R&D units under evaluation receive first opinions from reviewers

The first phase of the 2013/14 R&D Unit Evaluation Exercise is progressing as planned. The process began with the allocation of external evaluators to each of the 323 applications by the European Science Foundation, an international organization with more than three decades of experience in evaluation processes, with which FCT has established a collaboration agreement for this exercise. Each application was evaluated by two external experts and one member of the evaluation panel (who acts as 2nd rapporteur). Applicants now have the opportunity to comment, respond or clarify aspects highlighted by the reviewers.

This is the first time that an FCT Call has had a rebuttal phase. The aim is to allow applicants to be more involved in the evaluation process and, above all, to better inform the decision-making process of the panel members. The evaluation panels will analyze the experts' opinions and the applicants' comments.

The seven evaluation panels will meet at the end of May to score the applications according to the evaluation criteria and draw up opinions. The panels will also highlight any aspects they feel should be considered in the second phase of the evaluation exercise. The result of the first phase will be a list of R&D units that go through to the second phase, and a list with the rankings of those that do not. The results are expected in June.

The second phase involves visits to the Units and/or interviews with the coordinators and researchers, the result of which is also the classification of these units. Long-term funding is associated with the ratings: basic funding for all units rated Good or above (in either phase), plus strategic funding for units rated Exceptional, Excellent or Very Good. The first results of this evaluation are expected in December 2014.