Results of the 1st Call FCT and Aga Khan

This Thursday, July 12, the Foundation for Science and Technology and the Aga Khan Foundation present the 16 projects selected for funding under the 1st Call conducted under the Scientific and Technological Cooperation Protocol between the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and the Imamat Ismaili in 2016. The session, which takes place within the framework of the Jubilee of Prince Aga Khan, takes place at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon, in the presence of the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, and Commander Nazim Ahmad, Diplomatic Representative of Imamat Ismaili to the Portuguese Republic.

The Call for funding joint scientific research and technological development projects, aimed at encouraging and strengthening scientific, technical, human and social skills and capabilities aimed at increasing the Quality of Life in Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP) and other regions of Africa, was launched in 2017. In this edition, existing initiatives and ongoing collaborations between African and Portuguese scientific and academic institutions could apply.

Of the 73 eligible applications submitted, 16 were selected, spread over eight African countries. The projects supported under this Call have a duration of three years and represent a total investment of 4.6M€. They will have a significant impact in Africa, namely in the Portuguese Speaking African Countries (PALOP). Given the specific nature of the Protocol and the unprecedented initiative in Portugal, its implementation will be monitored by an External Scientific Monitoring Panel, chaired by António Rendas, from Universidade Nova de Lisboa. This panel will monitor the projects in order to ensure the achievement of the proposed scientific results and the desired impact on the Quality of Life of the African countries involved.

The launch of the second Call under this protocol, for new collaborations, will be announced during the session.