2024 @PT Call for Exploratory Proposals
Driving innovation through integrated EXPLORATORY research!
The MIT Portugal Partnership 2030 (MPP2030) is inviting proposals for the 2024 Exploratory Research Proposals, between December 2, 2024 and January 22, 2025. This is the fourth call for Exploratory projects launched under the third phase of the Program that started in 2018 ( MIT Portugal Partnership 2030) and funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).
Exploratory Research Projects (ERP) are intended to support teams of researchers from the National Science and Technology System (SCTN) entities, public and private partners, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The ERP’s are one (1) year-long projects hosted at Portuguese Universities to address emergent research topics. All exploratory projects serve as early research for the long-term objective of innovative products and services with high export potential that should spearhead Portugal’s international competitiveness and innovative capacity in science and technology, and ultimately contribute to the growth of the Portuguese economy.
This call is open to all faculty and researchers affiliated or collaborating with Portuguese institutions of higher education and research, as well as faculty and research staff at MIT.
Research activity between MIT and Portuguese universities should develop smart solutions, foster value out of knowledge/research, promote sustainable thinking, integrate human factors and technology, and stimulate multidisciplinary approaches.
For the 2024 call for Exploratory Research Project, we are seeking collaborative proposals in 4 thematic areas, all of which should be supported by data science:
- Climate Science & Climate Change
- Earth Systems: Oceans to Near Space
- Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
- Sustainable Cities
Successful proposals are required to meet the following criteria:
- Be of exceptional quality and high relevance for Portugal. They will target innovative, high impact research that addresses unique research needs and opportunities in Portugal.
- Take an “exploratory approach,” i.e. address an emergent research topic within the program framework that can be identified as future research domains and that can have a high impact for Portugal as a scalable living laboratory and innovation ecosystem for the development of new solutions/systems with a global reach, and for fostering an increase of competitiveness of Portuguese economy in the knowledge-based industry.
- Be designed with a view towards the long-term objective of developing innovative solutions/systems, demonstrating and leading Portugal’s international competitiveness and innovative capacity in science and technology.
- Be strongly collaborative and have a clear multidisciplinary approach.
WHO CAN APPLY?
- The call is open to all faculty and researchers affiliated or collaborating with Portuguese institutions of higher education and research.
Only research teams from the following Portuguese entities may apply for funding:
Higher education institutions, their institutes and R&D units; - State or international Laboratories with head office in Portugal;
- Non-profit private institutions whose main objective is R&D activities;
- Other non-profit private and public institutions developing or participating in scientific research activities.
FUNDING AND BUDGET ALLOCATION
The projects will be funded by National funds through the FCT, I.P., budget.
Depending on the quality and merit of the projects, up to 8 (eight) project proposals are expected to be funded.
The budget allocation for this call is EUR 400.000, for projects starting in 2025. The maximum funding limit for each project is EUR 50.000 (fifty thousand euros).
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
Applications must be submitted to the FCT, in English, from December 2, 2024 to January 22, 2025, at 17:00 Lisbon time, using a specific online form and must be submitted through the FCT platform, in accordance with the Call for Proposals, the guidelines contained in the Terms of Reference and the FCT’s general guidelines for submitting online applications for grants.
Applications to this call must include the on-line FCT form and the following documents, also submitted electronically:
- “Collaboration Letter” from the MIT researcher associated with the project, describing his/her contribution to the project proposal;
- A document that certifies the PhD degree of the of Principal Investigator (PI);
- Timeline file for project tasks.
- Scanning of the Declaration of Commitment for each application must be submitted on the FCT platform until February 5th, 2025, at 17:00 Lisbon time
Before submitting a proposal, applicants are advised to read all the documents of the call.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This Announcement and other relevant materials and information, are available at FCT’s website.
Information on the scientific aspects of the application can be requested via email: info@mitportugal.org
Information on the content of the application form can be requested via email: concursoprojetos@fct.pt
No funded projects at this time
IMPORTANT DATES
– Application open: December 2nd, 2024
– All submissions due by: January 22nd, 2025, at 17:00 Lisbon time
– Declaration Commitment until: February 5th, 2025, at 17:00 Lisbon time
DURATION
12 months
FUNDING
- 50 k€/project only for Portuguese participating parties
- Funding for the MIT research team participating in the project will be provided directly by MIT through the Call for Seed Projects held at MIT
TEAM REQUIREMENTS
- Be led by a research group from an institution listed under Section 2 of this call;
- Have the participation of a MIT researcher (with Principal Investigator status) in the project’s Research Team
SUPPORT ELEMENTS
– Notice of the Call
– Ethics Self Assessment Guide
– FCT platform
– CIÊNCIAVITAE Guide
– +info
USEFUL LINKS
– MIT Portugal Strategic Areas
– FCT Regulation for Research Studentships and Fellowships
– Principal Investigator Status
– FCT, I.P internet Portal