Fellowships and Grants

Advanced training and qualification of human resources are key priorities in Portugal’s science and technology policy, which were first stated in the Commitment to Science for the Future of Portugal of the XVII^th Constitutional Government and pursued by the current Government, which aims to speed up convergence of scientific qualification of human resources in Portugal to the level generally seen in other European Union countries, particularly with respect to post-graduate education. These regulations aim to clarify the terms under which different types of grants are awarded in the context of public investment in qualification and post-graduate education and to simplify the administrative procedures associated with the application and registration process.

Overcoming the country’s competitive disadvantage in relation to science – by advanced training and qualification of human resources, strengthening institutions dedicated to scientific and technological research and increasing scientific production, technological development and innovation – is the great challenge to be met through these regulations in the framework of public investment in human resources in science and technology.

Chapter I
Object and scope

Article 1
Object

These regulations apply to advanced training and qualification of human resources funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

Article 2
Scope

1. These regulations apply to the types of grants described in Chapter II.
2. These regulations also apply to grants awarded for specific purposes, namely grants provided for doctoral or master’s degree programs proposed by institutions of higher education and R&D centers, namely within the scope of international partnerships entered into by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, and doctoral or master’s degree programs of interest to business, as well as grants and other subsidies involving entities dedicated to management or oversight of science and technology.

Chapter II
Types of scientific research grants

Chapter III
Scientific research grant process

Section I
Application, review and evaluation, award and renewal of grants

Article 17
Candidates

1. Without prejudice to the provisions in the paragraphs that follow, the following individuals may apply for grants directly funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia:

   1. Portuguese citizens, or citizens of other European Union member states who hold a certificate of permanent residency in Portugal attested to by the SEF, Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, under the terms of Article 16, no. 1 of Law 37/2006 of August 9;
   2. Citizens of other countries who hold permanent residency permits in Portugal or who hold the status of long-term resident, attested to by the SEF, Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, under the terms respectively of Articles 80 and 125 of Law 23/2007 of 4 July;
   3. Citizens of other European Union member states or other countries, whose applications are made in the framework of agreements or international partnerships in which the Portuguese state is a part or has committed itself to abide.
2. For grants in which the plan of work is to be carried out in foreign institutions, only Portuguese citizens, individuals who hold permanent resident status in Portugal and those referred to in item c. of the previous number are eligible to apply.
3. For invited scientist, scientific career development or post-doctoral grants, foreign nationals who are not residents of Portugal may also apply, as long as their application is sponsored by a Portuguese host institution.

Article 18
Calls for Applications

1. Calls for applications shall be opened for one or more types of grants governed by these regulations.
2. Calls for applications will be published on the Internet at the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia website and through other means of communication or dissemination whenever these are deemed appropriate.
3. Announcements of calls for applications shall indicate the types of grants being offered, who is eligible to apply, the deadline for applications, the selection criteria and the applicable legal standards and regulations, as well as the respective sources of funding.

Article 19
Supporting documents for the grant application process

1. Applications for grants funded directly by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologiashall are submitted on a specific online form.
2. In addition to any required documentation that is specifically mentioned in the announcement of the call for applications or on the online application form, the grant documentation should also include the documents listed in the following numbers, according to the type of grant being applied for. The documents must be either originals or certified copies.

