Status: Applications must be submitted via the official FCT platform by the stated deadline
The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) is pleased to announce the 2025 Call for Exploratory Research Projects (ERPs), bearing the seal of the UT Austin Portugal Program.
This Call supports high-impact, exploratory research collaborations between Portuguese research teams and researchers at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), advancing scientific excellence, innovation, and long-term transatlantic partnerships.
Projects funded under this Call are expected to pursue ambitious, high-risk / high-reward research ideas, with clearly defined outcomes achievable within a 12-month timeframe, and with potential to scale toward future research, innovation, or societal impact.
At a Glance
- Who can apply: Eligible teams from Portugal and UT Austin
- Funding (Portugal): Up to €50,000 per project (lump sum)
- Funding (UT Austin): Between $50,000 and $100,000 per project
- Total Funding: €400,000 (Portugal). Matched funding at UT Austin for UT Austin research teams (through the Program’s budget)
- Projects Funded: At least 8
- Duration: 12 months (extendable up to 3 months, upon justification)
- Submission Platform: myFCT (Portuguese PI submits)
What Type of Projects Are We Looking For?
This Call is designed to support exploratory, early-stage research that tests new ideas, approaches, methods, or combinations of expertise that may involve scientific or technical uncertainty, but that have the potential to open new research directions or enable follow-up funding and innovation.
Projects should:
- Address scientific topics in the areas of the Program (Phase IV)
- Demonstrate novelty and ambition
- Show strong complementarity between Portuguese and UT Austin teams
- Be achievable within the Call’s timeframe and funding limits
Research Areas
Applications must address challenges within one of the four Phase IV flagship scientific areas of the UT Austin Portugal Program:
- Advanced Computing: Scaling energy-efficient computing tools, including greener and more sustainable AI solutions, with a focus on efficiency and the application of translational AI across domains.
- Clean Energy: Advancing climate neutrality, with emphasis on climate-neutral cities, industrial decarbonisation, and future energy systems.
- Nanotechnologies: Advancing critical materials, including applications in batteries, semiconductors, and green hydrogen production.
- Space-Earth Technologies: Leveraging space technologies particularly sensing and enabling solutions to develop Earth models and applications that support prevention, mitigation, and decision-making in areas such as forest fires, coastal erosion, soil monitoring, and ocean ecosystems.
For detailed thematic scope, please consult the Terms of Reference available on the official FCT call page.
Who Can Apply?
Portuguese Institutions
Eligible Portuguese entities include:
- Higher Education Institutions and their R&D units
- State, international or associated laboratories headquartered in Portugal
- Non-profit private institutions with R&D as their main activity, including Collaborative Laboratories (CoLABs) and Centres for Technology and Innovation (CTIs)
- Other public or private non-profit institutions engaged in scientific research
UT Austin Participation
UT Austin defines eligibility criteria for its faculty and research staff to co-lead projects under this Call. These requirements are detailed in the official Call Announcement and must be consulted accordingly.
Consortium Composition
Projects must involve at least:
- One Principal Investigator (PI) affiliated with an eligible Portuguese institution, and
- One PI at UT Austin (tenure-track or senior PI-status researcher for TACC projects).
Industry participation is welcome but not funded.
Members of the UT Austin Portugal Program governance structure (Program Board, External Review Committee, Board of Directors, Executive Team) are not eligible to participate as PIs, team members, or consultants.
FAQs
Key information regarding the ERP Call and UT Austin collaboration.
What are the Budget and Funding Conditions?
Portugal: Up to €50,000 per project (lump-sum model). Eligible costs follow FCT’s simplified cost framework.
UT Austin: Between $50,000 and $100,000 per project. Funding supports research-related direct costs (e.g. PhD students, research travel, materials). Faculty salaries and major equipment purchases are not eligible.
UT Austin teams will be notified of funding decisions by the UT Austin Portugal Program office, not by FCT.
What is the Application Process?
- Applications are submitted only once, through FCT’s myFCT platform.
- The Portuguese PI is responsible for submission.
- Proposals must reflect a jointly prepared project by Portuguese and UT Austin teams.
- All documentation must be submitted in English.
- Applications must be submitted via the official FCT platform by the stated deadline.
Official Call Documents
For full details on eligibility, evaluation criteria, funding rules, and submission requirements, please consult the official FCT Call Announcement and Terms of Reference, available here.