There are numerous opportunities for travel and research collaboration between Europe and Brazil / Latin America and the Caribbean. Read more below.

Legal Framework

EU-Brazil cooperation relations are based on the 1992 Framework Co-operation Agreement signed in June 1992 and ratified by the Brazilian Congress in May 1995. In 2007, the EU recognised Brazil as one of its key global partners through the establishment of the formal EU-Brazil Strategic Partnership.

Academic cooperation

Between 2007 and 2013, the EU and Brazil promoted academic cooperation between European and Brazilian higher education institutions. For 2014 to 2020, the EU has made €163 million available for regional cooperation with Latin America in higher education inside Erasmus+.

EU-Brazil Science and Technology Agreement

Brazil and Europe have a long research cooperation tradition in the area of Science & Technology culminating in the signing in 2004 of the Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation. The agreement entered in force in 2007 and last renewed until August 2022 and aims at encouraging, developing and facilitating cooperative activities in areas of common interest, based on the principles of mutual benefit, timely exchange of information, reciprocal access to activities and protection of intellectual property rights.

The implementation of the cooperation agreement is managed by a joint steering committee which meets on a regular basis and has as main tasks to indicate priority sectors of mutual interests and advise on ways to improve cooperation.

The final declaration of the 6th EU-Brazil Summit, held in 2014, highlighted the fact that competitiveness, innovation and economic growth cannot be achieved without strengthening cooperation in science and technology.

The main areas of scientific cooperation are:

• Marine Research
• Health
• Bio-economy
• Transport, including aviation
• Energy (in particular advanced biofuels)
• Nanotechnology
• Sustainable urbanisation and environmental research
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Fusion Energy
• Cooperation with the Joint Research Centre.

Other cooperation agreements

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT

On 22 May 2018, the European Commission and the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Brazilian Funding Agency for Studies and Projects (FINEP), and the Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies (CONFAP) signed an agreement aiming at enhancing their coooperation in research and innovation called “administrative arrangement - AA". The AA aims at enhancing Brazilian participation in Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation programme.
Under this umbrella, CNPq published its Guidelines for the preparation of research proposals for the CNPq in collaboration with proposals submitted to EU Horizon 2020 that set the rules for Brazilian parts willing to have research and innovation co-financing grants from H2020 programmes. 

The Administrative Arrangement was renewed on 19 November 2021, paving the way for a smoother Brazilian participation in Horizon Europe proposals. More: https://bit.ly/EU-BR_AA

EURATOM

The Agreement for Cooperation between the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) and Brazil set in 2009 in the field of fusion energy research was ratified in December 2012 and came into force in January 2013.

Joint Research Centre - JRC

In the context of the 6th EU-Brazil Summit held in Brasí­lia in January 2013, a Cooperation Arrangement was signed between the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) to undertake training and cooperation activities in the areas of disaster prevention and crisis management; climate change and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystem services; energy, including bioenergy and smart grids; food security; bioeconomy; information and communication technologies (ICT), as well as nanotechnologies.

Implementing Arrangement between the European Commission and the Brazilian National Council of the State Funding Agencies (CONFAP)

The implementing arrangement was signed and entered into force on 13 October 2016. It aims at encouraging the best Brazilian scientists to join research teams funded by the European Research Council (ERC).

Under this arrangement, Brazilian post-doctoral grantees from the State Funding Agencies (FAPs), from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) and from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) can undertake short or long term research visits, in Europe, and collaborate with ERC-funded teams, conducting frontier research across Europe.

The EU promotes international cooperation in science and technology through its Horizon Europe framework programme. This programme runs from 2021 to 2027 and has a budget of over €95,5 billion.

Brazilian participants (individual researchers and/or institutions) can join projects in any area. Horizon Europe therefore provides the EU and Brazil with the opportunity to build on what is already a fruitful area of collaboration.

The Excellent Science Pillar of Horizon Europe offers dedicated programmes like Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions and The European Research Council (ERC) to support the best research talents irrespective of their nationality with fellowships and grants.

For the more information on 2023-2024 and other forthcoming calls, please visit the European Commission Funding and tender portal. Please click on Online Manual for additional insight. 

Under the previous programme, Horizon 2020, Brazil ranked sixth amongst the most active non-associated third countries and first in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Selection of Calls of potential interest for Brazil and LAC for 2023-2024

In order to encourage the participation of Brazilian researchers under Horizon Europe calls, an indicative list of calls with international cooperation as priority was compiled. These particular calls are specifically open or focusing on collaboration with the Latin American region or specific countries of the region, like Brazil and Mexico. Calls cover the timeframe of 2023 to 2024 and are divided by clusters and main programmes. Find the list here.

