Agreements

CONFAP - CNPq – THE UK ACADEMIES 2019 Fellowships, Research Mobility, and Young Investigator Grants for UK researchers in Brazil



Important Notice (27 May 2020):

Upon consideration of the FAPESP's official statement “Letter to the scientific community on emergency measures/COVID-19”, available in Portuguese at www.fapesp.br/14256, and considering the uncertainty of national and international travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FAPESP will cancel Research Awards which have as essential items costs related to travel. The support opportunities Researcher Mobility and Research Fellowships are therefore cancelled for this call for proposals. Young Investigator Awards will be analised as usual.
As soon as the the situation is normalised, proposals may be (re)submitted to FAPESP in the regular funding opportunity “Visiting Researcher Award”.
FAPESP hopes for your understanding on the importance of these actions and exceptionality of the circumstances.


Summary
Call announced: 13 December 2019
Closing date for submission of proposals: 29 May 2020
Results announced on: 19 October 2020
Support Opportunities: Young Researcher Grant or Visiting Researcher Award
Maximum duration of the project: 60 months (YR) or 12 months (VR)
Submission: SAGe
Eligibility: Researchers affiliated to research institutions in the State of São Paulo or in the UK
Contact details: FAPESP: chamada-ukacademies@fapesp.br
Links: FAPESP Guidelines in English: www.fapesp.br/13867
FAPESP Guidelines in Portuguese: www.fapesp.br/13846


The fifth round opens on 13th of December, 2019 for applications and will close on 29th of May, 2020 at 12.00 midday Brasília Time.

Brazilian State Funding Agencies (FAPs), articulated by its National Council (CONFAP), and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) are launching a call for proposals offering support to researchers based in UK Universities and Research Institutions, who are willing to work in research institutions in Brazil, in collaboration with local colleagues.

The Brazilian State Funding Agencies participants of this call for proposals are:

1. Fundação Araucária – Paraná;

2. FACEPE - Pernambuco;

3. FAPDF – Distrito Federal;

4. FAPEAL - Alagoas;

5. FAPEAM – Amazonas;

6. FAPEG – Goiás;

7. FAPEMA – Maranhão;

8. FAPEMIG – Minas Gerais;

9. FAPEPI – Piauí;

10. FAPERGS – Rio Grande do Sul;

11. FAPERJ – Rio de Janeiro;

12. FAPES – Espírito Santos;

13. FAPESB - Bahia;

14. FAPESC – Santa Catarina;

15. FAPESP – São Paulo;

16. FAPESPA – Pará;

17. FUNCAP – Ceará; and,

18. FUNDECT – Mato Grosso do Sul.

The call offers support for researchers in the UK through:

a) Fellowships;

b) Research Mobility Grants, and,

c) In the case of UK young researchers aiming at working in universities and research institutes in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, this call also offer the opportunity of Young Investigator Grants comprising a scholarship plus a research funding grant.

These activities are under the auspice of the Newton Fund, an initiative that aims to develop the long-term sustainable growth and welfare of partner countries through building research, innovation capacities, and is part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance commitment.

These awards offer an opportunity for the UK researcher to develop the strengths and capabilities of their research groups through training, collaboration and reciprocal visits with partners in some of the best research groups in Brazil.

For further information, please contact fundonewton.confap@gmail.com. For researchers aiming at developing activities in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, please contact chamada-ukacademies@fapesp.br. For researcher aiming at CNPq support, please contact UKACA@cnpq.br.

a) How to apply

i. For researchers outside the State of São Paulo applications are available at: https://sigconfap.ledes.net/ from 20th of January, 2020

ii. Researcher from the State of São Paulo, or Young Investigators from the UK aiming at receiving funds from FAPESP to work in a university or research institute in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, must send proposals directly to FAPESP. Please follow the specific guidelines for FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/13846.

iii. The proposal must be submitted in English

2. Eligibility

a) The applicants must hold a PhD degree:

a.1) Young researchers are considered to hold a PhD degree from 2 years to 7 years.

a.2) Senior researchers must hold a PhD degree for over 7 years.

b) The applicants must have a Brazilian-based collaborator as their co-applicant (host researcher).

c) The applicants must hold a permanent academic post or postdoctoral fellowship/position in the UK which extends beyond the period of the requested grant;

d) UK researchers from the natural sciences, engineering, medical sciences (including clinical or patient-oriented research), social sciences and humanities fields, are eligible to apply for support.

e) Some FAPs may have their own Guidelines associated to this Announcement. Interested parties are advised to consult their supporting FAP before preparing a proposal.

f) The CNPq support is directed to the mobility of British applicants to the States where the FAPs who are members of the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 22nd September 2017, however it is not mentioned as participating FAP on this activity.

g) Proposals from the co-applicants that will request the support of CNPq must follow the rules and inform the value of the support defined by this Institution.

h) For submissions to FAPESP the following criteria hold, according to the type of support aimed at:

h.1) Research Fellowships: the UK researcher must be associated to a FAPESP PI (co-applicant) in charge or as a principal investigator of an ongoing grant of the following types: Thematic, Young Investigator, Engineering Research Centers, Public Policy Research, or Research, Innovation, and Diffusion of Knowledge Centres. Please note that support will be Granted through FAPESP Visiting Researcher Grants (www.fapesp.br/147).

h.2) Researcher Mobility, support will also be through Visiting Researcher Grants (www.fapesp.br/147): there must be a host researcher (co-applicant) in the State of São Paulo, but not necessarily in charge of an ongoing FAPESP grant.

h.3) Young Investigator Grants: the UK applicant must have a PhD or equivalent title, an outstanding research track record, and typically 2-5 years post-doctoral experience in a research group in the UK (www.fapesp.br/en/11315)

i) The application form must be filled in English and the budget detail must be informed in Brazilian Reais (R$).

