Calls for Proposals
SPRINT – São Paulo Researchers in International Collaboration: Call for Proposals 2025 Versão em português
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Submission deadline: |
Edition 1: June 30, 2025 |
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Eligibility to submit a proposal: |
Researchers affiliated with Higher Education and Research Institutions in the state of São Paulo |
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Submission: |
To FAPESP via SAGe |
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FAPESP Contact: |
1. Scope of the Call
SPRINT aims to support São Paulo researchers in their internationalization journey. This can be facilitated by the opportunities offered in this Call, ranging from initial international mobility to obtaining seed funding for building research networks. The initial SPRINT proposal lasts 12 months, which can be extended for up to 24 additional months, with budget adjustments based on results and collaboration progress. This flexibility is expected to advance ongoing research projects qualitatively and foster cooperative efforts for developing medium- and long-term joint research projects.
Researchers from any foreign institution can demonstrate funding for their missions through their institution or a funding agency with an approved project. Therefore, groups and institutions do not need agreements with FAPESP to participate. However, interested foreign research institutions may create conditions for receiving collaborative proposals and funding their teams for scientific missions at research institutions in São Paulo.
2. Proposal Goals
To engage researchers affiliated with higher education and science and technology institutions in São Paulo State with international partners to:
2.1. Enhance the quality of ongoing research projects.
2.2 Collaboratively develop medium- and long-term joint research and innovation projects for submission to FAPESP by researchers based in Sao Paulo State and to foreign research funding agencies by international partners.
3. Rules for Creating the International Cooperation Proposal
Every SPRINT proposal should be developed with the perspective of an internationalization trajectory. Initially, proposals should have a 12-month duration, focusing on the mobility of São Paulo State researchers to foreign institutions. Subsequent stages should foresee the arrival of foreign researchers in São Paulo in the second year and joint research in the third year, supported by seed funding. These stages will be facilitated based on results and goals from the previous period described in scientific reports. Each report allows for updating the proposal for the following year and requesting budget amendments via a Modification Request (SM). The following items describe FAPESP's offerings for each collaboration stage.
3.1. Phase 1: Proposals for São Paulo State researchers' mobility to foreign research institutions.
3.2. Phase 2: Proposals for São Paulo State researchers' mobility to foreign institutions and the arrival of foreign researchers in São Paulo. The extension of collaboration with additional FAPESP funding will consolidate and expand collaboration considering different experiences, such as:
a) Missions in innovation environments at foreign universities and research institutions. This should foresee the potential for submitting a request for PIPE or PITE support, as item 7.2 of the Research Project outlines.
b) Up to 14 daily allowances are possible for foreign doctoral and postdoctoral fellows. In such cases, the partner institution should fund airfare and insurance, providing international relations support or another designated, experienced sector for visa guidance for foreign participants. Internships in innovation environments at foreign universities and research institutions are also possible in this phase.
Phase 2 can be requested via SM for extension and budget amendments if promising results are generated in the first year's mobility, assessed by the first-year scientific report.
3.3. Phase 3: Seed funding proposals for collaborations that have resulted in new research networks and achieved exceptional positive results.
Phase 3 will initiate if the Phase 2 report is well-evaluated, missions are successfully completed, and the work proposal for this phase presents clear evidence of knowledge appropriation and network formation in previous stages. In addition to the funded items described in the previous phases, during the third year of FAPESP funding, requesting additional items eligible: Consumable Materials and Third-Party Services. Phase 3 may be requested through a Term Adjustment SM (for duration changes) or Budget Adjustment SM, upon presentation of co-funding for the research by the foreign partner researcher, either from their own institution or from a funding agency supporting one of their approved projects. This co-funding must be formalized through a letter or contract signed by the legal representative of the respective institution.
3.4 For proposals in collaboration with researchers from foreign research institutions that have already established conditions for receiving collaborative proposals and funding their teams for scientific missions at research institutions in São Paulo State. Click here to access the webpages of institutions that have published their conditions for receiving collaborative proposals under the SPRINT terms:
a) Foreign partner researchers must adhere to the additional instructions provided by their institution regarding proposal submission and clarification of any questions.
b) If the proposal submitted to FAPESP is deemed meritorious, it can only be approved if the partner researchers provide evidence that they have also secured approval for adequate funding to cover their share of the collaboration expenses.
4. Eligibility to Submit a proposal
FAPESP considers eligible to submit proposals for this Call:
4.1. Researchers responsible for ongoing FAPESP Research Grants in the following categories: Regular (excluding mobility projects and Young Investigator Awards), Thematic Project, Young Investigator, Initial Project (PI), Generation Project, Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (CEPID), Engineering Research Centers/Applied Research Centers (CPEs/CPAs), Centers for Science for Development (CCDs), Public Education Program, Research Program on Public Policies (PPPP), and the Partnership for Technological Innovation Research Program (PITE) are eligible to submit proposals. Principal Investigators of ongoing Thematic Projects, CEPIDs, CPEs/CPAs, CCDs and PITEs are also eligible to submit proposals.
