European convergence and attraction of centrally managed EU funds (table 1).

The growth in recent years is associated with the following main programs (figure 2):

1. Advanced training, with doctoral Studentships directly supported by the FCT totaling 2,330 new doctoral Studentships awarded in 2021, which represents a 160% increase compared to the 895 new Studentships supported in 2015. Meanwhile, the revision of the research Studentships regulation updated the value of Studentships in line with the evolution of the national minimum wage, which led to an increase in the value of research Studentships in 2021. Studentships directly funded by FCT represent an annual investment of around 108 M€ and 19% of FCT's total investment;
2. Scientific employment, through the funding of doctoral researcher contracts, which has gradually made it possible to replace post-doctoral Studentships and strengthen the valorization and internationalization of scientific employment. Scientific employment has resulted in a profound change in the structure of FCT's execution, representing an investment of around 122 M€ in 2021 , tripling compared to 2015, and corresponding to 21% of total investment. This investment has strengthened our institutional capacity and our presence in European and international networks;
3. Institutions, including multi-annual support for R&D Units, Associate Laboratories, Collaborative Laboratories and S&T Infrastructures and Equipment, which represent an investment of around 111 M€ and 20% of the total;
4. R&D projects, including support for R&D activities within the scope of projects supported by the FCT in all scientific areas, as well as the implementation of thematic R&D programs such as the prevention and combating of forest fires, the R&D Program for the Côa Valley, the R&D Program for Montesinho, the training of public administration with Artificial Intelligence, projects within the scope of the pandemic and Covid-19, among others. In 2021, investment in R&D projects amounted to 129 M€, representing 23% of the total;
5. International cooperation, with an investment of 54 M€ and 9% of the total, including participation in S&T organizations (e.g. CERN, ESA, ESO, EMBL, INL, AIR centre, among others) and international partnerships, as well as the reinforcement of the GoPORTUGAL - Global Science and Technology Partnerships Portugal program (including the MIT Portugal, Carnegie Mellon Portugal, UT Austin Portugal and Fraunhofer Portugal programs) and the co-financing of the European programs Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe;
6. Advanced computing, scientific culture and community support, including access to publications and communications, with an investment of 31 M€ and 5% of the total, including activities of the Ciência Viva Agency, access to the B-On Library and the Science, Technology and Society Network (RCTS), the implementation of the INCoDe.2030 program, the Advanced Computing Strategy, ACT2030, and the installation of the "Minho Advanced Computing Centre, MAAC", as well as the financing of FCT's information and communication systems.

FCT's operating costs are less than 3% of total investment, representing high efficiency in public spending compared to other agencies that fund and evaluate science and technology activities. In 2021, operating expenses were 13 M€, corresponding to 2.3% of total execution.

The FCT was created in 1997 with a budget of around 100 M€, growing until 2001, when it executed around 220 M€, and then between 2005 and 2010, when it reached around 480 M€. Subsequently, the total amount spent fell to around 380 M€ in 2015 and 2016, but has since grown again and reached a maximum of 569 M€ in 2021.

Figure 1: Comparative evolution of FCT's financial execution between 2015 and 2021 (Source: FCT)

Figure 2 - Evolution of financial execution by area in 2015 and 2021 (Source: FCT)

Table 1. Evolution of FCT's financial execution (operating and investment), 2015 - 2021 (Source: FCT)