3. Types of grants

3.1 Fellowships

3.1.1 For UK researchers aiming at receiving support from FAPs outside the State of São Paulo

Fellowship support is offered through two categories for a period of 6 to 36 months:

a) For Young Researchers:

  • A monthly scholarship of R$ 7,000.00

  • Airline ticket (round trip and economic class) and travel insurance

  • Scholarship for one undergraduate student to assist the researche

  • Grant in the amount of R$ 25,000.00 each six months

b) For Senior Researchers:

  • A monthly scholarship of R$ 10,000.00

  • Airline ticket (round trip and economic class) and travel insurance

  • Scholarship for one undergraduate student to assist the researcher

  • Grant in the amount of R$ 25,000.00 each six months

3.1.2 For UK researchers aiming to receive support from FAPESP, to work in a University or Research Institute in the State of São Paulo

In the state of São Paulo fellowship support is offered through FAPESP Visiting Researcher Grant for a single period to a maximum of 12 months. As mentioned, the UK researcher must be associated to a FAPESP PI (co-applicant) in charge of an ongoing grant of the following types: Thematic; Young Investigator; Research, Innovation, and Diffusion of Knowledge Centres; Engineering Research Centers or Public Policy Research (more details at www.fapesp.br/en/visiting):

  • A monthly scholarship with value ranging from R$ 10.830,00 (Young Researcher) to R$ 16.110,00 (Full Professor). The level of payment is to be suggested by the host investigator and confirmed by FAPESP upon merit review.

  • One return airline ticket and travel insurance.

  • Scholarship for one undergraduate student to assist the researcher.

  • Grant to the host PI with whom the visitor will be associated: the host PI may request FAPESP supplementary funds up to R$ 25.000.00 for every six months of stay of the visitor. These funds are to be used for research related expenses with consumables, services, and travel.

3.2 Research Mobility support

3.2.1 For UK researchers aiming at receiving support from FAPs outside the state of São Paulo:

Two types of mission can be considered:

a) Mission up to fifteen days:

  • Airline ticket (round trip and economic class) and travel insurance.

  • Daily support in a value defined by the FAPs or CNPq.

b) Mission from sixteen days to three months:

  • Airline ticket (round trip and economic class) and travel insurance.

  • A monthly scholarship in the amount of R$ 7,000.00 monthly.

3.2.2 For UK researchers aiming to receive support from FAPESP, to work in a University or Research Institute in the State of São Paulo:

Please note only one single mission is supported by FAPESP, not multiple visits. Three types of mission can be considered:

a) One single mission from five to fifteen days:

  • One return airline ticket and travel insurance OR

  • Daily support to be paid according to FAPESP´s per diem table of values.

b) One single mission from fifteen days to up to one month:

  • One return airline ticket and travel insurance, and

  • Daily support to be paid according to FAPESP´s per diem table of values.

c) One single mission from one to twelve months:

  • One return airline ticket and travel insurance, and

  • A monthly scholarship with value ranging from R$ 10.680,00 (Young Researcher) to R$ 15.870,00 (Full Professor). The level is to be suggested by the host investigator and confirmed by FAPESP upon merit review.

3.3 Young Investigator Grant (only for FAPESP applicants)

In addition to the above, for young investigators from the UK to start a research career in a university or research institution in the State of São Paulo, FAPESP offers, as part of the State of São Paulo side matching funds, an opportunity through its Young Investigator Grants. A FAPESP Young Investigator Grant, a 5-year grant, comprises funds for (more details at www.fapesp.br/en/11315):

  • Equipment, consumables, services, and travel necessary to the 4-year research project.

  • A monthly scholarship for the Young Investigator of R$ 8.377,50 (tax-free) to be paid for up to four years or until he/she obtains a permanent position in a university or research institution in the State of São Paulo.

  • A quota of scholarships for undergraduate students who will work in parts of the research project (Scientific Initiation) and a quota of MSc and Direct Doctorate scholarships for graduate students, to be selected and supervised by the Young Investigator.

  • In addition to the approved budget for the discriminated items mentioned above FAPESP includes a value equal to 15% as an overhead to be used in direct research infrastructure or non-anticipated expenses (e.g. travel, visitors,..) necessary for the project, and another 10% that is awarded as an institutional overhead.

4. Selection criteria

All applications will be assessed through a peer review process based on the following criteria:

a) The quality of the proposed research project.

b) The record of accomplishment of the applicants, and the host organization in the area of proposed research.

c) The expected benefits for the career development of the Applicant.

d) The record of accomplishment and suitability of the Brazilian-based co-applicant and Brazilian host organization in the area of proposed research.

e) The additional benefits for the Brazilian based Co-applicant and host organization.

f) Evidence that the support will lead to a long-term collaboration beyond the tenure of the award.

5. Announcement of the Result

Results from this call for proposals will be announced from middle October 2020.

Due the internal procedure of the institutions involved on this call for proposal, it is suggested that the planned mobility be scheduled from January 2021.