Scope
The support scheme for organisations in the national science and technology system is designed to grow and reinforce the system to make it more competitive and speed up articulation between companies and knowledge centres.
Goals
a) Promote a scientific and technological culture through specific projects and activities;
b) Improve the competences of science and technology institutions by funding scientific research and technological development (SR&TD) programmes and projects in all scientific fields;
c) Promote SR&TD projects aimed at implementing public policies;
d) Foster the development of themed networks and international science and technology partnerships;
e) Encourage access and foster the success of participation by Portuguese institutions in projects in the Seventh Framework Programme for Scientific Research and Technological Development and other international S&T programmes.
Beneficiaries
a) Institutions of higher education and their schools and R&D units;
b) Associated laboratories;
c) State laboratories;
d) Private, non-profit S&T institutions;
e) Companies, provided that they belong to SR&TD projects headed by R&D institutions or international partnership projects;
f) Other public and private non-profit institutions that undertake, promote or participate in scientific research, education or scientific and technological culture activities.
Types of project
a) Scientific research and technological development (SR&TD) projects comprising basic research, applied research and experimental and technological development involving one or more organisations from the SCTN, including companies, in the following forms:
a1) Projects in all scientific fields;
a2) Projects in themed science and technology networks;
a3) Projects for the foundation and operation of SR&TD consortia;
a4) Projects aimed at implementing public policies or enhancing the results of scientific research;
a5) International cooperation projects in partnerships and cooperation agreements.
b) Projects to encourage participation in the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development and other international programmes;
c) Across-the-board projects to promote scientific and technological culture, especially in the Living Science scheme.
Other SR&TD projects organised by associated laboratories and R&D units may be eligible, provided that their importance and public interest are recognised by ordinance of the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education.
Territorial coverage
It applies to the Convergence Objective (NUT II regions in the North, Centre and Alentejo).
Applications
1. Applications are normally submitted following invitations defined by the Management Authority at the POFC, in articulation with the intermediate bodies and published on their websites.
2. Submission of applications for themed network and public policy projects is preceded by a pre-qualification phase. This method may be used for other types of project, when appropriate.
3. Applications are submitted on online forms.