Results of Call PT2030 Call Projects in all scientific fields

The Call Scientific Research and Technological Development (IC&DT) Projects in All Scientific Fields 2023 will fund 768 projects, with a total of €176.6 million. The provisional results were announced by the Portugal2030 (PT2030) Management Authorities on May 16.

The Call, launched and managed by PT2030 structures, received 2,551 applications through the Funds Desk. The overall investment is co-financed by European funds, namely COMPETE2030 and the Regional Programs of the North, Lisbon, and Algarve, and by funds from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), through the State Budget.

This Call support at least 768 research projects over 36 months, with a maximum funding of €250,000 per project. Considering the total number of applications submitted, the provisional approval rate is 30.2%, higher than the 20% rate initially planned.

The increase in the success rate was made possible by €56.6 million in additional funding from PT2030, through COMPETE2030 and LISBOA2030. The total financial envelope allocated was therefore €176.6 million, with €55 million from the State Budget allocated by FCT and €121.6 million from ERDF/PT2030 funds.

Among the principal investigators of the funded projects, the majority are women, representing 58.1% of the total. In addition, 6.2% of the researchers are foreign nationals from 20 countries and lead 48 of the selected projects, all of which are carried out at research centers based in Portugal.

In addition to being a funding entity, FCT acted as an intermediary body, with delegated powers to analyze applications. The scientific evaluation was carried out by international panels.

The decision regarding the eligibility and financing of projects supported by the ERDF is the responsibility of the competent Managing Authorities, within the scope of their autonomy and the regulations applicable to the management of European structural and investment funds and PT2030, as described in Notice of the Call.

In turn, the funding component allocated by the FCT is based entirely on scientific merit, regardless of the nature of the projects (fundamental or applied research), the regional location of the proposing institutions, or specific eligibility for ERDF funding. The allocation to each evaluation panel was proportional to the total amount of funding requested by the applications assigned to that panel.

These choices, combined with the combination of various sources of funding, enabled FCT to support more projects—namely those with a strong fundamental research component—than would have been possible in Call supported by the State Budget funds allocated to FCT.

In accordance with the terms of Notice of the Call, and considering the respective results, each project may benefit from one of the following financing modalities: i) 100% financing, exclusively through funds from the State Budget/FCT; ii) 100% funding through a combination of ERDF funds (85% COMPETE2030 or 40% NORTE2030, LISBOA2030, or ALGARVE2030) with State Budget funds (15% or 60%);  iii) 85% financing, exclusively through ERDF funds (COMPETE 2030).

The list of applications selected for FCT and FCT + PT2030 funding can be found here. The list of applications selected for funding exclusively by PT2030 funds is available here. For more information, see the Call page.

In the second half of 2025, FCT will launch a new Call R&D Projects in All Scientific Fields, and is expected to take full responsibility for its coordination and funding, including the management of submission platforms, scientific evaluation, and dissemination of results, and their monitoring.