Request for Applications: Bilateral Research Fund Program (Portugal and UK)

This initiative seeks to encourage the establishment of new partnerships that can boost collaboration between Portuguese and British research institutions, thus facilitating the transfer of knowledge about advances in science and technology between both countries.

Objectives

• BRF scholarships are awarded with the aim of:
  • Support the establishment and development of research links between universities and research institutes in the UK and Portugal.
  • Support travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses associated with individual or group visits group for Portugal (for UK-based researchers) and/or the UK (for UK-based researchers) based in Portugal).
  • Cover small-scale research costs such as laboratory consumables, licenses software, or assistance in data collection and analysis.

Aims

• The BRF program aims to:
  • Contribute to scientific diplomacy in bilateral relations between Portugal and the United Kingdom by level of research, innovation, development and scientific culture.
  • Encourage the establishment of new partnerships and investment funds that leverage collaboration with the United Kingdom.
  • Facilitate the transfer of knowledge about advances in science and technology between the two countries.

Funding Information

• The BRF program has a €15,000 fund financed by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
• BRF scholarships include a maximum grant of €3,000 for each Research Project.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications can be submitted by researchers based in the UK or Portugal.
• Each application must present 1 (one) Main Candidate and at least 1 (one) Co-Investigator.
• Early career researchers based at an institution are eligible for the Principal Candidate research in Portugal or the United Kingdom.
• The Lead Candidate must have a PhD and must not have already obtained an academic position.
• The Principal Candidate must have an employment contract with the home institution that exceeds the duration of the scholarship.
• Multiple Co-Investigators from both countries and multiple institutions may be included in the application, but at least 1 (one) Co-Investigator must be based in the partner country (e.g. if the Candidate Principal is based at a research institution in the UK, then at least one Co-Investigator must be based in a Portuguese institution, and vice-versa).
• Project applications that actively involve other stakeholders are particularly encouraged. Early career researchers (e.g. PhD students, undergraduate researchers, post-doctorate).
• Both the Principal Applicant and Co-Investigator(s) must be associate members of PARSUK, subscribing to the “Effective Researcher” plan (Portuguese researchers in the United Kingdom) or “Assoc. Professional” (researchers based in Portugal, regardless of their nationality, and researchers based in the UK who do not hold Portuguese nationality).

Application Requirements

• The application must be written in English.
• The application must be accompanied by 2 (two) letters of support signed by each of the institutions in order to confirm that the application has been approved internally.
• Letters of support must be submitted in PDF format in the section specified for this purpose.

For more information, visit PARSUK.