4.2. Respecting the timetable, the SPRINT proposal must start at least six months before the end of the term of the research project related to the proposal.
4.3. FAPESP may accept submissions related to research proposals undergoing merit review. However, if the proposal is still under review or has not been approved by the time the mobility proposals in this Call are selected, the SPRINT proposal will be canceled.
5. Eligible and fundable participants
5.1. Proposals must adhere to the principle of reciprocity between the parties regarding the academic qualifications of those participating in the exchange activities.
5.2. For the exchange activities within the scope of this Call for Proposals, eligible participants include members of the current research grant team described earlier in item 4, when previously defined in the ongoing research project as:
a) Principal or co-principal Researchers;
b) Associate Researchers linked to research institutions in the state of São Paulo;
c) Postdoctoral fellows with an active FAPESP fellowship during the planned exchange mission;
d) Doctoral or Direct Doctoral fellows with an active FAPESP fellowship during the planned exchange mission.
5.3. Only those participants formally listed as team members approved by FAPESP in the active grant will be considered eligible.
6. Funding Principles and Duration of the Projects
The funding for the three phases of a SPRINT collaboration adheres to the budget guidelines outlined below.
6.1. Phase 1: Researchers from São Paulo State can request funds up to $12,500 per year for undertaking scientific missions at the partner institution, following FAPESP guidelines. These funds must be requested separately for each proposed researcher and mission :
a) Airfare (www.fapesp.br/normaspc);
b) Travel Insurance (www.fapesp.br/2921);
c) Daily Allowances (www.fapesp.br/17413). Please refer to Ordinance PR No. 35/2020 (www.fapesp.br/14018) for the rules regarding the use of daily allowances. If the stay abroad is less than thirty days, a maximum of 10 daily allowances may be utilized for researchers and a maximum of seven for fellows and other team members. According to the Fellowship Value Table (BPE - www.fapesp.br/7797 and BEPE - www.fapesp.br/7798), the monthly maintenance value is only applicable if the stay abroad is 30 days or longer.
The funds should be used for activities such as researcher exchanges, research planning visits, participation in international workshops, and initial data collection, always aiming for the continuity of research and the strengthening of collaboration.
6.2. Phase 2: FAPESP will support researchers from the state of São Paulo up to the equivalent of an additional US$12,500.00 (twelve thousand five hundred dollars) for a second year, provided that the Principal Investigator submits for analysis and has approved by FAPESP, in addition to the Scientific Report, requests for amendments of the type Change Request - Change in Duration, including the Research Project for the second year, and Change Request - Change in Budget, including proof of the partner researcher's arrival (boarding passes).
6.3. FAPESP will support researchers from the state of São Paulo up to a limit equivalent to an additional US$25,000.00 for a third year, provided that the Principal Investigator submits for analysis and has approved by FAPESP, in addition to the Scientific Report clearly showing the benefit to São Paulo and the appropriation of knowledge with the partnership, requests for amendments of the type Change Request - Change in Duration, including the Research Project for the third year, and Change Request - Change in Budget, including the financial contribution written in item 3.3.
6.4. In each phase, requests for extensions of up to six additional months under exceptional conditions and without additional resources will only be received upon presentation of an extension authorization from the partner institution. Requests must be submitted by means of a Change Request - Change of Duration and following the guidelines available at www.fapesp.br/565.
6.5. It is the grantee's responsibility to check with the competent consulate whether a specific visa is required and to obtain it.
6.6. The presentation of Scientific Reports must follow the format indicated at www.fapesp.br/10427.
7. Proposal Format
7.1. The proposal must include:
a) A Research Project of up to 5 (five) pages, as described in item 7.2 below, in English and written jointly by the Principal Investigator for FAPESP and his/her partner, the Principal Investigator at the Partner Institution. The project must include clear objectives and goals with a statement of how the partnership will have scientific, public policy or socio-economic impacts in the state of São Paulo. One copy of the Research Project should be sent to FAPESP and another identical copy to the Partner Institution;
b) Additional documents requested by FAPESP (in the "Documents" tab of SAGe) and by the Partner Institutions.
7.2. The Research Project must include:
a) A description of the planned exchange activities clearly indicating how these will contribute to the ongoing research project supported by FAPESP and to the research being conducted by the partner researcher.
b) A detailed timeline of the missions to be conducted by the São Paulo team at the Partner Institution abroad and the partner team at the Institution in São Paulo.
c) A description of each candidate's contribution to the mission, highlighting their qualifications for undertaking the planned activities.
d) Objectives, goals, and performance indicators for the planned activities indicating the expected outcomes.
e) Planned actions designed to enhance the impact of the exchange at both the Partner Institution and the Host Institution in São Paulo State through seminars, short courses, and other initiatives.
f) A description of how the principal investigators in São Paulo and at the Partner Institution plan to develop a joint research project stemming from the exchange activities initiated in the proposal submitted in this Call, to be presented to research funding agencies available in their regions, to establish medium- to long-term collaboration (up to one page).
8. Restrictions
Including more than one partner institution in a single SPRINT proposal is prohibited.
