Calls for Proposals
Call for Proposals: FAPESP Young Investigator Grant for International Researchers
Call announcement: September, 2026
Deadline for submission of full proposals: November 19, 2026
Final result announcement: from June, 2027
FAPESP Support Opportunity: Young Investigator Grant
Maximum duration of the projects: 60 months
FAPESP Contact: yig@fapesp.br
Introduction
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public foundation from the State of São Paulo, whose mission is to support research projects across all fields of knowledge at higher education and research institutions throughout the state. The Constitution of the State of São Paulo guarantees the Foundation a permanent allocation of financial resources from state tax revenues. This enables an efficient management of resources and has contributed to a significant impact on scientific and technological development. FAPESP operates in close collaboration with the scientific community, and all research proposals undergo a rigorous peer-review process supported by specialists in their respective fields.
The FAPESP Young Investigator Grant for International Researchers aims to strengthen the scientific and technological leadership of São Paulo across multiple fields of knowledge. Through this initiative, FAPESP seeks to attract up to twenty outstanding researchers with internationally recognized expertise in their respective areas.
The Call is to researchers of all nationalities (i) who have been living and working abroad for at least two years after PhD, (ii) who are residing abroad at the time of the proposal submission and (iii) who wish to establish or consolidate their research career at research institutions located in the State of São Paulo. The program is designed to create internationally competitive opportunities for researchers with exceptional academic trajectories and strong potential for scientific leadership.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate significant achievements since completing their doctoral studies, evidencing originality, independence, leadership capacity and the potential to develop high-impact research in their field of knowledge.
1. Research themes
Research topics included in this Call are aligned with the strategic themes recently defined by FAPESP (fapesp.br/publicacoes/2026/temasestrategicos.pdf). They comprise the following areas:
I. Biotechnology;
II. Energy transition;
III. Biodiversity, sustainable production and food security;
IV. Digital transition and artificial intelligence*;
V. Quantum science and technology;
VI. Human and animal health;
VII. Public security.
* The proposals approved in the research topic of artificial intelligence will be affiliated with the recently created São Paulo Artificial Intelligence Research Center, a strategic center supported by FAPESP, MCTI/CGI.br and Sao Paulo State Universities.
2. Eligibility criteria
A researcher must comply with the eligibility requirements for the FAPESP Young Investigator Grant (fapesp.br/en/yig). In addition, the following specific conditions apply to this Call for Proposals:
a) Applicants must have been living and working abroad for at least two years at research institutions, including postdoctoral appointments, research fellowships, and/or permanent academic or research positions;
b) Applicants should establish a research laboratory and develop a dedicated research program at an institution in the State of São Paulo, ensuring full integration with and commitment to the proposed project and position;
c) Applicants must demonstrate outstanding expertise and leadership in their respective fields, as evidenced by the quality, originality, and impact of their scientific trajectory and research achievements.
3. Characteristics of proposals under this Call
a) Candidates must comply with the rules and guidelines established for the Young Investigator Grant (fapesp.br/en/yig). Exceptions regarding eligible budget items are specified in item 3.2 of this Call;
b) Competitive proposals must present a clearly defined and independent research line led by the applicant. Collaborations with established research groups on specific topics are permitted and encouraged;
c) Research proposals must be submitted in English.
3.1. Duration of the Grant
a) The proposed research project must have a duration of 60 months. Upon request and following evaluation by FAPESP, the project and fellowship may be extended for up to 12 months;
b) During the execution of the project, Principal Investigators are encouraged to apply for open permanent positions at the host institution or at other universities and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, as part of a potential tenure-track career path;
c) Upon completion of the project, Principal Investigators who secure a permanent position at a university or research institution in the State of São Paulo may continue their research activities through FAPESP’s regular funding schemes, including the prestigious Young Investigator Grant – Phase 2, provided they meet the eligibility requirements of each program and successfully pass their respective merit reviews.
3.2. Support offered by FAPESP
a) The resources allocated under this Call will follow the criteria established for each funding modality;
b) A Young Investigator Fellowship will be awarded for up to the full duration of the Grant, or until the Principal Investigator obtains a permanent position at a university or research institution in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The current monthly fellowship amount is available at fapesp.br/3162;
c) Eligible items are described in item 8 of the Young Investigator Grant Guidelines (fapesp.br/en/yig);
d) Scholarships and Postdoctoral Fellowships may be requested in accordance with the standard rules applicable to the Young Investigator Grant (see item 8.1.e at fapesp.br/en/yig);
d.1) Only one scholarship/fellowship of each modality (PhD, MSc, Scientific Initiation, Postdoctoral etc.) can be included in the proposal.
e) Successful applicants currently living abroad will be eligible for relocation support, including airfare for the applicant, in accordance with the rules outlined in fapesp.br/7771/auxilio-instalacao;
f) For this Call, the maximum funding available per proposal is BRL 2,500,000.00 (two million five hundred thousand Brazilian reais). The Young Investigator Fellowship may also be requested in addition to the funding limit;
f.1) The “Grand-Total - Requested Budget” can be found at My Proposals> International Young Investigator (2026) > R$/US$ > Grand-Total - Requested Budget.
g) A maximum of twenty (20) fellowships will be awarded in this Call.
