FCT extends for another month all Studentship contracts that it funds directly

The FCT's Board of Directors has decided to renew the automatic extension, for another month, of the Studentships that it funds directly and which were underway on March 13. This resolution is based on the government's recent decision to maintain the closure of higher education institutions and non-essential economic activities.

On March 13, following the first exceptional confinement measures determined by the government, the FCT had decided to automatically extend all Studentships directly funded by the institution for a period of one month (see story), committing to evaluate the situation again after April 9. The decision was to revalidate this measure for another month, as a response to the constraints that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused in the regular work of the scientific community, as well as in all sectors of society.

This measure represents a total additional investment of 12 million euros, for the two months extended so far, and covers around 5,000 Studentships. It is part of a series of initiatives that the FCT has taken to support the scientific community in this exceptional phase (see website). In addition to addressing the current constraints caused by Covid-19, the FCT has also opened new lines of funding aimed at stimulating and boosting the development of R&D projects and initiatives that not only meet the immediate needs of responding to this current pandemic, but can also help prevent and prepare responses to pandemics that may arise in the future.