Fundação para a Ciência e a Technologia

The Fundação para a Ciência e a Technologia (FCT) is the Portuguese Government's funding agency for research and training. It is devoted to the financial support and promotion of scientific research and training in Portugal, in all areas of science. Founded in 1997, FCT is a public body, funded by the Government through the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

It supports centres of excellence and research centres through rolling grants and post-doctoral and research fellowships (for periods of 3-5 years, following external evaluation by international panels of experts), research projects (in all areas of science) through specific (usually annual) calls, and individual PhD and post-doctoral fellowships (with calls twice a year) on a competitive basis at the national level.  FCT also supports international conferences and collaborations.

FCT bases its funding decisions on the evaluation and reports of (appointed) panels of international experts. It is also advised by permanent scientific committees covering the carious scientific disciplines.