4. Proposal submission and evaluation
Proposal submission and evaluation will consist of three steps:
a) Submission of the proposal;
b) Evaluation of the proposals by an external panel of reviewers;
c) Selected applicants will be called for online presentation and interview with members of the Evaluation Committee.
4.1. Submission of the proposal
In the SAGe system, the menu path to start the submission is: New Proposal > Special Programs > YIG - Young Investigator Grant > Grant for International Researchers > Call for Proposals (2026). For users accessing the system in Portuguese, select: Nova Proposta Inicial > Outras Linhas de Fomento > Programas Especiais > JP - Jovem Pesquisador > Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovem Pesquisador Internacional > Chamada de Propostas (2026).
The following documents and information are required:
a) Short CV in English (a maximum of 5 pages), including the following key information:
i. Researcher identification:
a. Scopus ID
b. Google Scholar profile
c. Web of Science ResearcherID
ii. A brief career summary (maximum 400 words);
iii. A concise description of the applicant's most significant scientific achievements and their relevance to the proposed research project;
iv. A list of the five most important publications, including a description of the applicant's leadership role in the research and a justification of the scientific impact of these contributions;
v. The applicant's three most significant invited talks;
vi. Academic degrees and previous professional appointments.
b) Letter (maximum 2 pages) briefly describing the evolution of the applicant's research trajectory that led to the central concept of the proposed project. The letter should highlight the key findings, observations, major developments, or scientific experiences that were instrumental in shaping this research direction and motivated the proposed project.
c) Research project clearly defining its objectives, demonstrating its originality and ambitious character, with a high standard of clarity and organization. The scientific rationale of the project should explicitly indicate the potential advances at the frontier of knowledge and demonstrate its international competitiveness. The proposal must also provide a solid basis demonstrating that the proposed research can be successfully executed by the Principal Investigator and the research team within the timeframe specified in the proposal.
c.1) The main body of the research project must not exceed 20 pages with references, excluding annexes and supporting documents.
d) The full proposal must clearly describe the activities planned for each solicited fellowship (PhD, MSc, Scientific Initiation, Postdoctoral etc.).
d.1) For each requested fellowship, applicants must submit a one-page summary outlining the research objectives, work plan, and implementation schedule.
d.2) Only one scholarship/fellowship of each modality (PhD, MSc, Scientific Initiation, Postdoctoral etc.) can be included in the proposal.
e) Budget items to be requested through the SAGe system. Applicants must provide vendor quotations for all capital equipment to be purchased in Brazil or abroad when the value exceeds ten times the Brazilian minimum wage, in accordance with FAPESP regulations. Submission of pro forma invoices is not required at this stage.
4.2. Proposal Eligibility Assessment
An Evaluation Committee will assess, based on documents (a) and (b), whether the applicant and the proposed research are aligned with the objectives, scope, and expected profile of the Young Investigator Grant for International Researchers. This qualification stage aims to identify proposals that are consistent with the program's mission and whose applicants demonstrate the potential to establish an independent and internationally competitive research program.
The assessment will be based on the following criteria:
a) Originality, innovativeness, and potential scientific and societal impact of the proposed research;
b) Scientific quality, relevance, and feasibility of the proposed project, as well as its potential to advance knowledge in the field;
c) The applicant's scientific background, research achievements, and career trajectory, demonstrating the capability to successfully lead the proposed research program and their alignment with the objectives of the International Young Researcher Grant.
4.3. Full proposal evaluation
The review process will be conducted as follows:
a) All proposals will be sent to at least two external reviewers, and a FAPESP evaluation panel will weigh their evaluations and rank the proposals;
b) The panel will evaluate the proposal’s potential impact on the field; its relation to or differences from existing works; how it may provide new routes for the relevant research challenges;
c) During this phase, in addition to the external reviewer’s evaluation, the panel will consider the following aspects:
i. Likelihood of having a high impact on the field if the project is successful;
ii. Proposal of alternative and effective experimental/theoretical strategies;
iii. Proponent’s capacity to initiate new strategic cooperation with research institutions at the local, regional, and international levels while preserving research independence.
4.4. Interview
Upon receiving a final positive recommendation of the full proposals, the selected candidates will be invited for an oral presentation and interview.
5. Final results
The nomination of the selected candidate is final and therefore no appeal for reconsideration is possible.
6. Timeline
|
Event |
Date |
|
Deadline for submission of full proposals |
November 19, 2026 |
|
Final result announcement |
fromJune, 2027 |
* Projects should start before December 2027, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
7. FAPESP’s Research Networking Tool
The Virtual Library (bv.fapesp.br/en) includes FAPESP’s database of awarded research grants and scholarships. You may search for information on grants and fellowships funded by FAPESP, including abstracts as well as the names of participating researchers and their institutions.
8. Contact information
Questions related to this Call must be directed to yig@fapesp.br.