Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education attends FCT's 25th anniversary session

The third session of the FCT's 25th anniversary celebrations, which took place yesterday, March 31, at the University of Coimbra under the theme "Scientific Employment and Scientific Careers," was attended by the new Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato. In what was her first official act after taking office as Minister on March 30, Elvira Fortunato gave the closing speech of the session, in which she congratulated the FCT and praised its role and contribution to science in Portugal over the past 25 years, during which it has been "funding and looking after the interests of scientific research carried out in Portugal." She also said that the aim is to continue to "put research carried out in Portugal even more at the center of the world; we increasingly need to research more and better."

The event opened with speeches by the Rector of the University of Coimbra, Amílcar Falcão, and the President of FCT, Helena Pereira, who introduced the session and welcomed the participants. The President of FCT then set the tone for the session with a presentation entitled "Scientific employment: characterization and evolution over the last 25 years." In her speech, she emphasized the importance of FCT's work over the last 25 years, as it "has been a pillar of our scientific system, especially in building and strengthening the national scientific system." She also mentioned, regarding the commemoration of these dates, that "it is good to always take stock with a view to the future and launch debates to exchange ideas with our community," which led to the outline of the current program of celebrations, which will take place in various parts of the country with monthly sessions with the scientific and research community.

The President of FCT also presented the Atlas of Associate Laboratories Atlas of Associate Laboratories 2022) at this session, a publication that brings together information on the 40 institutions or consortia of institutions eligible for Associate Laboratory LA) status. It presents data on the LA's area of activity, the work carried out, the number of PhD researchers, among other information, and is available online on the FCT publications page. Helena Pereira concluded her speech by addressing some data on the evolution of scientific employment and scientific careers, the various types of support that the FCT has provided over the last 25 years, such as Studentships or the Scientific Employment Stimulus program, which is implemented through the Scientific Employment Calls – Individual (CEEC Individual) and Stimulus for Scientific Employment – Institutional (CEEC Institutional).

The event continued with three presentations dedicated to the session's theme, given by Apostolia Karamali, from the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (EU), Mónica Bettencourt Dias, from the Gulbenkian Institute of Science (IGC), and Cláudia Sarrico, from the Center for Higher Education Policy Research (CIPES). The second part of the session opened with a round table discussion entitled "Scientific careers," moderated by Tiago Santos Pereira, Principal Researcher at the Center for Social Studies at the University of Coimbra, which included the participation of researchers and representatives from the business sector in the panel discussion.

The video of this session is still available for viewing on the FCT YouTube page. The celebrations of the FCT's 25th anniversary will continue with more sessions across the country, the next one taking place in April in Porto, at a location and date to be announced, and will focus on the theme of "Scientific Institutions."

More information on the FCT 25th Anniversary Celebrations Program page.