Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)

Founding year

1997

History

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) is the national funding agency that supports science, technology and innovation, in all scientific domains, under responsibility of the Ministry for Science, Technology and Higher Education. FCT started its activity in August 1997, succeeding the Junta Nacional de Investigação Científica e Tecnológica (JNICT). Since March 2012 FCT has coordinated public policies for the Information and Knowledge Society in Portugal, after the integration of the Knowledge Society Agency – UMIC. In October 2013, FCT took over the attributions and responsibilities of the Fundação para a Computação Científica Nacional (FCCN).

ENRIO member since

2008

Structure

Public Institute

Main Tasks

FCT’s mission is to continuously promote the advancement of knowledge in science and technology in Portugal, attain the highest international standards in quality and competitiveness, in all scientific and technological domains, and encourage its dissemination and active role in society and in economic growth.

 

FCT pursues its mission by funding fellowships, studentships and research contracts for scientists, research projects, internationally competitive research centres and state-of-the-art infrastructures, via competitive calls with international peer-review. FCT ensures Portugal’s participation in international scientific organisations, fosters the participation of the scientific community in international projects and promotes knowledge transfer between R&D centres and industry. Working closely with international organisations, FCT coordinates public policy for the Information and Knowledge Society in Portugal and ensures the development of national scientific computing resources.

Investigation

FCT is not an inspecting or investigation body.

Suspicions of ethics or integrity breaches are handled in coordination with the research and higher education institutions.

Promoting Research Integrity

FCT has a Programme for Responsible Research which aims to:

  • advise the FCT Board of Directors on issues related to scientific integrity / good research practice;
  • articulate the national discussion on scientific integrity and uniform procedures for the investigation of possible cases of misconduct;
  • ensure the commitment of national researchers to scientific integrity, by promoting the adoption of the European Code of Conduct by the scientific and research institutions funded by FCT;
  • monitor, in articulation with the respective research institutions, processes concerning suspects of misconduct in projects and programmes funded by FCT;
  • represent FCT in international networks in this field.

Contact

Ana Sofia Carvalho

Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
Av. D. Carlos I, 126
1249-074 Lisboa - Portugal

http://www.fct.pt/index.phtml.en

Portuguese Catholic University

Founding year

1967

ENRIO member since

2025 - ENRIO Affiliate

Main Tasks

Contact

Mara de Sousa Freitas

Director of the Institute of Bioethics