Advance Fellowships and Grants

Chapter I - Object and scope

Article 1 – Object

1. These regulations set out the selection and contracting procedures and the legal requirements applicable to all research grant holders funded directly or indirectly by the Foundation for Science and Technology, hereinafter referred to as FCT, or of which FCT is host institution.
2. For the due purposes of what is stated in these regulations, research grant holders are beneficiaries of the Scientific Research Grant Recipient Statute, in accordance with Law 40/2004, of 18 August.
3. For the due purposes of what is stated in these regulations, grant holders directly funded by FCT are those whose contracts are celebrated directly with FCT and grant holders indirectly funded by FCT are those whose contracts, although celebrated with another entity, fall within the scope of programs, projects or other forms of collaboration that provide for FCT to bear the costs of those grants.

Article 2 - Scope

1. These regulations apply to the types of grants described in Chapter II.
2. These regulations also apply to grants funded directly or indirectly by FCT, namely grants provided for projects or doctoral programs proposed by higher education institutions and R&D centers, within the scope of international partnerships entered into by the FCT, 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 research grants

Chapter III - Scientific research grant process

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

Article 14 – Candidates

1. Without prejudice to the provisions in the paragraphs that follow, the following individuals may apply for grants directly or indirectly funded by FCT:
   1. Portuguese citizens, or citizens of other European Union member states;
   2. Citizens of other countries who hold permanent residence 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;
   3. Other third country citizens, where the official announcement provides for individual interviews as selection method.
2. For grants in which the plan of work is to be carried out fully in foreign institutions, only Portuguese citizens or individuals who hold permanent resident status in Portugal are eligible to apply.
3. In the case of grants directly funded by FCT and where a doctoral degree is required, foreign citizens non-resident in Portugal are eligible to apply, provided the application is supported by a Portuguese host institution.
4. Individuals who may not carry out the plan of work under the regime of exclusive dedication, namely civil service workers, regardless of the legal relationship of public employment, cannot apply to grants directly or indirectly funded by FCT, except when they present proof of being granted the status of leave without pay or equivalence to fellow without stipend.

Article 15 – 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 shall be published on the Internet at FCT 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 of applications and the way to apply, the selection criteria and the applicable legal standards and regulations, as well as the respective sources of funding.
4. Composition of the evaluation panels is public and shall be made known to the applicants before the start of the evaluation of the applications.

Article 16 – Supporting documents for the application

1. In addition to other documentation that may be specifically mentioned in the announcement of the call, the grant documentation should also include the documents listed in the following numbers, according to the type of grant being applied for; in case of grants directly funded by FCT, the documents must be attached in electronic format at the time of application or of the conditional approval of the grant, under the provisions of the following number.
2. Where requested for the type of grant being applied for, the documents listed in items b) through d), f), i) and j) of number 3 shall be submitted electronically at the time of application and the other documents, if necessary, at the time of the conditional approval of the grant.
3. For BD grants, the application shall be accompanied by the following documents:
   1. Copy of the identification document, certificate of permanent residence, permanent residence permit or status of long term resident, if applicable;
   2. 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;
   3. The plan of work to be carried out;
   4. d. The applicant’s curriculum vitæ;
   5. Statement of the scientific advisor, including name and email address or form of contact, of the scientific advisor's who assumes responsibility for the plan of work, for the orientation, monitoring and supervision and for the quality of the planned work;
   6. Brief curriculum vitæ of the scientific advisor, including a list of scientific publications and prior experience as an advisor or in orientation of grant recipients;
   7. 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;
   8. Document showing that the applicant has been accepted by the institution that will confer the academic degree, or that the applicant has been accepted in the doctoral program in which the application is inserted;
   9. Relevant document on the professional situation indicating the nature of the employment relationship, position and number of teaching hours on an annual average (if applicable); this document may be replaced by an affidavit, in case there is no other professional activity or provision of services;
   10. j. Recommendation letters, optionally.
4. For BCC and BSAB grants, the documents mentioned in items a) through d) and g) of the previous number shall be required.
5. For BPD, BI, BIC, BTI, BMOB or BGCT grants, the documents mentioned in items a) through g) and i) of number 3 shall be required.
6. If the applicant is unable to obtain the certified transcripts mentioned in item b) of number 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 send to FCT the hard copies of the official transcripts, in case he/she is awarded the grant.
7. Without prejudice to the provisions set forth in the previous number, 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.
8. In the case of grants directly funded by FCT, the grant is only awarded after submission of hard copies of the documents referred to in items b) and i) of number 3 of this article; only original documents or copies duly authenticated under the terms of the law will be accepted.
9. If the documents mentioned in the previous numbers 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.

