FONDECYT

FONDECYT (Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico) is the primary national fund for scientific and technological development in Chile. It is administered by the Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID), the National Agency for Research and Development, a dependency of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation.

FONDECYT's main objective is to promote and strengthen Chile's scientific and technological base by financing research projects across all scientific disciplines. This includes funding for basic science, applied science, social sciences, and humanities research.

The funding is typically awarded through a competitive process based on merit review. Proposals are evaluated by panels of experts both from Chile and internationally. Key criteria for evaluation include the scientific merit of the proposed research, the originality and potential impact of the work, and the qualifications of the research team.

FONDECYT offers several types of grants, including:

• Regular Projects: These grants support individual researchers or teams for a period of two to four years.
• Initiation Projects: These grants are specifically targeted at young researchers at the beginning of their careers.
• Postdoctoral Projects: These grants provide funding for postdoctoral researchers to conduct independent research.
• Other Specific Programs: FONDECYT also offers funding through various other programs designed to address specific research priorities or support specific types of research activities.

FONDECYT plays a crucial role in supporting scientific research in Chile, contributing to the advancement of knowledge, the training of researchers, and the overall development of the country's science and technology sector. Its competitive funding process aims to ensure that resources are allocated to the most promising and impactful research projects.