3. For BD and BM grants, the following documents shall be required:

   1. Documents showing that the applicant meets the requirements for the respective grant type, namely certified transcripts showing all academic degrees awarded, with final grade point averages and grades received in all courses taken (to be submitted online, hard copies of which must be submitted if the grant is awarded);
   2. The plan of work to be carried out (online submission only);
   3. The applicant’s curriculum vitæ (online submission only);
   4. Name and e-mail address of the advisor or other person responsible for monitoring the applicant’s progress, should one exist, who will assume responsibility for the plan of work, the applicant’s orientation, monitoring or supervision, and for the quality of the planned work (a hard copy of the statement of acceptance of this responsibility must be submitted if the grant is awarded);
   5. Brief curriculum vitæ of the advisor or other person responsible for the team where the applicant’s work will be carried out if the grant is awarded, including a list of scientific publications and prior experience as an advisor or in orientation of grant recipients (online submission only);
   6. Document showing that the applicant has been accepted by the institution where the research work or training will take place, guaranteeing that the institution possesses the necessary conditions for properly carrying out the work (a hard copy of which must be submitted if the grant is awarded);
   7. Document showing that the applicant has been accepted by the institution that will confer the academic degree (a hard copy of which must be submitted if the grant is awarded);
   8. Letters of recommendation (optional, online submission only);
   9. Certificate of permanent residency, permanent residency permit or status of long term resident, depending on the case;
   10. For the applicants referred to in Article 17, paragraph 1, items a) and b), a document issued by the SEF, Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras attesting to the applicant’s authorization for permanent residency in Portugal (a hard copy of which must be submitted if the grant is awarded).
4. For BCC and BSAB grants, the documents mentioned in items a) through c) and f) of paragraph 3 shall be required.
5. For BDCC grants, the documents mentioned in items a) through c) of paragraph 3 shall be required.
6. For BPD grants, the documents mentioned in lines a) through f) of paragraph 3 shall be required as well as a document proving that the candidate holds a doctoral degree or has submitted his/her doctoral thesis to the university that will confer the corresponding degree, dated prior to submission of the application.
7. For BI, BIC, BII. BTI, BGCT or BMOB grants, the documents mentioned in items a) through f) of paragraph 3 shall be required.
8. For BII grants, any documents listed in the official public announcement or in the regulations of the institutions awarding the grants are required.
9. If the applicant is unable to obtain the certified transcripts mentioned in paragraph 3 by the deadline for applications, the applicant must substitute the corresponding content of the transcripts under his/her own responsibility for each, through online submission, and shall provide the hard copies of the official transcripts as soon as they become available.
10. Without prejudice to the provisions set forth in the previous paragraph, applications may in the meantime be reviewed and evaluated, but grants will not be awarded until all official transcripts verifying the information submitted under the provisions of the previous number have been received.
11. If the documents mentioned in the previous paragraphs are not submitted in the form set forth by the present regulations, within six months of the date of the notice of the decision to award the grant during scientific evaluation, the grant will not be awarded and the application file will be closed.
12. Submission of hard copies of supporting documents mentioned in the numbers above can be replaced by online submission of the corresponding documents in digital format, duly authenticated under the terms of the law.

Article 20
Evaluation of applications

1. Review and evaluation of applications takes into account the intrinsic merit of the applicant, the plan of work and the host conditions, among other criteria to be defined in the announcement of the respective call for applications.
2. The final award of the grant is dependent on the result of the scientific evaluation, on the reception and approval of the documents required by article 19 and the budget constraints set forth by FCT.
3. The failure to submit the documentation required in item i. of number 3. of the preceding article prevents the scientific evaluation of the application.

Article 21
Publication of results

1. The results of the evaluation will be published on the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia website for the candidates’ perusal within 90 working days after the deadline to submit applications for review.
2. If the decision is not favorable, the applicant has a period of ten working days, after receiving notice of the decision referred to in the previous paragraph, in which to contest the decision, if he/she so wishes, as provided for in the Código do Procedimento Administrativo in a preliminary hearing setting.
3. Applicants shall be notified of the final decision under the terms set forth in the Código do Procedimento Administrativo.
4. Any appeal to the decision referred to in the previous number must be filed within 15 working days after the notification.
5. The preliminary hearing comments regarding the decision, referred to in no. 2 of this article as well as any formal protest regarding the decision referred to in no. 4, must be submitted online.

Article 22
The grant award

1. The grant is awarded in the form of an allowance, under the terms set forth in these Regulations and in the contract to be signed between the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and the grant recipient.
2. In the case of BII, the grant is awarded in the form of a subsidy, under the terms set forth in these Regulations, and in the acceptance statement issued by the hosting institution.

