News
FAPESP Launches New PROASA Call for Proposals Versão em português
The initiative foresees a total investment of up to R$ 15 million in scientific projects under three grant modalities: Regular Research Grant, Thematic Project, and Young Investigator.
FAPESP announces the launch of the PROASA 2026 Call for Proposals, designed to support research on the South Atlantic Ocean and Antarctica. The initiative is part of the FAPESP Program for the South Atlantic and Antarctica (PROASA) and foresees a total investment of up to R$ 15 million in scientific projects under three grant modalities: Regular Research Grant, Thematic Project, and Young Investigator (phase 1).
The call will accept submissions until August 10, 2026, exclusively through FAPESP's SAGe system, with results to be announced from December 2026 onward. Researchers affiliated with higher education and research institutions in the state of São Paulo are eligible to submit proposals.
PROASA aims to promote scientific, technological, and innovative research across two strategically important and interconnected systems – the South Atlantic Ocean and Antarctica – whose dynamics directly influence environmental, climatic, economic, and social processes with impacts on the state of São Paulo, Brazil, and the world.
The call encourages both disciplinary and multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary proposals, spanning the exact and earth sciences, biological sciences, and humanities. Priority themes include the protection and restoration of marine biodiversity, the development of nature-based solutions, energy transition, food security, combating marine pollution, ocean modeling, and understanding the relationships between ocean, climate, and society.
Proposals must align with at least one of FAPESP's four Strategic Themes for Science, Technology, and Innovation 2026–2028: Biotechnology; Energy Transition; Biodiversity, Sustainable Food Production, and Food Security; and Human and Animal Health.
For Antarctica-focused projects, only proposals that do not require new fieldwork activities – or that already have logistical support secured through existing programs or collaborations, including the Brazilian Antarctic Program (Proantar) – will be accepted, with no additional support demands generated.
FAPESP will select projects of high scientific quality and impact potential, also contributing to the internationalization of research through collaboration with researchers from other countries. The training of highly qualified human resources – including undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers – is another central objective of the initiative.
Selected researchers will join the PROASA network, participating in workshops, meetings, and working groups aimed at strengthening scientific and institutional cooperation around ocean and Antarctica studies.
Funding limits vary by modality. Regular Research Grant projects may request up to R$ 600,000. Thematic Projects have a ceiling of R$ 7 million. Young Investigator Grants may reach up to R$ 3 million with the JP Fellowship included, or up to R$ 2.5 million without it.
Proposals will be evaluated according to the standard review processes of each FAPESP modality, with an additional assessment stage by a panel of experts appointed by the Foundation's Scientific Board. Budget adequacy, scientific quality, and alignment with PROASA's thematic axes will be among the main evaluation criteria.
Submissions must be made exclusively through FAPESP's SAGe system. Further information is available at proasa@fapesp.br.
The full call, in Portuguese, is published at fapesp.br/18192.