The Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures has approved 62 applications for Doctoral grants under the application FRCT/2011/312/00.

The applications for Doctoral grants were submitted in all scientific areas: Exact Sciences, Natural sciences, Engineering sciences and Technology, Medical and Health Sciences, Agricultural sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities. The grants are directed at researchers residing in the Azores and the research activities must be developed under one of the R&D Units of the Regional Scientific and Technological System.
A total of 66 applications were submitted and 62 were admitted to the competition. The results may be consulted in the area of ongoing Assessments at http://sctr.azores.gov.pt.

Following the presentation of the Programme for the Promotion of Employment and Competitiveness, the Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures decided to reinforce its advanced training programmes. In this regard, “an additional funding was granted to extend the allowed number of grants," stressed José Contente.

The government official also underlined that the reinforcement of funds has allowed to extend the available grants from 20 to 60, thus ensuring the funding of all projects whose quality is recognised by an external independent jury.

Furthermore, the Regional Secretary pointed out the importance of these Doctoral grants in the area of research for the regional business sector.

In order to speed up the process, the Administration Board of the Regional Fund for Science and Technology has decided to publish the results as soon as the assessment of the applications is concluded.