Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FRCT)

The Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FRCT) is a body tutored by the Regional

Secretariat of the Sea, Science and Technology, with administrative and financial autonomy.

One of the main goals of the FRCT is to facilitate the link between the SCTA entities (scientific and

technological system of the Azores), in order to improve the performance of regional participants in

European calls for proposals and promote research and innovation developed in the Region.

Regional Fund for Science and Technology (FRCT)

Of the action areas of FRCT we highlight the following:

- Support for advanced training, through the attribution of different types of research

grants;

- Financing and/or participation in international events organization relevant to the

scientific community;

- Participation in regional, national and international projects, as coordinator or as

partner;

- Supporting the participation of other regional entities, including the Azorean

Scientific and Technological System (SCTA) in external funding programmes, among

which stands out the HORIZON 2020.

FRCT’s participation in

European Projects

7th Framework Programme

Doris_Net - Downstream Observatory organised by Regions active in Space -

Fostering downstream activities and links with regions.

This project aimed to establish itself as a connecting element between regional actors and the topic of space

technology, taking the physical form of a support office. The connection to the NEREUS Association and the

National Forum GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), are important inputs to the network of

knowledge needed culminating in a better dissemination of information. During the DORIS_Net project was

successfully implemented a methodology to increase regional awareness of potential of COPERNICUS with the

concept of a network of Regional Contact Offices (RCO) (http://www.aitjournal.com/articleView.aspx?ID= 875).

ERA-NETs - European Research Area networks

NetBiome - NETworking tropical and subtropical BIodiversity research in

OuterMost regions and territories of Europe in support of sustainable

development

NetBiome was a regional ERA-NET project, presented by a consortium of 11 partners, representing regional or

territorial bodies of five Member States (Portugal, France, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK), which focused on

the involvement of society in setting priorities identified by managers and scientists of regional programs. Promoted

interaction with European and international organizations in the field of biodiversity, such as networks of excellence

FP6 (ALTERNET, EUR-OCEANS and MARBEF), other relevant ERA-NETs (biodiverse, Marinera and Skep) and

non-governmental organizations to identify gaps in the basic sciences and technology necessary to provide a basis for

sound policies.

Under this project was launched a joint call for transnational and trans-regional research entitled "Towards

Biodiversity Management in support of Sustainable Development in Tropical and Subtropical US". Five projects

were funded, the FRCT funded regional teams of three of these projects, SAFEPGR, SEAPROLIF and MOVECLIM.

ERA-NETs - European Research Area networks

BiodivERsa3- Consolidating the European Research Area on biodiversity and

ecosystem services

This project, funded by the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - Horizon 2020, is an ERA-NET

COFUND action consisting of a network of 31 public funding agencies, among which is the FRCT, from 18 European

countries who intend to support scientific research in the field of biodiversity. BiodivERsA3, co-financed by the

European Commission will launch a call for scientific projects with the title applications: "Understanding and

managing biodiversity dynamics to Improve ecosystem functioning and delivery of ecosystem services in a global

change context: the cases of (1) soils and sediments, and (2) river- land- and sea-scape "with an indicative total

budget of 30 million euros.

ERA-NETs - European Research Area networks

GEOTHERMICA

GEOTHERMICA’s objective is to combine the financial resources and know-how of 16 geothermal energy

research and innovation programme owners and managers from 13 countries, to launch joint actions that

demonstrate and validate novel concepts of geothermal energy utilization within the energy system and that identify

paths to commerciality. Joint actions comprise joint calls and coordination activities, which will strengthen Europe’s

geothermal energy sector by building a tightly interconnected and well-coordinated network of European funding

agents.

CSA – Cooperation and Support Actions

NetBiome-CSA- Strengthening European research cooperation for smart and

sustainable management of tropical and subtropical biodiversity in outermost

regions and overseas countries and territories

NetBiome-CSA, in which the FRCT is the coordinator, aims to mobilize knowledge and environmental resources

of the various stakeholders through a participatory process for policy initiatives, priority analyzes, dialogues among

multiple actors, exchange of best practices, production recommendations for Research and policies. Establish

research partnerships to sustainably manage biodiversity in the outermost regions of the European Union (ORs) and

Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

RIA– Research and Innovation Actions

UrBAN-WASTE: Urban strategies for Waste Management in Tourist Cities

UrBAN-WASTE will support policy makers in answering challenges and in developing strategies that aim at

reducing the amount of municipal waste production and at further support the re-use, recycle, collection and

disposal of waste in tourist cities.

PCP – Pre-Commercial Procurement

MARINE – EO

Bridging Innovative Downstream Earth Observation and Copernicus enabled Services for

Integrated maritime environment, surveillance and security.

MARINE-EO teams up a group of 5 maritime authorities (the buyers’ group) and a group of 4 prestigious scientific and technical

organizations with significant experience in EO and maritime matters (the technical advisors) to achieve the following objectives: (1)

Develop, test and validate two set of demand-driven EO-based services which cover Marine Monitoring and Security Copernicus

thematic areas, adopted on open standards, bringing incremental or radical innovations in the field of maritime awareness and

leveraging on the existing Copernicus Services and other products from the Copernicus portfolio, (2) Propose a set of “support” /

“envelop” services which will better integrate the above mentioned EO and Copernicus-enabled services to the operational logic and

code of conduct. Such services shall also bring “closer” the demand side (Public Authorities - PAs) with the EO data providers

(Copernicus - contributing missions) and EO data experts and analysts (Service providers/ industry and SMEs) creating a dynamic

environment for a single digital market to grow, (3) Strengthen transnational collaboration in maritime awareness sector by facilitating

knowledge transfer and optimization of resources for the public authorities which, participate in the buyers group. Pre-Commercial

Procurement (PCP) is a powerful tool to tackle these three points under one single joint initiative, and this is why MARINE-EO is in an

excellent position to reinforce future capabilities.

