Research and Development Units (R&D Units) rated as “Very Good” have spoken out against severe cuts to core funding and have criticised the lack of transparency surrounding programme-based funding allocated by the FCT for the 2025–2029 period. In an open letter addressed to the Minister for Education, Science and Innovation, the units warn that the new rules seriously jeopardise the continuity and quality of scientific research in Portugal.
The revised core funding model reduces the nominal amount allocated per integrated researcher in “Very Good” units by 69%, to just €1,156.58 per year — representing a 74% real-terms reduction when adjusted for inflation. This amount, the units argue, is insufficient to cover even the most basic scientific expenses.
“The decision was taken without a strategic plan, without prior warning, and without time to adapt,” states the letter, signed by the majority of the 117 R&D Units, which collectively represent over 6,400 researchers — amounting to 30.5% of the positively evaluated national scientific community.
Funding disparities between evaluation categories have also widened considerably. The amount allocated per researcher in an “Excellent” unit is now four times greater than that in a “Very Good” unit — a ratio that has nearly quadrupled compared to the previous funding period. This development threatens not only the preservation of current ratings but also the potential for progress in scientific quality.
The signatories also highlight inconsistencies in the counting of integrated researchers, disparities in the application of criteria, and the allocation of programme-based funding through an automated process, rather than one based on scientific merit — in direct contradiction to the principles previously announced by the FCT itself.
Among the signatory units is CEF.UP – the Centre for Economics and Finance at the University of Porto, an independent R&D Unit based at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto. Its mission is to undertake theoretical and empirical research in the fields of Economics and Finance, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in these areas.
As a practical consequence of the new measures, the R&D Units warn that they will be forced to reduce recruitment, dismiss researchers, abandon advanced training, and delay equipment upgrades — exacerbating job insecurity and undermining the international competitiveness of Portuguese science.
The units are calling for three urgent measures: the revision of core funding to levels that ensure the regular operation of R&D Units; the allocation of programme-based funding based on scientific merit assessed by independent panels; and clear, rigorous clarification of the criteria for researcher integration.
“Without these corrections, the current model risks discrediting the entire system of science evaluation and funding in Portugal,” the signatories warn, while reaffirming their commitment to scientific excellence and public service.
