OPEN SCIENCE POLICY

The Open Science Policy of the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) defines mandatory rules for Open Access to scientific publications and research data financed by public funds, aiming at greater transparency, sharing, and reuse of knowledge. Launched in 2014 and updated in 2025, it requires articles, books, chapters to be made available with open access, promoting open licences such as CC-BY and benefiting scientific visibility and the advancement of science.

• Researchers will be ushered into complying with FCT open science policies (as well as other funding resources)

• FCT's How to Publish with Open Science
• FCT'S FAQ on Open Science
• Polen - FCT'S Plataform Regarding Open Science

DATA MANAGEMENT

Data management is the comprehensive practice of collecting, storing, organizing, securing, maintaining and sharing a set (or different sets) of of data throughout its entire lifecycle to ensure it's accurate, accessible, and valuable for informed decision-making, operational efficiency, and resuse. 

• The main research funding agencies are in the process of adopting research data management and sharing policies that will require researchers to incorporate data management plans as part of the process of conducting research

• FCT'S Policy on Data Management and Sharing 
• Data Management Model (Example as prepared by FCT)
• Plataform tha allows for the creation of Data Management Plans 

DATA PROTECTION

Procedures for submitting requests to the Data Protection Officer, which will come into effect on 1 January 2026.

• Procedure to be followed in the context of research projects:

Applicants should consult the guidelines available at https://www.ua.pt/en/rgpd to ensure that their application is correctly structured. Applicants must gather all relevant information and complete the necessary forms available on the website.

Before submission, the applicant must send the application for review to their Organic Unit/Research Unit/Service, which will verify that the application meets the requirements and declare it ready for submission to the EPD for review. After validation, the applicant must send the application to ceic-ua@ua.pt, following the guidelines provided.

Duly completed applications will be reviewed in parallel by the CEIC-UA and the EPD.

• Procedure to be followed for other areas

Requests for analysis/opinions that do not fall within the scope of research, where applicable, must be reviewed in advance by the Organic Unit/Research Unit/Service and sent to the following email address: epd@ua.pt.

Types of requests:

-Exercise of data subjects' rights;

-Events/conferences;

-Contracts/agreements/protocols/NDAs;

-Disclosure/campaigns;

-Data breach notification;

-Training and awareness;

-Other matters.

• Information

For more information on practical guidance, relevant legislation, useful contacts and answers to frequently asked questions related to data protection, please visit: https://www.ua.pt/en/rgpd