The FCT Mobility Programme, launched by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) in Portugal, supports the international mobility of PhD researchers through medium- and long-term research stays. The programme funds research and/or fieldwork activities to strengthen international scientific cooperation.

Programme Structure

The programme offers two funding modalities:

• FCT Mobility Outgoing
  For researchers affiliated with Portuguese institutions to undertake research in foreign institutions, for 2 to 11 consecutive months.
• FCT Mobility Incoming
  For foreign researchers (including Malta-based researchers) to conduct joint scientific activities in Portugal, for 1 to 3 consecutive months.
  Applications for this stream must be submitted by the Portuguese hosting researcher.

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by researchers who:

• Are integrated members of Portuguese Research Units, or
• Have a contractual relationship with an Associated Laboratory in Portugal.

Foreign researchers (e.g. Malta-based researchers) can participate as visiting researchers under the incoming modality, but cannot submit the application themselves. The Portuguese partner must act as the applicant.

How to Apply

• Applications are open from 7 November 2024 until 31 December 2025, 17:00 (Portugal time), or until the allocated funds are exhausted.
• Submissions must be made in English via the online application form by the Portuguese Researcher:
  FCT Mobility Application Form

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals are evaluated by international experts based on the following criteria:

Outgoing Applications:
A) Merit of the applicant researcher
B) Merit of the work plan
C) Career development impact
D) Merit of host conditions

Incoming Applications:
A) Merit of the Portuguese applicant researcher
B) Merit of the work plan
C) Career development impact
E) Merit of the visiting researcher

Final Score Formula:
FC = 0.35 A + 0.25 B + 0.15 C + 0.25 (D or E)

Evaluations occur at least every three months. Provisional results are communicated within one month of each evaluation round.

Funding Details

• Maximum funding per mobility: €27,027
• Total programme budget: €5,000,000 (funded under Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan - RRP)
• Funding rate: 100% of eligible costs
• Disbursed as a single payment at the start of the mobility
• At least 185 mobilities are expected to be supported

Further Information

Questions about the programme can be directed to fct.mobility@fct.pt and more information can be found on the website: FCT Mobility Call - FCT

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