FUNDACAO PARA A CIENCIA E A TECNOLOGIA

Their core work

FCT is Portugal's national funding agency for science, technology, and innovation, operating under the Ministry of Science. In H2020, FCT served as the backbone of Portugal's participation by running National Contact Points (NCPs) across nearly all programme pillars — training applicants, organizing brokerage events, and building bridges between Portuguese researchers and European consortia. They also co-fund transnational research through ERA-NET Cofund actions in areas from rare diseases to smart grids to biodiversity, channeling national research budgets into coordinated European calls. Their role is fundamentally enabling: they don't do the research themselves, but they ensure Portuguese institutions can compete for and participate in EU research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014–2017, FCT's work was dominated by establishing and professionalizing National Contact Point networks — keywords like "NCP," "training," "networking," "brokerage event," and "Horizon 2020" dominated, reflecting the early-programme push to help Portuguese researchers access H2020 funding. From 2018 onward, while NCP work continued, the thematic focus shifted noticeably toward circular economy, quantum technologies, nanotechnology, food and nutrition security, and sustainable agriculture — signaling a move from pure programme support toward strategic thematic engagement. This evolution mirrors Portugal's broader research policy shift toward mission-oriented priorities like green transition and digital transformation.

FCT is shifting from broad programme-support roles toward targeted thematic co-funding in green transition areas (circular economy, critical raw materials, quantum technologies), making them an increasingly strategic partner for mission-driven consortia.

How they like to work

FCT is overwhelmingly a participant (90 of 96 projects), not a consortium leader — which is typical for a national funding agency whose role is to contribute national co-funding and coordination capacity rather than drive research agendas. With 966 unique partners across 87 countries, they operate as a massive hub connecting Portuguese research to the European and global landscape. Their participation in nearly every H2020 pillar means they have institutional relationships across virtually all research domains, making them an exceptionally well-connected entry point into Portuguese science.

FCT has collaborated with 966 unique partners across 87 countries — one of the broadest networks of any single organization in H2020. Their reach spans all of Europe plus significant connections to Africa, making them a gateway to Portuguese and Lusophone research ecosystems.

What sets them apart

FCT is not a research performer — it is the institution that funds, connects, and enables Portuguese research at European scale. This makes them uniquely valuable as a consortium partner: they bring national co-funding commitments to ERA-NETs, they know every active research group in Portugal across all disciplines, and they can mobilize national participation faster than approaching individual universities. For any consortium needing a strong Portuguese node with guaranteed institutional backing, FCT is the definitive partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SMARTAgriFor
  One of only 4 projects FCT coordinated — a Widening action to develop a business plan for a Portuguese Centre of Agriculture and Forestry, showing rare leadership initiative.
• BiodivERsA3
  Long-running ERA-NET (2015–2022) consolidating the European Research Area on biodiversity and ecosystem services, representing FCT's deepest thematic commitment in environment.
• ERANet SmartGridPlus
  Received EUR 390,753 — among FCT's highest individual project funding — for coordinating smart grids research across European regions.