Article 23
Deadline for signing the contract

The grant recipient shall return the contract, duly signed, within 15 working days from the date he/she receives the research grant contract.

Article 24
Grant renewal

1. Grants can be renewed for additional periods up to their duration limit.
2. The grant recipient shall submit a grant renewal request to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia at least 60 days prior to the start of the new grant period, accompanied by the advisor’s expert opinion on the applicant’s activity and his/her adaptation to the work environment, about the work carried out and whether the grant should be renewed.

3. Requests for renewal of post-doctoral grants for the second triennium should preferably be submitted at least six months prior to the start of the new grant period and shall be accompanied by:

   1. a detailed report of the work carried out, including the URL addresses of any papers and publications that may have resulted from the work;
   2. the advisor’s expert opinion on the applicant’s activity and his/her adaptation to the work environment, about the work carried out and whether the grant should be renewed;
   3. plan of work for the second triennium.
4. Renewal of the grant does not require the signing of a new contract. The Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia will send written notification of the decision to the grant holder.

Section II
General and financial conditions applicable to grants

Article 25
Exclusivity

1. No grant recipient shall be the beneficiary of any other grant, except when regulated by an agreement established between the entities funding the grants.
2. The work of the grant recipient falls under the regime of exclusive dedication, under the terms expressly set forth in article 5 of the Scientific Research Grant Recipient Statute, approved by Law 40/2004 of 18 August 2004, taking into consideration the feasibility of the work plan under penalty of disqualification or cancellation of the grant.
3. The need to prove the feasibility of the study program stems from the nature of the research activities associated with the grant, which require, for their successful completion in the allotted time frame, high concentration, availability of time for intellectual pursuits, conditions which may be incompatible with other activities of a permanent character, or require dedication which may shift the grant holder of the work plan defined under the assumption of total commitment.
4. The grant recipient shall inform the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia of any other grant or subsidy he/she receives from any Portuguese, foreign or international institution, and of any other paid work undertaken that was not initially provided for in his/her original application.

Article 26
Changes to the plan of work

1. The grant recipient is not allowed change the objectives outlined in the proposed plan of work without the consent of the advisor.
2. The change referred to in the previous paragraph must be submitted to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia by the grant recipient along with a statement from the advisor or person responsible for monitoring the grant recipient’s progress.

Article 27
Components of the grant

1. According to the type of grant and the recipients’ situation, a monthly maintenance allowance is awarded, the amount of which is determined by whether the grant recipient carries out his/her work in Portugal or abroad.

2. The grant may include the following components, which may be cumulative:

   1. A pre-established allowance for registration, tuition or fees in the case of BD and BM grants, to be paid to the Portuguese institution that will confer the degree, except when the entire year of the grant takes place abroad.
   2. An allowance for registration, tuition or fees, up to a pre-set limit, to be paid to the foreign institution in the case of BD and BM grants that include periods abroad, and/or reimbursement of mandatory health insurance at foreign host institutions.
   3. An allowance to defray the cost of printing the thesis and obtaining the certified diploma for the degree. This allowance shall only be disbursed after the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia has received a certified copy of that diploma.

3. For grants awarded to Portuguese nationals that include stays abroad, and for foreign nationals in Portugal, the following components may be also be included:

   1. A predetermined annual travel allowance if justified;
   2. A predetermined one-time moving allowance for stays equal to or greater than six consecutive months.
4. All BPD, BD and BM grant recipients shall receive an annual allowance, up to a pre-established amount for participation in scientific meetings.

5. Grant recipients may also apply for the following allowances, which may be granted based on the advisor’s recommendation and available funds:

   1. An allowance for supplemental training, excluding degree programs, at another Portuguese or foreign institution, not to exceed three months in duration if the grant is for work in Portugal;
   2. Travel allowance for supplemental training, excluding courses, at another Portuguese or foreign institution if the grant is for work abroad.
6. No allowances will be paid, in any case, for food, vacations or Christmas, or any others not expressly mentioned in these regulations.
7. The table of grant component amounts is approved by ministerial order of the member of government responsible for the area of Science and Technology based on a proposal presented by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia.

