New rules in the FCT contests – TSF Online

An annual schedule, transparent and displayed at once. The new president of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), which now takes possession or a planned schedule of competitions.

Speaking to the TSF, the new president of the FCT, Paulo Ferrao, not to research competitions that follow one after the other without knowing what the picture in its entirety. So the agenda of the tenders shall be submitted once a year, and the researchers come to know what they can count and thus Paulo Ferrao want to solve an old problem.

“One of the assessment of the problems is that each time the Foundation opens a competition because it is not known when the following programs are flooded with proposals. we want researchers rather than being put 10 proposals also take responsibility and instead of 10 put only one or two, reducing the pressure on the system, “underlines Paul Stinger

Paul Stinger – New rules contests

in this sense, the new president clarifies that “for now we have to set in motion the procedures that are already decided. we have to iron out problems that are pending, in particular with the regulations of the projects” and then “we have a tendering schedule, we want to post, and that is very clear and that people feel comfortable within the time limits in which to submit their ideas for funding, as a decompression factor in the community”, proposes the President of the FCT.

Paulo Ferrao, professor, Technical University and director seem MIT-Portugal today sworn in as president of the FCT, which has experienced problems with the financing of applicants, a situation that will be analyzed.

“we want the hiring of doctors who are contracted to universities there are also some co-responsibility of universities and that we can develop mechanisms to ensure careers and combat precariousness,” suggests Paul Ferrao, without specifying.

Paul Stinger – Grant recipients with more stability

The new FCT’s management team will be framed by a “Letter of Guiding Principles” which was designed and accepted by the Government.

for Paul Stinger “the ‘Declaration of Principles’ which has set the FCT as an entity which serves the scientific community and working for it so it can actually develop and assume greater international importance. And so, of course, the welcome very good. “

The ‘Charter’” the result of an extensive process of dialogue with the scientific community and having thus born can only mean that this new direction of FCT will want to use this dialog, you’ll want to use these principles to serve as guide to your daily life and establish large bridges with the scientific community to advance and develop “, he says.

Among the key recommendations the ‘letter’ is provided in support for increased funding for the sector, the strengthening of PhD scholarships, the rejuvenation of the body of researchers, the evaluation of the review that is made to the laboratories, and which depends on the public financing of the activity that develop the bureaucracy and involvement of the scientific community in activities and in the preparation of strategies and programs.

review

“of course we want to establish clearer rules periodicity of review “, said Paulo Ferrao.

the FCT must have” a constant mission to support and review “and in this sense should” promote reviews “but does not make them. “Is the Foundation to promote evaluations but will be made by international experts” emphasizes Paulo Ferrao who wants to “have the best people to evaluate projects in their areas, it is absolutely critical to the success of the evaluation process.”

So, “something we have to change is the evaluation process, which gave problems and created suspicion in the scientific community, we have to change, we have to improve. we also want the scientific community to take responsibility, there is co-responsibility” this is the key concept of Paulo Ferrao that repeats several times throughout this conversation: “this is for me the big word: responsibility of all of the scientific community agents,” concludes

. calendar change does not solve the sangria created the scientific system

Andrew Janeco, the Fellows Association, does not believe that these new rules will solve all problems, but admits that it is a good idea, which still needs to be clarified. “The whole scientific community criticized not be possible to plan all research investment structuring and organization of work itself.”

André January talks in bleeding in the scientific system

As for the huge avalanche of applications, André Janeco explains that it” was due to the existing calendar but also the sangria that existed the scientific community, especially in terms of human resources. This avalanche of applications will not be solved only with a calendar change, “he said.