Landscape of funding for R&D Units takes shape: 257 units secure €77 million euros annually

(Versão em inglês disponível em breve)

With both phases of the R&D Unit Assessment and Funding exercise now complete, funding for R&D Units for the period 2015-2020 provides for the allocation of €77 million in public funds to 257 Units, with final ratings of Exceptional (11 Units), Excellent (60), Very Good (97), and Good (89). With 322 applications evaluated, encompassing 15,444 integrated members (PhD researchers), the results reveal that 80% of the Units and almost 90% of the total number of PhDs (13,805) will be funded over the next six years.

This was the first evaluation in which all research centers were assessed competitively, under the same conditions with equal criteria and funding opportunities, regardless of their size or legal status.

A brief history of the assessment exercise

This evaluation exercise involved more than 600 international experts and seven evaluation panels, and took place in two phases, as provided for in the Call regulations. At the end of the first phase (based on a documentary evaluation of the submitted application), only units with a rating above Good were admitted to the second phase, entitling them to strategic funding. The second phase (involving visits to the units) resulted in the award of ratings of Exceptional, Excellent, Very Good, Good, and Fair, and the respective funding.

In result of the first phase evaluation, 168 units were recommended for the second phase. After the prior hearing period, as provided for in the regulations, 21 units (of the 131 that submitted preliminary hearing comments) had their ratings revised; of these, 10 units (8%) obtained a rating to move on to the second phase.

After visits to the units and respective evaluation panel meetings, the 178 units evaluated in the second phase were classified as follows: 11 Exceptional; 52 Excellent; 104 Very Good; 9 Good; 2 Fair. After a new period of preliminary hearings (of an administrative and scientific nature), of the 123 comments received, 15 units (13%) had their funding revised, including 9 units (7%) that, in addition to changes in funding, also had their classifications revised. 

Units that do not accept the decision communicated after prior hearings may submit a complaint to the FCT Governing Board. The second phase administrative review requests have already been analyzed by the FCT; 2 of the 7 units in question have had their funding changed.

Complaints will be reviewed by a panel specifically set up for this purpose. At this time, 53 complaints are being considered for review (submitted by Units that were not admitted to the second phase of the evaluation).