Final results of RESTART Programme

FCT announces the final results of the first edition of the RESTART program, for which applications were accepted between February 15 and March 30, 2023. In this first edition of Call 143 applications Call evaluated, with 31 projects approved for funding, one more than in the preliminary results, corresponding to a success rate of 22%. The program will have total funding of €1,511,708.00 for R&D projects in all scientific fields.

The Terms of Acceptance (TA) will be signed shortly, and the funded projects should start within the next 60 days. After signing the TA, an advance payment corresponding to 80% of the approved funding will be made, according to a simplified cost model. It is the FCT's intention to progressively apply this model to other funding instruments.

With the creation of RESTART Programme, FCT, in line with its commitment to promoting the advancement of scientific and technological knowledge, based on high international standards of quality and competitiveness, aims to promote gender equality and equal opportunities in scientific research activities. It will thus contribute to enabling the competitive return of researchers who have recently taken parental leave to their research activities in new circumstances.

This financing instrument is in line with the concerns and recommendations of the Council of the European Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which aim to promote a better work-life balance for those engaged in R&D activities.

The President of FCT, Madalena Alves, stated that “the RESTART Programme help researchers who have recently taken parental leave to face the additional challenges that arise with parenthood and that often influence the management of their careers and the planning of their research. We hope to contribute to the promotion of gender equality and equal opportunities by awarding competitive funding to excellent, original, and innovative research ideas."