Calls for Tender

BEST- Measures towards Sustaining the BEST preparatory Action to promote

the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in

EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories

The project aims to create a platform for sharing information on funding opportunities for projects aimed at

conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the outermost regions and countries and

European overseas territories. This platform will facilitate the exchange of information between donors (European

Commission, member states, financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and companies) and the

promoters of the projects; at the same time will develop regional ecosystem profiles which identify the most deprived

areas of investment.

Calls for Tender

Mistic SEAS - Macaronesia Islands Standard Indicators and Criteria: Reaching

Common Grounds on Monitoring Marine Biodiversity in Macaronesia

The Regional Fund for Science leads a consortium of several public entities in Portugal and Spain, of service

provider to the European Commission (by DG Environment), with a starting date on 1 December 2015, with an

amount of 650 000 euros. The project aims to create a common methodology of indicators for monitoring of marine

biodiversity in the sub region of Macaronesia in accordance with the European Marine Strategy Framework

Directive. The methodology will focus three functional groups, namely, marine mammals, seabirds and turtles.

PCT-MAC

MaRes- Macaronesia Research Strategy

Under the Transnational Cooperation Programme MAC 2007-2013 this project had as main objective the creation of

a Macaronesia research strategy to assume the challenges of sustainability through research and competitive

development in insular Atlantic regions, the Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira. As specific objectives were the

establishment of a common strategy to promote synergies between the areas of greatest potential and

complementarity of R&D+I Macaronesia systems by facilitating the identification of additional strategic areas of

research, development and innovation between the three regions and promoting mobility of students and researchers

between regions belonging to Macaronesia, reinforcing a growing collaboration between researchers and institutions

in each region.

PCT-MAC

TransCrea- Transnational Network for the Promotion of Technological

Entrepreneurship in Macaronesia

The TRANSCREA project aimed to develop a transnational network to support the creation of technology-based

companies in the regions of Macaronesia. Were also created and disseminated recommendations for a common

political commitment to support the same network.

INTERREG MAC

FIMAC- Acceleration Platform for the Macaronesia SME’s Internationalization

by fostering the use of Internet of the Future Technologies to improve

competiveness

INTERREG MAC

SMART DEST- Evaluation and proposal of strategy and development of tools for

the conversion of collaboration area islands as Intelligent Touristic Destinations

INTERREG MAC

BIOTRANSFER 2: Transfer of biotechnology research oriented towards

corporate profitability and business flows mobilization

INTERREG MAC

LuMinAves - Light pollution and conservation of seabirds in islands: reducing

the harmful effects of artificial light on the Procellariiformes populations of the

archipelagos of the Macaronesia region.

INTERREG MAC

RIS3NET - Interregional Cooperation for the Smart Growth of the MAC Regions

INTERREG MAC

SMARTBLUE - Network of regional maritime clusters for the smart

specialization of the blue economy

Networks

EurOcean is a focal point for information on marine science and technology in Europe and

its Internet portal is aiming to provide information on topics related to marine science and

technology in Europe with a priority given to two main domains: marine research

infrastructures and European research, technology and development information.

EurOcean contributes to the initiatives aiming to implement a Marine European Research

Area and a European maritime policy.

http://www.eurocean.org/

Networks

Network of European Regions Using Space Technologies is an initiative by regions from all

over Europe. Emphasis is placed on the use of space technologies. The network aims to

explore the benefits of space technologies for Regions and their citizens and to spread their

applications.

http://www.nereus-regions.eu/

Networks

C3M is based on values such as cooperation, commitment, communication and

competitiveness. Thus the C3M aims to be a place of meeting and dialogue of all

stakeholders related to the sea, whose future depends largely on the ability to maintain

and create competitive advantages for companies in the maritime sector by developing

activities to increase the level of innovation and international presence.

Networks

Smart Med Cluster partnership is formed between multidisciplinary organizations;

research centers, industry, innovative SME’s, civil society actors and other stakeholders,

to integrate a range of planning approaches as well as tools and enabling technologies that

can support participatory-oriented city- and citizen-specific urban planning studies,

capable of dealing with sustainability challenges that are faced by cities today.

The scope of the Partnership is to identify, develop and deploy replicable, balanced and

integrated solutions in the energy, transport, and ICT, in small and medium sized cities

and islands.

http://www.smartcitiesmed.com/profile

Team

FRCT’ President

Bruno Pacheco, Eng.

Board: Francisco

Pinto

Board:

Célia Amaral

Francisco Wallenstein

Luz Paramio

Natália Susana Silva

Beatriz Cândido

Gisela Nascimento

Emanuel

Mendonça

Fábio Vieira

Contacts

Governo dos Açores - Portugal

Secretaria Regional do Mar, Ciência e Tecnologia

Fundo Regional para a Ciência e Tecnologia

+351 296 308 946

www.azores.gov.pt/frct

frct@azores.gov.pt