FCT and National Defense Institute sign “Defense + Science” Program Protocol

Signing of the Protocol for the Defense + Science Program

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the National Defence Institute (IDN) have established a cooperation protocol for the operationalization of the “Defence + Science” programme. The protocol was signed by the President of the FCT, Madalena Alves, and the Director General of the IDN, Isabel Ferreira Nunes, at a ceremony held on March 18, 2025, presided over by the Secretary of State for National Defense, Ana Isabel Xavier, and the Secretary of State for Science, Ana Paiva.

The “Defense + Science” program has the following objectives:

  1. Promote research, development and innovation in areas that are essential for the Armed Forces to operate, mobilizing the Higher Education Institutions and Research Centres of the National Science and Technology System (SNCT) on security and defence issues, with a focus on strengthening national strategic autonomy.
  2. Fostering the defense economy through greater coordination between companies, higher education institutions, civilian and military research centers, and the Armed Forces.
  3. Valuing and qualifying SNCT researchers, promoting their training and research into topics relevant to security and defense.
  4. Valuing and qualifying Armed Forces professionals, promoting their training and development.
  5. Encourage the involvement of national industry in RD&I programs, in partnership with military and civilian research and innovation centers, higher education institutions and cooperative programs of the European Union or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

With a budget of eight million euros to invest up to 2030, the “Defence + Science” program will provide funding through public Calls for co-promoted R&D projects that will significantly advance scientific and technological knowledge, in line with international standards. The program will also fund doctoral Studentships , support doctoral students and support the hiring of doctoral graduates, with these program instruments being operationalized through FCT’s own mechanisms.

 

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