Framework

FITEC - Innovation, Technology and Circular Economy Fund aims to support policies to enhance scientific and technological knowledge and its transformation into innovation, to stimulate cooperation between higher education institutions, technological interface centres (TICs) and the business fabric, and to provide training for a more efficient use of resources, preserving their usefulness and value throughout the production and use chain, namely through material and energy efficiency.

The allocation of funding by FITEC is governed by the provisions of the Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 84/2016 of 21 December, Decree-Law No. 86-C/2016 of 29 December, Ordinance No. 258/2017 of 21 August, which approves the FITEC Management Regulation.

Access to the awarded funding is carried out through the submission of applications within the scope of a tender procedure, which will be available on the website of ANI - National Innovation Agency.

Identification of objectives and priorities

As part of its purpose, FITEC pursues the following specific objectives:

• To value scientific and technological knowledge, optimising its transfer to companies and its transformation into innovation;
• To improve coordination between the different actors in the Innovation system: Higher Education Institutions, TICs and companies;
• To ensure core funding for TICs that play a relevant role in technology transfer and empower companies in their transition to a circular economy, namely by contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and, thus, to the mitigation of climate change;
• To increase R&D (Research and Development) and Innovation capacity in small and medium-sized companies, enhancing their connection to the innovation system through TICs;
• To promote innovation leading to an efficient and productive use of material and energy resources through TICs;
• To facilitate the access of TICs and companies to highly qualified human resources, promoting qualified employment.

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries of the Fund may be public, mixed or private entities, which are:

• Technological Interface Centres (TICs) of the National Innovation System (Technological Centres and Technology Transfer and Valorisation Centres), which have as their main assignment or social object the carrying out of business technology assistance and technical support and/or business-oriented R&D activities;
• Higher Education Institutions;
• Businesses.

Fund Management

According to Ordinance No. 258/2017, of 21 August, the bodies of the Fund are the Executive Committee and the Statutory Auditor.

1. The Fund is managed:
• On the technical side, by an Executive Committee composed of:
• Two members of the Board of Directors of ANI - Agência Nacional de Inovação, S.A. (ANI, S.A.);
• One member appointed by order of the Government member responsible for the economy;
• On the financial side, by IFD - Instituição Financeira de Desenvolvimento, S.A. (IFD, S.A.).
2. The member of the Government responsible for the economy shall appoint the Chairman of the Executive Committee.
3. The Executive Committee exercises the powers relating to the management of the Fund with the technical, administrative and logistical support of ANI, S.A., which also ensures the procedures relating to the contracting of goods and services required for its operation.

Please refer to the FITEC organisational chart in force at the end of 2019.

Related documents

• Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 84/2016 of 21 December
• Decree-Law No. 86-C/2016 of 29 December
• Ordinance No. 258/2017 of 21 August
• Activity and Budget Plan 2019-2020
• Activity and Budget Plan 2017-2018
• Report and Accounts 2021
• Report and Accounts 2020
• Report and Accounts 2019
• Report and Accounts 2018
• Report and Accounts 2017
• Subsidies paid in the year 2018 (Article 4(1) of Law No. 64/2013 of 27/08)
• Subsidies paid in the year 2020 (Article 4(1) of Law No. 64/2013 of 27/08)
• Payment standard

The Interface Programme aims to add value to Portuguese products through innovation, increased productivity, the creation of value and the incorporation of technology in the production processes of national companies.

As a whole, the initiatives under the Interface Programme aim to speed up transfer of technology from universities to companies, boost product certification, increase the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy and of Portuguese companies on national and international markets.

Within the scope of the Interface Programme, and through FITEC, the Pluriannual Base Funding of Interface Centres (TIC) - Access all the information

Frequently Asked Questions on TIC Funding - FAQ

Related documents

• Regulation on Access to Pluriannual Base Funding for the Reinforcement and Human Resources of Interface Centres
• Guidelines for Applications to Pluriannual Base Funding of Interface Centres
• Evaluation Guidelines for the Applications to Pluriannual Base Funding Interface Centres
• Evaluation Guidelines for the Applications to Pluriannual Base Funding Interface Centres
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)