The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology announced today in Ponta Delgada that the Government will open Monday an application for doctoral grants that will provide a monthly allocation of 1,160 Euros. The government official stressed that these grants "provide a higher amount than that in force for Mainland Portugal, which is less than 1,000 Euros." ~

"This application, amounting to more than 1.7 million Euros, will fund doctoral grants for a maximum period of four years, which represents an investment of about 430 thousand Euros per year," stressed Fausto Brito e Abreu during a visit to the Genetics and Molecular Pathology Unit of Divino Espírito Santo Hospital.

Brito e Abreu pointed out that this unit has conducted "relevant" studies on diseases such as leptospirosis, congenital heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases in the Region.

"In order to define its policies in the field of science, the Government of the Azores always consults researchers," the government official said, adding that the visits to different research centres allow us "to hear the concerns of our scientists."

"Opening doctoral and post-doctoral grants on a yearly basis is very important and desirable," said the Regional Secretary. He stressed that "all research centres have requested, apart from a large number of grants, the opening of applications in order to promote the entry of more grant holders into the scientific system."

In this context, Fausto Brito e Abreu said the application for doctoral grants, which will be open until February 29, provides a response to some needs of Azorean research centres.
The projects to be financed under this competition may be included in any scientific area and, at least, two-thirds of the grants should line with the Smart Specialisation Strategy for the Autonomous Region of the Azores (RIS3).

Approved applications will then be submitted by the Science and Technology Regional Fund to PO AZORES 2020 for co-financing under the European Social Fund.

In addition to the monthly payment of 1,160 Euros, this application for doctoral grants also includes the payment of tuition fees in the amount of 2,500 Euros per year, a volunteer social insurance and a personal accident insurance.

The Regional Secretary for Science also noted that the Regional Government also intends to launch an application for post-doctoral grants in the first half of 2016. However, this initiative will only be implemented after the release of the results of the tender for support to scientific research projects, which is currently being assessed by an external jury, and the selection of the post-doctorate researchers eligible for hiring.