Article 28
Host institution reinbursements towards expenses of Science and Technology Mangement Grant Holders

1. Host institutions of Science and Technology Mangement Grant Holders are responsible for defraying costs concerning travel, lodging and meals in Portugal or abroad, authorized by the institution and related with an activity or project pursuant to the grant.
2. These payments will be made under the conditions established for the instituion in general or, in particular in public institutions, under the conditions set forth for Public Administration staff with salaries above index 405, or whatever becomes equivalent under the New Salary System.

Article 29
Payment of registration, tuition or fees and allowance for integration into research

1. The payments for registration, tuition or fees provided for in no. 2, paragraphs b) and c) of the Article 27 shall be made as follows:

   1. In the case set forth in no. 2, paragraph a) of Article 27, the amount is paid directly to the Portuguese institution that confers the degree to the grant recipient;
   2. In the case set forth in no. 2, paragraph b) of Article 27, the amount is paid to the grant recipient, who in turn is responsible for paying the foreign institution responsible for the training and for submitting the respective proof of payment in the form of a receipt. Only original documents will be accepted.
2. In the case of integration into research grants (BII), there is also an allowance equivalent to 20% of the annual grant amount that is assigned to the host institution to be applied towards expenses associated with integrating the grant recipient.

Article 30
Payment of other allowances

Payment shall be made to the grant recipient by bank transfer.

Article 31
Personal accident insurance

All grant recipients shall be beneficiaries of a personal accident insurance policy covering research activities, to be paid for by the institution that awards the grant.

Article 32
Social security

1. Grant recipients may exercise their right to social security by signing up for the voluntary social security regime under the terms set forth in the Scientific Research Grant Recipient Statute, approved by Law 40/2004 of 18 August 2004; the institution that funds the grant assumes the costs resulting from the contributions set forth in this statute.
2. Any legally provided for interruption during a period of maternity, paternity or adoption is allowed not affecting the payment of the grant during the corresponding period.
3. Any instances of illness, care to minor children who are ill, care of the disabled, care given to children or to other family members shall be covered by social security benefits, the grant being interrupted during the corresponding period.

Section III
Conclusion and cancellation of grants

Article 33
Final grant report

The grant recipient shall submit online, preferably within 60 days from the conclusion of the grant period, a final report of his/her activities, which should include the URL addresses of any presentations and publications that resulted from the work carried out, along with a statement from the advisor or person responsible for following the applicant or for his/her orientation. In the case of Master’s or doctoral grants, the certificate showing completion of the respective degree must be must also be turned in as soon as possible.

Article 34
False declarations

Without prejudice to the provisions set forth in the penal law, any false statements made by the grant recipient on matters relevant to the grant award process or to evaluation of his/her progress shall imply cancellation of the respective grant.

Article 35
Early completion of objectives

When the objectives of the grant are achieved before the time limit originally planned, payment shall cease to be owed within 30 days after completion of the work, and any payments received by the grant recipient after that date must be returned.

Article 36
Failure to achieve objectives

1. A grant recipient who does not achieve the primary objectives set forth in the approved plan of work, or one whose grant is canceled due to a serious breach of duties for reasons imputable to him/her, may, depending on the circumstances of each specific case, be obliged to repay all or part of the allowances that he/she has received.

Article 37
Cancellation of the grant

1. The grant may be canceled as a result of an inspection sponsored by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia after review of the information provided by the grant recipient, the advisor or the person responsible for the applicant’s work or by the academic institution in which the grant recipient is enrolled, if applicable.
2. In addition to the reasons expressly set forth in these regulations, any serious or repeated breach of the duties listed in these regulations and in the Scientific Research Grant Recipient Statute, approved by Law 40/2004 of 18 August 2004, on the part of the grant recipient shall lead to cancellation of the grant, and the grant recipient may be obliged to repay all or part of the allowances that were received.

