NOTICE
Following the Protocol signed between the Foundation for Science and Technology, IP (FCT) and the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation (FBA), a competition is open for the award of the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation Prize 2025 for the “Conservation, restoration and monitoring of biodiversity in Portugal”
Financing
The two Foundations, in equal shares, will grant one or more prizes up to a maximum value of €500,000 (five hundred thousand euros). Each of the prizes to be awarded will be worth a maximum of €250,000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand euros) and a minimum of €100,000.00 (one hundred thousand euros).
Scope and Recipients
- The Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation Award will distinguish projects that promote the conservation, restoration and monitoring of biodiversity developed in Portuguese territory by a national institution, for a minimum period of 24 months and a maximum of 36 months, extendable for a maximum of 12 months, in justified cases. Projects to be financed must be initiated within 3 months of notification of the granting of support.
You can apply:
a) non-profit private law legal entities with headquarters in Portugal, including non-profit scientific societies or scientific associations.;
b) higher education institutions and their public or private R&D institutes and units. - Each proposal must indicate a researcher responsible for coordinating the entity's work, holding the title of “Doctor” for at least 5 years.
- A researcher may not submit more than one application.
Eligible Expenses
Expenses related to human resources (bursaries and fixed-term contracts), missions, scientific and technical equipment, acquisition of goods and services, demonstration and promotion and dissemination of results may be charged to the project.
Contest Period
Applications must be submitted between 1 April 2025 and 17:00 (Lisboa time) on 30 April 2025.
Submission of Applications
Applications must be submitted in English by completing the electronic form available on the myFCT page. Proposals must include a description of the project, planned activities, objectives, technical means, human and financial resources, budget justification, project presentation with a maximum of 10 slides and a timetable.
Evaluation and selection
- The evaluation of applications is carried out by a Jury made up of personalities, preferably with foreign affiliations, of recognized international merit in the field of sciences related to biodiversity, indicated by the FCT and the FBA.
- The Jury is composed of 5 or more members, an odd number depending on the number of applications that may exist.
- The evaluation and selection process is based on the following criteria:
a) Scientific merit of the project, methodology used and expected results (40% weighting);
b) Scientific merit of the proposing entity, research team and partnerships involved (25% weighting);
c) Feasibility of the work program, potential impact and budgetary reasonableness (35% weighting).
After the evaluation process is completed and the best candidate(s) have been selected for the competition, the Jury will forward their proposal to the FCT and the FBA, who will make the final decision on the awarding of the prize(s).
Disclosure of results
The results will be published on the FCT websites - https://www.fct.pt and the Belmiro de Azevedo Foundation - https://fundacaobelmirodeazevedo.pt - and also by email to all candidates. Notification will be sent to the email address used by candidates when submitting their application.
Information
Information requests about this competition can be obtained through premio.fba@fct.pt .
Check out the Regulations and Application Support Guidelines below.