Article 17 – Evaluation of applications

1. Review and evaluation of applications shall be done according to the parameters set out in the official announcement of the call and the evaluation guide, taking into account the intrinsic merit of the applicant, the plan of work and the host conditions.
2. The final award of the grant is dependent on the result of the scientific evaluation, on the reception of the required documents and the available budget of the funding institution.

Article 18 – Publication of results

1. The results of the evaluation will be published on the site indicated in the announcement of the call for applications for the candidates' perusal within 90 working days after the deadline to submit applications for review.
2. If the decision is not favorable for the award of the grant, the applicant has a period of 10 working days, after receiving notice of the decision referred to in the previous number, 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. Any appeal to the final decision referred to in the previous number must be brought before the FCT Board of Directors within 15 working days after the notification.
4. In the case of grants directly funded by FCT, all communications referred to in this article must be made in electronic form, through the personal area of each applicant available in the portal defined in the official announcement of the call for applications.

Article 19 – 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 funding entity and the grant recipient.
2. No grants shall be awarded to applicants who have outstanding obligations under a previous grant contract funded directly or indirectly by FCT, namely where final or interim reports have not been delivered or where the applicant has not repaid funding unduly received, according to applicable law or regulations.

Article 20º – 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 21 – Grant renewal

1. Grants can be renewed for additional periods up to their duration limit, provided the conditions for the award are satisfied at the time of the renewal.
2. The grant recipient shall submit a grant renewal request to FCT at least 60 days prior to the start of the new grant period, together with the documents proving the compliance with the provisions of the previous numbers.
3. It is the shared responsibility of the scientific advisor, or the person responsible for following the applicant, and of the host institution to provide statements on the grant holder’s work and the evaluation of his/her activities, which must be forwarded to FCT together with the request for renewal of the grant.
4. The scientific advisor, or the person responsible for following the applicant, is personally liable for the veracity and accuracy of the evaluation he shall undertake under the terms of the previous number.
5. The evaluation referred to in number 3 will contain, in particular, the estimate of the completion of the grant holder’s planned work and the statement of the need to renew the grant.
6. At the time of the renewal, the grant holder must attach the document referred to in item i), number 3 of Article 16 of these regulations, duly updated.
7. In the case of BPD grants, the renewal request 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 scientific 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 renewal period.
8. Renewal of the grant does not require the signing of a new contract; the funding entity will send written notification of the decision to the grant holder.

Section II - General and financial conditions applicable to grants

Article 22 – Exclusivity

1. No grant holder shall be the beneficiary of any other grant, except when expressly authorized by 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. To ensure the feasibility of the work and its compatibility with the regime of exclusive dedication referred to in the previous number, activities listed in number 2 of article 52 of the Scientific Research Career Statute, approved by Decree-Law 124/99, of 20 April, shall be without prejudice to the exercise of activities under the regime of exclusive dedication, under the conditions and limits set out therein; teaching activities may only be undertaken if under post-graduate training courses.
4. The grant recipient shall inform FCT of any other grant or subsidy he/she receives from any Portuguese, foreign or international institution, or of any other paid work undertaken that was not initially provided for in his/her application.