Chapter IV
Incentives for scientific retraining

Article 38
Subsidies for tuition fees

1. The Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia may also award subsidies to students who are not doctoral grant recipients, to be used for:
   1. Payment of tuition, or
   2. Partial funding of a work programme leading to a doctoral degree.
2. The subsidy referred to in item a) of the previous number is requested in a form to be made available by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and has a pre-established upper bound indicated in the attached table.
3. The subsidy referred to in item b) of the previous number is attributed through a public call, its amount being determined by FCT taking into account the time effectively applied to the work programme and its renewal being limited to the maximum amount established for doctoral grants during a 4 year period.

Chapter V
Final provisions

Article 39
Grant recipients with special needs

The provisions of these regulations may be adapted, within reason, for grant recipients with special needs, namely with respect to the amounts of the different allowances that make up the grants, the duration of these and the establishment of special rules for monitoring the grant recipient’s progress. Any adaptation shall follow from an analysis of the specific situation of each grant recipient with special needs. These conditions must be thoroughly justified to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia.

Article 40
Mention of Support

The financial support provided by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and the respective funding program must be expressly acknowledged in all supported advanced training and qualification of human resources programmes, as well as in all publications and theses undertaken with the support provided for in these Regulations. In the case of advanced training actions supported by POPH/FSE funding (cf. article 34 in DR no. 84-A/2007), the insignia of the Programme and of the EU must be includes, in accordance with the appropriate graphical norms (avaliable at http://www.poph.qren.pt).

Article 41
Monitoring and control

1. Monitoring of the grants shall be done by the advisor or the person responsible for following the grant recipient’s progress.
2. Control is accomplished by reviewing requests for renewal, requests for changes to plans of work and final reports.
3. In all actions funded by FCT, in particular in the case of actions supported by FSE/POPH, follow up and control actions may be initiated by national and EU organizations according to applicable legislation, grant holders being mandated to supply any requested information, extensible also to the execution of evaluation studies in this area.

Article 42
Grants obtained under the auspices of programs managed by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia.

Applicants for master or doctoral grants who have been recipients of the same type of grant through a programme that is the responsibility of the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia shall have the time of the first grant count toward the maximum duration of the grant.

Article 43
Grant recipient centre

In each host entity there shall be a grant recipient centre responsible for providing recipients with all information regarding their status.

Article 44
Cases not covered

Any cases that are not covered by these regulations shall be resolved by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, taking into consideration the principles and standards set forth in the applicable national or European Community legislation.

Artigo 44º-A
Regulation changes

FCT will consider, on an annual basis, the attraction conditions of foreign candidates to the National Scientific and Technological System and will propose regaulatory changes needed for the upkeep of the international competitiveness of Portugal in this matter.

Article 45
Entry into force

1. These regulations shall come into force on the day following publication, applying to grants whose contracts are signed or renewed after this date, without prejudice to any acquired rights.
2. The protocols already signed by FCT, IP, prior to these regulations coming into force, shall be exempt from what is stated in item c. of the number 1. in article 17, until their conclusion.

Artcle 45-A
Transitional arrangement

1. In the Call for Individual Grants 2010, 2^nd phase, the following types of candidates can also be considered:
   1. Foreign candidates having obtained a Licenciatura or Master acedemic degree in Portugal.
   2. Foreign candidates who, at the time of the call launch, or in the two previous years, are or have been enrolled in a Doctoral Programme in Portugal.
   3. Candidates holding a fellowship, research contract in the framework of a project or an institution of the national scientific and technological system, at the time of call launch.
2. The candidates whose application has been discarded in the first phase of the 2010 call for individual grants on account of failing the conditions stated in article 17, can renew their application in the second phase of the call, provided they satisfy the prerequisites mentioned in no. 1 of the current article.
3. The FCT Board can consider accepting other candidates who prove their connection to the scientific activities pursued by the host institution.

©2023 · Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia