"Predicted Demise of the FCT: Is it an 'Alarm' or a 'Chance'?"
Portugal's Science and Technology Agencies Merge, Sparking Debate
The Portuguese government announced on Thursday the merger of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) with the National Innovation Agency (ANI). The move, part of a broader institutional restructuring effort, aims to align and streamline funding efforts by combining FCT’s science funding with ANI’s focus on applied innovation financing.
However, the merger has been met with criticism from the scientific community. The Association of Scientific Research Scholarships (ABIC) issued a statement calling the extinction of the FCT an “alarming signal” and strongly criticized the merger, expressing concerns that ANI’s priority on applied research funding may come at the expense of fundamental scientific research, which was the main remit of FCT.
Maria Manuel Mota, a researcher and director of GIMM, represents a more nuanced viewpoint. While detailed specifics of her full stance are not provided, she is notably distinguished from ABIC’s more critical position. It appears that she may acknowledge the rationale behind seeking innovation and applied research synergies through the merger but would emphasize the need to safeguard fundamental research funding and maintain a balance between the two.
| Aspect | Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) | National Innovation Agency (ANI) | ABIC Viewpoint | Maria Manuel Mota’s Viewpoint | |--------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Mission | Focus on fundamental scientific research | Focus on financing applied innovation | Alarming merger threatening fundamental research | Implicitly supports innovation but stresses balance | | View on Merger | Being merged into ANI as per government policy | Part of government strategy to streamline institutions | Criticizes merger due to risk of ignoring fundamental research | Likely supports innovation but cautious about implications | | Main Concern | Losing institutional autonomy and focus | Expanding role over research funding | Merger signals devaluation of scientific research | Need to protect both fundamental and applied research |
This tension highlights differing priorities: ABIC fears the potential erosion of fundamental science funding and independence, while Maria Manuel Mota appears to adopt a more balanced stance aiming to reconcile innovation needs with preservation of fundamental research essence. No direct quotes from Maria Manuel Mota are available, and precise details of her position would require further statements beyond the summary in these sources.
The rationale behind the government’s merger decision is to consolidate efforts for enhancing policy coherence around sustainable development and innovation, as per institutional reforms described in Portugal’s recent administrative changes. As the merger progresses, it will be interesting to see how the balance between fundamental and applied research is maintained and how the concerns of the scientific community are addressed.
The merger of Portugal's Science and Technology Agencies could potentially influence the funding distribution between fundamental scientific research and applied innovation in the industry, as theNational Innovation Agency (ANI)'s focus on applied research financing is joining forces with theFoundation for Science and Technology (FCT)'s science funding. This development has sparked debate, with the Association of Scientific Research Scholarships (ABIC) expressing concern that the merger may lead to a shift away from fundamental scientific research. In contrast, researcher Maria Manuel Mota, while not providing specifics, may acknowledge the rationale behind seeking innovation and applied research synergies but is likely to emphasize the need to safeguard fundamental research funding and maintain a balance between the two.
