Wednesday, February 10, 2016

New president of the FCT promises to serve the scientific community but requires accountability – publico

                 


                         
                     


                         

                 

 
 

The new president of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Paulo Ferrao, defended on Wednesday in Lisbon, after the inauguration of the new direction of the FCT, that this institution will serve scientific community and promised seriousness in the evaluation and allocation of research funding. But brought to the center of his interlocutors debate – university presidents, presidents of polytechnic institutes and research institutes -., Asking co-responsibility

“Serve requires the opening of warranty to dialogue and reciprocal involvement of FCT with the scientific community, “he spoke Paulo Ferrao, in Theatre Thalia, for a filled audience. But “requires joint responsibility and this must be the brand that we propose in the relationship between all actors”

Examples of this co-responsibility:. The involvement of universities in the enlargement of scientific employment and stability; the commitment of the FCT to increase the annual grants program; accountability of each researcher to focus on sources of funding on priority areas and do not apply to all competitions; promoting the FCT diversifying sources of public funding for scientific activity.

With these and other measures, such as less bureaucratic processes associated with scientific activity, Paulo Ferrão wants to “revive science and its contribution to human development and national economy “. Ie either turn the page after four years as it considers that the FCT and the Ministry of Science walked back turned for a significant part of the scientific community.

After the speech of Paul Stinger, it was instead of Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, talking. Began emphasized the process of public discussion about the future of the FCT, which began two months ago with the creation by the hand of a focus group as a basis to “refocus the actions of the FCT,” he said. And he took the inauguration to disclose a letter, signed by himself and by Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Maria Fernanda Rollo, in recovering the recommendations of the reflection group on the future of FCT.

one of the objectives for that shift is the “launch in the coming weeks a new evaluation process of research and development activity,” said Manuel Heitor. This measure comes in response to heavy criticism evaluation to research units held by the previous management of the FCT, chaired by Miguel Seabra, and the then Minister of Science, Nuno Crato, and the Secretary of State of Science, Leonor Parreira.

the FCT has set the new evaluation process during 2016 and launch it in 2017. the funding of research units will not be damaged while the process lasts, assured Paulo Ferrao, responding to PUBLIC.

Five million for polytechnics

Other goals set by the Minister of Science go to support the renewal of the scientific community, to promote links between universities and polytechnics, encourage participation of Portugal in European programs and boost competitiveness in the economy. In particular, to strengthen the research activity in the polytechnics, Manuel Heitor announced a five-million program.

The minister also wants to launch what designate as a “national policy of open science” that allow the society at large access to the results of research carried out with public money.

in addition to the new president of the FCT, also took possession of Michael Brown as vice president and Isabel Ribeiro and Ana Sanchez vowels. Paulo Ferrao succeeds Maria Armenia Carrondo, researcher who replaced in April 2015, the doctor and researcher Miguel Seabra, who resigned from the presidency of the FCT citing personal reasons.


                     
                 

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