FCT execution reaches a new high of 533 million euros in 2020

FCT's financial execution in 2020 (provisional data as of January 6, 2021) shows a new annual high of around 533 M€, growing 4% compared to 2019 and 39% since 2015 (when it was 383 M€, as illustrated in figure 1). FCT's financial execution includes an investment of 520 M€ and operating expenditure of around 13 M€.

The continued growth of FCT implementation has been based on a clear S&T policy based on the qualification and employment of qualified human resources (figure 2) 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 FCT totaling 2,155 new doctoral Studentships awarded in 2020, which represents a growth of 118% compared to the 985 new Studentships supported in 2015. Meanwhile, the revision of the research Studentships regulation in 2019 updated the value of Studentships in line with the evolution of the national minimum wage, which will lead to an increase in the value of research Studentships in 2021. Studentships directly funded by FCT represent an annual investment of around 91 M€ and 17% 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 126 M€ in 2020, tripling compared to 2015, and corresponding to 24% of total investment. This investment has strengthened our institutional capacity and 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 113 M€ and 21% of the total.

4. R&D projects, including support for R&D activities within the scope of projects supported by FCT in all scientific areas, as well as the implementation of thematic R&D programs such as preventing and fighting forest fires, Vale do Côa, training public administration with Artificial Intelligence, projects within the scope of the pandemic and Covid-19, among others. In 2020, investment in R&D projects amounted to 108 M€, representing 20% of the total;

5. International cooperation, with an investment of 52 M€ and 10% 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 strengthening the GoPORTUGAL - Global Science and Technology Partnerships Portugal program;

6. Advanced computing, scientific culture and community support, including access to publications and communications, with an investment of 30 M€ and 6% of the total, including the 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.

Operating expenditure is equivalent to less than 3% of total investment, which demonstrates the high efficiency of public expenditure management, especially when compared to other agencies that fund and evaluate science and technology activities. In 2020, operating expenditure was €13 million, corresponding to 2.4% 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 executed fell to around 380 M€ in 2015 and 2016, but has since grown again and reached a maximum of 533 M€ in 2020.

Figure 1: Comparative evolution of FCT's financial execution between 2015 and 2020

Figure 2: Changes in investment spending by area in 2015 and 2020

Table 1. Evolution of FCT's financial execution (operating and investment), 2015 - 2020