FCT opens Call part of the 500th Anniversary of the Circumnavigation Voyage

In 2019, celebrations will begin to mark the 500th anniversary of the circumnavigation led by Portuguese navigator Fernão de Magalhães. The celebrations, which will run until 2022, have the mission of "celebrating the first circumnavigation in a participatory and open manner, with a focus on knowledge as a central strategic goal, serving the social and economic development of the country and its affirmation in the world."

The celebration plan includes a research and innovation program in areas related to circumnavigation. The FCT is therefore joining in the celebrations with the Call for Scientific Research and Technological Development Projects in the Context of the Commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the Circumnavigation Voyage – 2019.

The Call stimulate the projection of circumnavigation into the future, developing new knowledge in various thematic areas from a multidisciplinary scientific perspective and contributing to the R&D agenda on "Atlantic Interactions" (http://www.atlanticinteractions.org/). Its areas are:

1) Earth observation and knowledge: understanding and monitoring the oceans, land masses, atmosphere, and near space; developing and applying innovative technologies, including the development and use of space technologies, for systematic measurements; data processing and analysis, data science, and modeling and forecasting systems, integrating climate change, energy, ocean and earth science, with an emphasis on systems involving Atlantic interactions.

2) Climate and climate change: integrated study of the interactions between the atmosphere, ocean, land, and space, and their effects on climate, meteorology, and their respective dynamics; data acquisition, analysis, processing, and dissemination, and development of integrated models, particularly for Atlantic regions.

3) Sustainable cities, mobility, and sociocultural interactions: research on the science, planning, and engineering of cities and networks between cities, integrating energy use, transportation systems and mobility, connectivity networks, and quality of life; multiculturalism and demographic, population, and sociocultural dynamics.

4) Biodiversity and biological resources: research on the dynamics of biological resources in relation to climate and pollution; ecosystems and biodiversity; systems for data acquisition, monitoring, and modeling; application of data science approaches for the sustainability of productive systems, including fisheries, agriculture, and bioindustries; intelligent systems for the use and valorization of natural resources. 

Projects must have a multidisciplinary perspective and an international context, facilitating partnerships with experts and institutions of recognized international merit in order to further the R&D agenda in Atlantic Interactions (http://www.atlanticinteractions.org/). They will have a maximum duration of 36 months, extendable for up to 12 months in duly justified cases. 

The maximum funding limit per project is €300,000. The budget allocation for Call €2 million, which the FCT may increase if justified.

See the Notice of the Call