In 2025, 60 projects involving CESAM were initiated, corresponding to €12.17 million in funding allocated to the Centre. Of these, CESAM assumes coordination in 39 projects and participates as a partner in 21, confirming a high capacity for scientific leadership, alongside strategic participation in national and international consortia.
In addition to this scientific performance, 17 service provision contracts were also carried out in 2025 with companies and other national and international entities, corresponding to funding of approximately €300,000, further reinforcing CESAM’s connection to the socioeconomic fabric.
In the first days of 2026, a further 8 projects (resulting from calls with decisions in 2025) have already started, adding approximately €2.12 million to the Centre’s funding. Altogether, the projects initiated in 2025 and at the beginning of 2026 total 68 projects and more than €14.29 million, with 45 coordinated projects and 23 partner participations.
Europe and international: consolidation and continuity
In 2025, CESAM consolidated its European presence with 10 projects funded by the European Union (9 Horizon Europe and 1 LIFE), totalling €3.39 million, including two Horizon Europe projects coordinated by CESAM. In addition to these, the Centre secured six additional international projects, strengthening collaborations with international organisations and foundations and diversifying funding sources and formats.
In 2026, the launch of one Horizon Europe project, with CESAM as a partner, already adds continuity to this strategic commitment to the European arena.
National funding: competitive portfolio and investment in instrumental capacity
At the national level, FCT remains the main funding body, with 34 projects initiated in 2025 (29 coordinated by CESAM), totalling €4.35 million. In parallel, CESAM maintained relevant activity in instruments oriented towards innovation and public policies, including projects funded by ANI and CCDRC.
Within the framework of the successful application for FCT Research Unit funding, CESAM also benefited from a structural reinforcement of its instrumental capacity through the PRR, with an investment of €1.83 million, essential for the modernisation of infrastructures and laboratory equipment.
This national portfolio is complemented by one MAR 2030 project and one Environmental Fund project, which together amount to approximately €545,000, reinforcing CESAM’s intervention in critical areas such as antimicrobial resistance, environmental policies, and adaptation to climate change.
Scientific leadership and impact
This cycle of projects reinforces CESAM’s contribution to priority scientific and societal challenges, such as climate change, environmental risks, biodiversity, and environmental health, articulating fundamental research, innovation, and support to public decision-making, both in Portugal and in the European space. The distribution between coordinations and partnerships demonstrates the institutional maturity of the Centre in the conception, management, and execution of competitive projects.
This performance is further corroborated by other indicators of scientific excellence. In the 7th edition of the FCT Individual Scientific Employment Stimulus (CEEC Individual), 15 applications submitted by CESAM researchers were approved, reflecting the scientific quality and individual competitiveness of its researchers.
Statement by the Director
Amadeu Soares, Director of CESAM, states that these results reflect the collective effort of the CESAM community and the quality and consistent work of the scientific teams and of the Centre’s administrative and management support staff. He highlights the Science Management and Knowledge Transfer Service for its support in the pre-application phase, namely in identifying opportunities, clarifying requirements, and preparing proposals; the Communication, Promotion and Dissemination Service for its support before and after submission, from the dissemination of opportunities to project communication and dissemination; the Research Infrastructure Support Service for support to platforms and laboratories; and the Financial and Administrative Management Service for post-application support, ensuring the administrative and financial management of projects. In 2025, this effort resulted in the processing of a global expenditure volume exceeding €6 million.
A word of appreciation is also due to the central services of the University of Aveiro, in particular the Research Support Office, for the institutional framework and monitoring of applications, as well as UACOOPERA, in the area of service provision.
It should also be noted that, in projects initiated in 2025 with 85% external funding, the remaining 15% was covered by CESAM’s internal budget, corresponding to an investment of approximately €250,000, reflecting an active policy of support for application success and for the financial sustainability of projects.
To CESAM members whose applications were not approved in 2025, a clear encouragement is extended to persist the effort involved in submitting proposals is an individual investment, but also a strategic one, for the future of each researcher and of CESAM as a whole.
In 2026, a year marking the 25th anniversary of CESAM, a policy to encourage quality and internationalisation is underway, launched at the end of December 2025 through internal funding for projects led by Centre members, in line with our motto: Caring for the Future.