Article 23 – Changes to the plan of work, scientific advisor or host institution

1. The grant recipient is not allowed to change the objectives outlined in the proposed plan of work without the consent of the advisor and the host institution.
2. The change referred to in the previous number must be submitted to FCT by the grant recipient along with a statement from the scientific advisor or person responsible for monitoring the grant recipient’s progress and from the host institution.
3. Except in exceptional circumstances fully justified by all parties concerned, the change of advisor, work plan or host institution will not be authorized.

Article 24 – 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, in accordance with the table annexed to these regulations (Annex I), of which it forms an integral part.
2. The grant may include additionally:
   1. A pre-established allowance for registration, tuition or fees in the case of grants leading to an academic degree, to be paid to the Portuguese institution that will confer the degree;
   2. An allowance for registration, tuition or fees, up to a pre-set limit, in the case of BD grants for execution abroad or considered mixed, to be paid to the foreign institution that will confer the degree, and/or reimbursement of mandatory health insurance at foreign host institutions.
3. When the grant recipient is not in the country the host institution is located in, the grant may also include the following components:
   1. A predetermined one-time travel allowance, if justified;
   2. A predetermined one-time moving allowance for stays equal to or greater than six consecutive months.
4. BPD or BD grant recipients may receive a one-time allowance for participation in scientific meetings in accordance with the table annexed.
5. Grant recipients may also apply for the following allowances, one single time during the whole period of the grant, which may be granted based on the advisor's recommendation:
   1. For grants in Portugal or mixed grants: an allowance for supplemental training, at another Portuguese or foreign institution, not to exceed three months in duration;
   2. For grants abroad: Travel allowance for supplemental training, at another Portuguese or foreign institution.
6. The components provided for in number 2 and 5 of this article may be combined; they are always dependent on available funds.
7. No allowances will be paid, in any case, for food, vacations or Christmas, or any others not expressly mentioned in these regulations or in the Scientific Research Grant Recipient Statute.
8. Host institutions may pay top-ups to the grant amount paid by FCT, provided the following cumulative conditions are satisfied:
   1. The top-up is not financed directly or indirectly by FCT, namely through funding granted by FCT to the relevant host institution or through project contracts of the advisor/person responsible for following the applicant.
   2. The top-up does not result in changes to the work plan.

Article 25 – Host institution responsibilities towards science and technology management grant holders

1. Host institutions of Science and Technology Management Grant Holders are responsible for defraying any costs concerning travel, lodging and meals incurred under journeys in Portugal or abroad, authorized by the institution and related with the plan of work or project funded by the grant.
2. The payments referred to in the previous number will be made under the conditions established for the institution in general or, in particular in public institutions, under the conditions set forth for Public Administration staff.

Article 26 – Payment of other allowances

1. Payments shall be made to the grant recipient by bank transfer, to the account he/she indicated in the application form.
2. The payments for registration, tuition or fees provided for in number 2, items a) and b) of Article 24 shall be made as follows:
   1. In the case set forth in no. 2, item a) of Article 24, 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, item b) of Article 24, the amount is paid to the grant recipient, who in turn is responsible for paying the foreign institution that will confer the degree.
3. In the case set forth in item b) of the previous number, it is the sole responsibility of the grant recipient to submit to FCT an original document proving that the institution has received the amount effectively paid; invoices, payment requests or similar documents will not be accepted.

Article 27 – 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 28 – 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; the institution that funds the grant assumes the costs resulting from the contributions set forth in this statute.
2. Any interruption and the payment of benefits during a period of maternity, paternity or adoption, illness, care to minor children who are ill, care of the disabled, care given to children or to other family members shall be covered in accordance with Law 40/2004, of 18 August.

