FCT begins first evaluation of Academic Clinical Centers

Today, January 10, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) opened applications for the first external and international evaluation of Clinical Academic Centers (CACs), which aims to ensure the implementation of international best practices in the development of joint activities among its members. The budget allocation for this first evaluation and funding program is €1.8 million, with a limit of €200,000 to be allocated to each CAC. Applications will be accepted until March 11, 2022.

The external evaluation of CACs is coordinated by FCT, which has delegated the evaluation process to the Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB) in conjunction with the Central Administration of the Health System, I.P. (ACSS), in close coordination with the Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education (A3ES), the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), and after consulting the National Council of Academic Clinical Centers (CNCAC).

CACs consist of healthcare providers, research and development (R&D) units, and organic units of higher education institutions, with multi-year evaluation and funding geared toward joint activities and close collaboration among all members of each CAC.

There are currently nine CACs operating in Portugal, two in Lisbon and Porto, and one in Coimbra, Braga, Covilhã, Algarve, and Aveiro. All CACs established by the beginning of March are eligible to apply for this program, and external evaluations will be conducted every four years. The evaluation of applications and the preparation of the overall classification and funding proposal are the responsibility of an independent Evaluation Panel, made up of internationally recognized evaluators of merit and competence. Applications will be evaluated based on three criteria: a) merit of institutional coordination; b) value of collaboration; and c) collaborative organization.

CACs that obtain an overall rating of "Very Good," "Good," or "Sufficient" may be proposed for funding, when justified in a specific proposal by the evaluation panel. The application of the evaluation criteria and the decision-making process for proposing the evaluation result and possible funding are described in the Evaluation Guide, following the principles defined in the Regulations.

More information:
FCT — R&D Units — Academic Clinical Centers