In 2001, Science published an article heralding the arrival of a scientific “age of enlightenment” in Portugal ([ 1 ][1]). This culture of science was impressive considering that Portugal has virtually no historical foundation for scientific research (unlike other European countries with identical demographic or cultural indicators). In the decade that has passed since that article, Portuguese R&D has taken advantage of the increase in national and European Union funding and harnessed the talents of new and younger leaders. However, there are signs of trouble despite the advances. The Portuguese national funding agency, Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), which had previously financed project grants and fellowships only sporadically, has instead called for grants and fellowships on an almost yearly basis. However, FCT grants have a limit of 200,000, typically for 3 years, including equipment, consumables, maintenance, travel, portions of salaries, and institutional overheads; most of these expenses are taxed with a 23% value-added consumption tax (which is not waived for publicly funded research costs, as in other EU countries). Because individual researchers can only be the principal investigators of two such projects at the same time, it is difficult to invest money in the purchase of large equipment. Unfortunately, the last call for specific re-equipment grants opened in 2001, with results in July 2004. The past decade also witnessed several delays on the receipt of contracted funds, and most of the host institutions lacked the capital necessary to buffer such delays. Variability in the quality of Portuguese research is perpetuated by a system that allows unsuccessful research groups to continue, despite years (or even decades) without producing deliverables. Furthermore, some disciplines have not succeeded in reaching the average level of output of their European colleagues. Portuguese R&D still produces few academia-industry partnerships. Not many companies in Portugal have the size, capital, interest, and foresight to make research-oriented investments for the development of new and innovative products. Portuguese universities also suffer from historical social isolation, lack of focus on entrepreneurship in student training, and limited experience with new and emerging technology-transfer platforms. Most universities are now adopting policies to address these limitations, such as creating technology-transfer offices and including entrepreneurship in some curricula. Due to the economic crisis, in 2011 faculty and researchers experienced a cut of more than 10% in annual income, with an additional 14% reduction already announced for 2012. Hundreds of researchers are working on 5-year contracts funded by the Ciencia 2007 and Ciencia 2008 initiatives of the former Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education (MCTES). Initially, they hoped to be hired directly by their host institutions at the end of their contracts. However, this is now unlikely considering that several Portuguese universities and research centers are already struggling to pay the salaries of their present employees and will face a new funding cut of 8.5% in 2012. The change in government last June has added to the feeling of uncertainty. MCTES and the Ministry of Education have merged but, for the first time, this year's calendar for grants and fellowships calls has been published in advance. Nevertheless, the budget for these calls is still unknown. The Portuguese research community is now facing its first “stress test” after the progress and consolidation of the past 15 years. Portugal-based researchers are highly qualified and will surely do their best to overcome these hurdles, and Portugal's institutions have the necessary facilities and intellectual environment to do good science. Now is the time for Portugal's science community to show that the country's “age of enlightenment” is not at an end. 1. [↵][2] 1. R. Stone , Science 291, 1889 (2001). 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