Unit Evaluation Regulation approved

The Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education has approved the Regulation for the Evaluation and Multiannual Funding of R&D Units for the 2017/2018 FCT evaluation. The regulation will come into force following its publication in the Diário da República, and applications are expected to be submitted in November.

The evaluation of R&D units is aimed at developing and enhancing the National Scientific and Technological System in all areas of knowledge, strengthening it and making it more territorially dense. The overall quality rating and multiannual funding of R&D units to be determined by this exercise is based on the evaluation of activities carried out since the beginning of January 2013 and the plan to be developed for the 5-year period.

Units with an overall rating of "Excellent", "Very Good" and "Good" will be eligible for funding in two tranches:

Base funding, indexed to the overall classification of the unit and the weighting of doctoral researchers within it;

Programmatic Funding, awarded at the proposal of the respective evaluation panel based on an assessment of the planned activities and the detection of specific needs, and which may include: a share in the salary costs of a multi-annual plan for hiring researchers; support for a multi-annual plan for doctoral Studentships ; a share in supporting the internationalization of the Unit, namely participation in European and International infrastructures and networks; other possible support, such as the acquisition of scientific equipment and infrastructures.

Supporting documents for applications will be published on the FCT website after the regulation has been published in the Diário da República.