The Principal Investigator cannot hold more than one active SPRINT simultaneously.
9. Schedule
As the schedule above indicates, three openings will be throughout the year.
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Deadline for proposals submissions |
Edition 1: June 30th 2025 Edition 2: October 27th 2025 Edition 3: February 23rd 2026 |
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Announcement of selected proposals |
Edition 1: October 2nd 2025 Edition 2: February 2nd 2026 Edition 3: June 2nd 2026 |
10. Proposal Submission
All proposals to FAPESP must be submitted using the SAGe system, following the instructions outlined in Annex I.
11. Evaluation and Selection
11.1. Proposals that do not meet the terms of this Call will not be pre-qualified for merit evaluation.
11.2. Proposals will undergo pre-qualification and will be analyzed for merit and relevance, including their connection to the ongoing project supported by FAPESP and potential for leveraging new funding opportunities.
11.3. Each funding party will select proposals according to its own criteria.
12. Analysis Results
The final results will be announced on the FAPESP website (www.fapesp.br) and communicated to the Principal Investigator.
13. Contracting of Selected Proposals
The proposals selected by FAPESP will be the subject of a Grant Agreement to be signed by the researcher responsible and a representative of the host institution. In the case of proposals with a financial counterpart, the partner's institutional funding document will be required before the Grant Agreement is signed.
14. Inquiries about this Call at FAPESP
Questions related to this Call for Proposals should be directed to sprint@fapesp.br.
Annex I: Specific instructions for using SAGe
1. It is necessary for both researchers responsible for the proposal (from the state of São Paulo and the Partner Institution) to be registered in the SAGe system:
i) Researchers who have not registered with SAGe must first do so by accessing the SAGe page at www.fapesp.br/sage, clicking on No registration? (Sem cadastro?) and filling in the requested data. It's not enough just to register as a user, you need to complete the registration details;
ii) Researchers from the state of São Paulo who are already registered should access SAGe with their usual ID and password to access the system's home page;
iii) All researchers from the state of São Paulo who are nominated for scientific missions must be included in the team and then confirm their participation via the “Proposals I am participating in (Propostas de que Participo)” option in the “Proposals (Propostas)” section of the main SAGe menu;
iv) The Responsible Researcher at the Partner Institution must be included in the team and then confirm their participation via the “Proposals I am participating in (Propostas de que Participo)” option in the “Proposals (Propostas)” section of the main SAGe menu. A manual in English is available on SAGe.
2. On the home page, select New Initial Proposal from the “Quick Access” menu.
3. On the next page, the system will display the “Include Proposal - Select Funding Line / Dissemination (Incluir Proposta – Selecionar Linha de Fomento / Divulgação”, o qual inclui a seção “Chamadas Vigentes)” menu, which includes the “Current Calls” section:
- SPRINT - Research Project - Mobility / Edition 2025/01 - Other Institutions;
- SPRINT - Research Project - Mobility / Edition 2025/02 - Other Institutions;
- SPRINT - Research Project - Mobility / Edition 2025/03 - Other Institutions;
4. Include the proposal in collaboration and, from the next page, enter the data requested in all the tabs, including the list of documents to be attached.
5. Please note that all items marked with “ * ” must be filled in. The proposal must be submitted at the end. A saved proposal does not mean a submitted proposal. When you submit a proposal correctly, a process number will be generated.
6. If you have any questions, you can use the Manuals link on the SAGe homepage and, on the Manuals page, look for clarifications in the Researcher Support Manuals list.
7. IMPORTANT: It is strongly recommended to periodically check the proposal's pending issues using SAGe's “Validate (Validar)” option. This can be done repeatedly as the proposal is built, allowing the necessary steps to be taken in time for submission. When you select the “Validate (Validar)” option, the SAGe system will display any pending issues preventing the proposal from being submitted, taking into account the items that have been entered. If you have any questions about how to use SAGe, in addition to the manuals, FAPESP can also be reached by telephone at 3838-4000. Pay attention to the Call Schedule (item 09).
Annex II: Guidelines for Partnership Projects
In order to carry out the research project, an agreement must be signed between the partners that includes at least the following information:
i. where and for how long the data generated during the execution of the project will be stored, how it will be protected and who will be able to use it;
ii. indication of the repositories in which the data generated will be stored, both those generated exclusively by Brazilian partners and those generated exclusively by foreign partners, in both cases with cross-references;
iii. what rules will apply to the co-authorship of publications resulting from the research project developed in partnership;
iv. issues relating to intellectual property: If the results of the project or the final report itself have commercial value or may lead to the development of a product or method involving the establishment of a patent, the exchange of information and ownership of intellectual property rights, in each case, will take place in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 9,279, of May 14, 1996, Decree No. 9283, of February 7, 2018, and FAPESP's Intellectual Property Policy. In the case of partnerships with foreign entities or institutions, the laws of the partner's respective country governing the matter must also be observed.
The presentation of this agreement is not mandatory for signing the Grant Agreement, however, FAPESP may request the presentation of this document at any time.