Section III - Conclusion and cancellation of grants

Article 29 – Final grant report

1. The grant recipient shall submit, preferably in electronic format, 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.
2. The report considered in the previous number must be submitted to the grant awarding institution within 60 days from the conclusion of the grant period and must be accompanied by a statement from the scientific advisor or person responsible for following the applicant or for his/her orientation.
3. In the case of doctoral grants, the certificate showing completion of the respective degree must be must also be turned in as soon as possible.
4. It is the responsibility of the degree granting institution (except in the case of foreign degree granting institutions, in which case it is the responsibility of the grant holder) to present to the funding institution, up to two years after the conclusion of the grant period, proof of submission of the doctoral thesis, without which repayment of all sums disbursed by the funding institution for registration, tuition or associated fees will be required.

Article 30 – 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 or renewal process or to evaluation of his/her progress shall imply cancellation of the respective grant.

Article 31 – Early completion of objectives

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

Article 32 – 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.
2. For the due purposes of what is stated in number 3 of Article 18 of the Scientific Research Grant Recipient Statute, approved by Law 40/2004, of 18 August, acceptance by FCT of the grant holder’s renunciation, is dependent on the submission and on the approval, by FCT, of the full activity report, undersigned by the grant holder, by his/her advisor, and the host institution.

Article 33 – Cancellation of the grant

1. The grant may be canceled as a result of an inspection sponsored by FCT after review of the information provided by the grant recipient, the scientific advisor or the person responsible for the applicant’s work or by the host institution.
2. A negative evaluation of a doctoral grant holder’s performance by the host institution and the scientific advisor will, as a rule, imply the termination of the grant after FCT conducts a hearing of the grant holder.
3. A negative evaluation of a post-doctoral grant holder’s performance by the host institution and the research supervisor will, as a rule, imply the termination of the grant after FCT conducts a hearing of the grant holder, except in the case of transfer to another scientific institution and through a written justified independent statement, supporting that transfer.
4. 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, depending on the individual case, be obliged to repay all or part of the allowances that were received.

Chapter IV - Final provisions

Article 34 – 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, and these conditions must be thoroughly justified to FCT.

Article 35 – Mention of support

1. The financial support provided by FCT and the respective funding program must be expressly acknowledged in all supported advanced training and qualification of human resources programs, as well as in all publications and theses undertaken with the support provided for in these Regulations.
2. In the case of advanced training actions supported by POPH/ESF funding (cf. article 34 in DR no. 84-A/2007), the insignia of the Program and of the EU must be included, in accordance with the appropriate graphical norms (avaliable at http://www.poph.qren.pt).

Article 36 – Monitoring and control

1. Monitoring of the grants shall be done by the scientific advisor or supervisor of the grant recipient’s progress and by the host institution.
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 ESF/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 37 – Grants obtained under the auspices of programs managed by the Foundation for Science and Technology

Applicants for doctoral or sabbatical leave grants who have been recipients of the same type of grant through a program that is the responsibility of FCT shall have the time of the first grant count toward the maximum duration of the grant.

Article 38 – Grant Recipient Centre

1. In each host entity there shall be a grant recipient centre responsible for providing recipients with all information regarding their status.
2. The centre referred to in the previous number, as well as the basic rules on its functioning, must be referred to in the official announcement of the call and in the grant regulations of the host entity or in the grant contract.
3. In the case of grant recipients of which FCT is the host entity, the grant recipient centre is based in the Department for Training of Human Resources in Science and Technology; the office may be contacted during the stipulated opening hours.

Article 39 – Cases not covered

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

Article 40 – Repeal

All Regulations for Advanced Training and Qualification of Human Resources formerly approved by FCT and dated prior to these regulations, are hereby repealed.

Article 41 – Entry into force

1. These regulations shall come into force on the day following publication, applying to all existing grant contracts and to those signed after this date, without prejudice to the provisions in the following numbers.
2. As regards the preconditions and the maximum duration of the grants, previous existing regulations shall apply until the date on which, by their terms, the grant renewal shall occur.
3. Requests concerning the grant allowances received by FCT before the entry into force of these regulations and on which a decision has not yet been taken shall be decided in accordance with previously applicable rules.

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