TF-MSP, The FCCN Story

May 6th 2013, Alcalá de Henares

Background

• The Portuguese bail-out program (Troika):– To reduce/eliminate “parallel public administration”,

namely private foundations and associations funded directly or indirectly by taxpayers.

– A new legal framework was created, ending public-funded private foundations. Public administration law would apply to any public funded foundation.

– A national foundation census and evaluation program was conducted in 2012.

• FCCN, as a private foundation, funded by taxpayers, was included in this census.

• FCCN evaluation was very positive, being recommended to keep level of funding, but…

Background

• But…, FCCN would always become a public foundation.

• This was considered restrictive to the optimal functioning of FCCN mission.

• Institutional alternatives were considered.• Final decision (Dec, 2012):

– To integrate/”parking” FCCN in FCT, a “special regime” public institute of the Ministry of Education and Science.

– FCT is the main funding body of science in Portugal, including FCCN.

– July 16th will be the end of integration process.– ccTLD .PT will be moved to a private association.

The Good

• Integration process is progressing smoothly.• Good support at all levels in the ministry, namely

from FCT people.• Some areas with clear synergies: Schools.• FCCN will keep its domain name and a good

degree of autonomy inside FCT.• One member of new FCT board will be

dedicated to FCCN.• “Special regime” of FCT is the most flexible

inside public administration.• NREN financing should be easier.

the Bad

• Exemption from AMA rules was not achieved (yet):– AMA rules make any ICT purchase above 10k€

needs aproval. One month for each approval.– Higher education is exempted.

• Clearly, further work is needed here…• Good cooperation with AMA overall, namely in

the national program for optimizing ICT expenditure at public administration (GPTIC).

• Public Administration Network is being planned (like CEF ?).

and the Ugly

• Macro economic context. • Successive deep cuts in all ministries, with

Ministry of Education and Science taking one of the largest reductions.

• Public servants work conditions being revised.

• Instability is bad for the continuity of good and well trained technical teams.

Conclusion

• We’re fairly optimistic:– NREN autonomy inside FCT will be preserved. – Extended footprint inside ministry.– Relation with AMA must be worked further.

• But big challenges lie ahead:– Keeping the teams with unstable working conditions.– Managing budget cuts in the foreseeable future.