Call for proposals for the development of new bilateral collaborative projects with the University of Sao Paulo
CCCI ULB (Commission de classement des crédits internationaux)
In the framework of their strategic partnership, ULB and USP have set up a joint fund to and stimulate the creation of new bilateral projects by allocating seed money to teams of USP and ULB colleagues.
The fund aims to:
Encourage the emergence of strategic inter-university initiatives between the two institutions, focusing on centers of excellence in education and research;
Support innovative projects that have a structuring effect and offer medium-term prospects for the development of the strategic partnership;
Provide financial support to initiatives that can lead to more substantial external funding at local, federal, European and/or international level.
Projects may take the following forms (non-exhaustive list):
Meetings to prepare a joint research project and/or an application in the framework of calls for proposals by funding agencies like FAPESP, Horizon Europe, etc.;
Joint scientific publication;
Joint teaching project (field camp, course, development of teaching materials);
Preparing and holding a conference or seminar;
Setting up a doctoral network;
Organizing a doctoral school or workshop for young researchers;
Creating a COIL, etc.
Financement
The maximum amount of funding per project is EUR 10,000. The budget share of each team must not necessarily be balanced (EUR 5,000 for the ULB team and EUR 5,000 for USP team) but should rather reflect the realities of the project.
Funds from each partner shall be restricted for the expenses of its own academics and researchers, including PhD candidates. They can cover (non-exhaustive list):
Mobility (travel, accommodation and food expenses);
Logistic costs in case the project is a conference or seminar (rental of a venue, rental of audio or video equipment, etc.);
Costs related to scientific surveys;
Costs of joint publications; etc.
Grant funds may not be used to pay for teaching, salaries, tuition fees or purchase of infrastructure or equipment (except consumables if they are closely related to the conduct and outcome of the project). Allocating money to third-party participants (an outside speaker for a conference for example) is not allowed.
The funding will be granted for a duration of 12 months, starting when the results of the call are announced, i.e. from April 2026 to March 2027.
Pour postuler
Proposals must be jointly submitted by USP and ULB faculty in English. Each Principal Investigator (PI) must submit the same proposal to the scientific coordination of their home institution, including the following information:
1. Application Form:
Title of the project.
Names and academic affiliation of the two PIs with contact information.
List of additional participants from both sides.
Up to 1,000-word presentation/description of the project, and a list of five keywords.
Project Overview: program of activities, expected results and plus value for both institutions, perspectives of future collaborations.
2. Budget table.
3. Letters of support from the Faculty Dean or Head of Department at each home institution.
4. CVs (for both PIs).
Call opens on November 24, 2025. Joint proposals can be submitted by February 9, 2026. Results will be communicated by March 27, 2026. In case funding is granted, the proposed activities should be conducted until March 31, 2027.
Researchers must submit their joint proposal simultaneously to ULB and to USP. At ULB, the proposal must be presented on the following electronic form:
Requis d'admission
The fund supports projects in all fields of study and research. New projects will be granted a priority, but existing projects are eligible if the added value and innovative aspect of the application is clearly demonstrated and justified.
The funding granted is not intended to finance a medium- or long-term project: it is a start-up aid.
To be eligible, a project must have at least one lead applicant from USP and one from ULB. They should elaborate the proposal in common and apply together (see section “Application”). Both must be active professors, holding a permanent position in the academic staff of their university. PhD students may be added to the team list and participate in the project but not as Principal Investigators. Postdoctoral researchers are not eligible.
The relevant authorities of each university will first evaluate the applications internally, at institutional level. The final selection of projects will be made by a joint committee composed of representatives appointed by the partners.
Projects will be evaluated on:
Their scientific/educational value;
Their relevance, feasibility and innovative nature;
The adequacy of planned activities and requested budget;
The prospects for further development and funding.
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