The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a foundation dedicated to promoting research in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. 

In September 2025, representatives of FAPESP and BUA signed a Memorandum of Understanding Memorandum of Understanding to intensify research cooperation between Brazil and Berlin.

BUA and FAPESP Launch New Joint Call for Research Collaboration

BUA and FAPESP are pleased to announce a new joint call for proposals to stimulate international research collaboration through seed funding projects and bilateral workshops. This call offers an exciting opportunity for researchers to build new partnerships, develop innovative ideas, and strengthen long-term cooperation across disciplines.

The call is open to researchers from BUA institutions and from Higher Education and Research Institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and welcomes proposals from all fields of knowledge.

Apply for Seed Funding

Seed Funding offers attractive opportunities for collaboration support. Collaborative research projects will be funded over 24 months, with total funding of up to €20,000 per project. BUA researchers may receive up to €10,000, funded by BUA. FAPESP will fund the research groups based in the State of São Paulo with an equal amount.

Apply for Workshops

For the organization of Bilateral Workshops, up to €40,000 of funding per project will be granted for 24 months. BUA researchers may receive up to €20,000, funded by BUA. FAPESP will fund the research groups based in the State of São Paulo with an equal amount.

Each proposal must bring together at least two Principal Investigators from different BUA institutions, and one Principal Investigator from a Higher Education or Research Institution in the State of São Paulo.

Key Dates

• Submission deadline: 15 March 2026
• Project start date: 1 June 2026

Full details on eligibility, funding rules, submission procedures, and evaluation criteria are available in the complete call for proposals, downloadable as a PDF at the bottom of this page.

Note: The call was amended on 2 February 2026 in section 4.1. (Eligibility of Researchers). The changes concern the eligibility of Brazilian researchers to apply. Researchers who are funded exclusively under the following FAPESP funding lines are not eligible to apply:  Projeto Geração Centros de Pesquisa and Centros de Pesquisa em Engenharia.

A distinction is now also made between Pesquisadores Responsáveis and Pesquisadores Principais. Paragraphs 4.1.2 and 4.1.2.1 are new. The amended call for proposals can be found under Downloads.