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Collaborative Laboratories

Call for the attribution of the title of Collaborative Laboratory (CoLAB)

Concurso para a atribuição do título de CoLAB

Latest News

18.08.2022 - Informative Note - The Board of Directors of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) decided to temporarily suspend the process of recognition of new Collaborative Laboratories (CoLAB). After 5 tender evaluation exercises for awarding the title of Collaborative Laboratory, 41 entities were awarded the title and designation of CoLAB, of which 35 were awarded until December 2021. This suspension is due to the fact that further clarification is needed on the sources of funding available for the CoLAB in the coming years, namely under Portugal 2030, as well as on the sustainability of CoLABs. This exercise, to be conducted until 30 October 2023, will be carried out in collaboration with several entities of the research and innovation system, including the Conselho Nacional de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (CNCTI) and the coordination structures of Portugal 2030, among others.
Board of Directors of FCT, 18th August 2022.

30.06.2022 - The homologated list with the final classification after a preliminary hearing of the 5th group of applications for the CoLAB title has been published.
20.04.2022 - The provisional and homologated list with the final classification of the 5th group of applications for the CoLAB title has been published. (see News)
18.01.2022 - The 5th session for the presentation and discussion of proposals submitted to the call for proposals for the award of the title of CoLAB will be held on 18 and 19 January with online streaming. Programme. (18 January: link; 19 January: link). (see News)
03.01.2022 - In the 5th evaluation exercise of the call for the attribution of the title of Collaborative Laboratory, 19 applications were admitted. The public presentation and discussion sessions of the proposals submitted will take place on 18 and 19 January 2022 and the programme will be announced soon.
03.01.2022 - Decree Law No. 126-B/2021 was published in the Diário da República, establishing the legal framework for technology and innovation centres (CTI) and complementing the legal framework for collaborative laboratories (CoLABs), as interface institutions that complement CTIs in their missions and attributions. This law regulates the process of recognition of CTIs, the general principles of their activity, the methods of assessment and the funding model, revoking the Decree-Law No. 249/86 of 25 August 1986, as amended, and amending Decree-Law No. 63/2019 of 16 May.
29.10.2021 - The deadline for submission of applications to be assessed in the 5th round of proposals under CoLAB was extended until 13 December 2021.
23.09.2021 - The first amendment to the regulation that establishes the assignment rules for the awarding of the title and designation of Collaborative Laboratory - CoLAB has been published in Diário da República. Available here.
29.04.2021 - The list of the 4rd application process for the attribution of the title of CoLAB, with the final classification after the preliminary hearin, was approved and has been published.
05.04.2021 - In its next meeting, the panel will evaluate applications submitted until 12 November 2021.
01.04.2021 - A Overview Document of the 35 CoLABs approved after 4 rounds of evaluation has been published. See here.
23.03.2021 - The provisional and homologated list with the final classification of the 4th group of applications for the CoLAB title has been published. (see News)
12.10.2020 - Registration is open to attend the next session for the presentation and discussion of proposals submitted for the CoLAB title - 4th evaluation exercise - to be held on 19 October 2020. See the programme.
13.07.2020 – The deadline for submission of applications to be assessed in the 4th round of proposals under CoLAB was extended until 7 September 2020, due to the postponement of the international evaluation dates.
20.05.2020 – The deadline for submission of applications to be assessed in the 4th round is 15 July 2020.
17.03.2020 - The deadline of 31 March for applications has been postponed until further notice. The postponement is related to the current exceptional situation of pandemic by Covid-19.
22.01.2020 - Due to the need to reschedule the evaluation panel meeting, it was decided to extend the deadline for receiving applications to 31 March 2020.
12.12.2019 - In its next meeting, the panel will evaluate applications submitted by 15 January 2020.
04.10.2019 - The final list of the 3rd application process for the attribution of the title of CoLAB, with the final classification after the prior hearing, was approved and has been published.
22.07.2019 - Five proposals have been approved to receive the title of CoLAB. List of the 26 CoLAB approved until july 2019.
13.12.2018 - Next panel meeting is scheduled for 18-19 February 2019. The panel will evaluate applications submitted by 15 January 2019. See the new application guide
06.11.2018 - Fifteen proposals have been approved to receive the title of CoLAB.
13.04.2018 - List of Proposals to be presented on 20-21 April. The programme is available here, and registration to attend the sessions start on 16 April.
26.03.2018 - Given that 23 proposals have been submitted, the panel meeting scheduled for 20 April was reorganized to allow for all presentations to be carried out on 20 and 21 April. The programme will be published shortly.
19.03.2018 - Due to the limited number of public presentations that can be made at each meeting, the first 10 applications submitted by 23 March will be evaluated at the next panel meeting. The remaining applications submitted by that date will be evaluated at the following meeting, which is expected to take place during the first half of 2018.
20.02.2018 - In its next meeting, the panel will evaluate applications submitted by 23 March 2018.
05.02.2018 - The next Information Session on CoLAB takes place on 19 February. The Evaluation Panel will meet again on 20 April.
30.01.2018 - Six proposals have been approved to receive the title of CoLAB.
15.11.2017 - Public Session of Presentation and Discussion of Proposals for the Attribution of the title of Collaborative Laboratories – CoLAB
24.10.2017 - 2nd Information Session – CoLAB
23.10.2017 - 1st Information Session – CoLAB (video from the session)

DOCUMENTS

Collaborative Laboratories should be established as non-profit private associations or as companies. Their main goal is to create skilled and scientific jobs in Portugal, both directly and indirectly, by implementing research and innovation agendas geared at creating economic and social value.

CoLABs must meet the challenge of enhancing the density of knowledge-based activities in the country by fostering the consolidation of collaborative practices between scientific, technological or higher education institutions and the social and economic fabric, namely businesses, the hospital and health care system, cultural institutions, and social organizations.

More information on the tender is available in the Notice of Call, the Application Guide for the Award of the Collaborative Laboratory Title, the Evaluation Guide and the Regulation Governing the Award of the Collaborative Laboratory Title (CoLAB).

Recipients and Eligibility

Collaborative Laboratories must consist of at least one company and one R&D unit associated with a higher education institution, funded by FCT, I.P., and may result from a technology interface center that already has this partnership structure. In the case of R&D units without legal personality, the participating entity is the institution with legal personality in which such units are integrated.

CoLABs may include companies, non-corporate R&I organizations, Higher Education Institutions (through their R&D Units), Technological Interface Centers and other intermediate or interface institutions, business associations, other public administration organizations, and other partners within the productive, social or cultural fabric.

No associate, partner or shareholder may hold less than 5% or more than 49% of the assets or share capital.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted electronically through a specific form. The proponent institution is the participating organization responsible for submitting the application.

When applicable, the application must contain a stated commitment for the establishment of a company or private non-profit association, signed by all participating institutions, if the CoLAB title is awarded.

More information is available in the Application Guide.

Evaluation

Applications are evaluated by an independent committee consisting of internationally recognized experts appointed by the FCT Board of Directors. The evaluation committee may consult with external evaluators, whose identity shall not be disclosed, and who will draw up technical opinions on specific applications in order to inform the committee's work and decisions.

More information available in the Evaluation Guide.