FCT publishes results of the Evaluation of R&D Units

The process of evaluating R&D units under the Multiannual Funding Programme is complete for 31* of the 32 panels into which the units are organized. FCT is publishing the proposed results of this process(see here), which have already been communicated to the coordinators of the applicant units. 348 R&D units applied for this evaluation process, 62 of which are new units, including 4 that resulted from mergers between existing units, totaling 19,418 integrated researchers. The applications, submitted by February 9, 2018, consisted of a report on activities over the last 5 years, the team of researchers and a strategic plan for the next 5 years.

This evaluation exercise involved 224 international evaluators of high scientific competence and experience, from 26 countries, 35% women, distributed in 32 panels,(list of panels) who analyzed the applications remotely and carried out visits to all competing R&D units during the period from September 17, 2018 to June 21, 2019. The panels were also supported by 31 external experts from 12 countries.

The results show that 64% of the R&D Units evaluated had a rating proposed by the evaluation panels of Excellent or Very Good: Excellent 31%, Very Good 33%, Good 24%, Weak 11% and Insufficient 1%. The integrated researchers are distributed among the R&D units as follows: 43% in units rated Excellent, 35% Very Good, 17% Good, 5% Weak and 0.2% Insufficient.

As a result of this evaluation, the FCT will award funding to the R&D Units that have been rated Excellent, Very Good and Good. The total funding amounts to 420 M€ for the 2020-2023 period. These R&D Units have also been awarded a total of 1,600 new doctoral Studentships which will correspond to an investment of 106 M€.

FCT has made available the List of Proposed Results, the Preliminary Final Report of the Evaluation Process Coordination Team and the evaluation reports for each R&D Unit, grouped by panel.(See here)

Note: * The visits to the units evaluated by the Management panel will be carried out on a date to be established in the last quarter of 2019.