Funding of Brazilian participation

Brazil was in the top five non-European countries in terms of active participation in the EU’s 7th framework programme for science and technology (FP7) and in the top six under Horizon 2020.

In Horizon Europe, Brazilian entities are not automatically eligible for funding and must, therefore, determine the sources of funding and resources for their part of the project. Please, note that Individual Brazilian researchers are eligible for EU funding under the European Research Council programme and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Felowships. They can also carry out a PhD funded by MSCA.

Existing co-funding mechanisms in Brazil (under Horizon 2020, new conditions under Horizon Europe will be published ASAP)

1. Different funding schemes are being set up in different Brazilian states through the existing Research Foundations (FAPs) in each state to fund Brazilian participation in Horizon Europe collaborative projects.

Under the previous programme Horizon 2020, co-funding schemes for Brazilian researchers were available in the following states:

• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP
• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Estado de Santa Catarina- FAPESC
• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG
• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais - FAPEMIG
• Fundação de amparo à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal - FAPDF
• Fundação Araucária de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Estado do Paraná – FAPPR
• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Espírito Santo - FAPES
• Fundação de Apoio ao desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul - FUNDECT
• Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão – FAPEMA
• Conselho Nacional das Fundações Estaduais de Amparo à Pesquisa - CONFAP

Read INCOBRA Factsheet on the FAPs guidelines here for more details.

2. In addition and thanks to the  administrative arrangement to enhance EU-Brazil coooperation in research and innovation signed in 2017, by the European Commission, CNPq, FINEP and CONFAP,  CNPq published its Guidelines for the preparation of research proposals for the CNPq in collaboration with proposals submitted to EU Horizon 2020 that set the rules for Brazilian parts willing to have research and innovation co-financing grants from H2020 programmes.

Cooperation in ICTs

The EU and Brazil are jointly engaged in addressing issues relating to information and communication technologies (ICTs).

An EU-Brazil Information Society Dialogue, held in 2012, agreed a €10 million call for proposals to fund ICT projects of common interest. The two parties also shared their experience and knowledge of policy and regulatory issues in areas such as broadband development, governance and internet security, cloud computing and digital content.

The importance of cooperation with Brazil in this field comes from the following factors:

• the growing influence of the Information Society and ICT in everyday life;

• the increasing globalisation of the ICT sector and the leading role played by Brazil in Latin America’s digital economy;

• Brazil’s rising importance regarding issues of strategic importance for the EU such as internet governance and information networks and security.

More : EU Information Society research

under construction

Institutions based in Latin America and the Caribbean are encouraged to participate in Horizon Europe. All institutions from LAC can join most of Horizon Europe calls as part of a consortium. 

Latin American and Caribbean institutions are fully eligible to funding from the European Commission, except institutions from Antigua y Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad y Tobago and Uruguay.

In the case of institutions (public or private) from countries not automatically eligible to funding, funding can exceptionally be provided if:

• The country is explicitly identified in the work programme and/or call for proposals as being eligible for funding.
• if the granting authority considers that their participation as a beneficiary is essential for implementing the project, for example in view of their:
  • outstanding competence/expertise,
  • access to particular research infrastructures,
  • access to particular geographical environments,
  • access to particular data.

In all the other cases, the non-automatically funded institutions have to participate at their own cost. In some cases, such as Brazil, complementary funding mechanisms were implemented by local authorities (see below).

Indicative calls of interest to LAC

An indicative list of calls with international cooperation as priority was compiled. These particular calls are specifically open or focusing on collaboration with the Latin American region or specific countries of the region, like Brazil, Chile and Mexico.  Calls cover the timeframe of 2021 to 2022 and are divided by clusters and main programmes. Find the list here.

Co-funding mechanisms (under Horizon 2020, to be updated soon)

In Horizon 2020, participants from Mexico are no longer automatically eligible for funding. In February 2014 Mexico was the first partner country to create a complementary funding mechanism. CONACYT-Horizon 2020 provides a source of financing "project-by-project participation" to Mexican partners in successful Horizon 2020 projects covering all thematic areas. More in the Roadmap for EU - Mexico S&T cooperation (2018).

See above in the dedicated section for more details on Brazilian co-funding mechanisms.

Short- and long-term mobility of researchers both ways is an important driver of the EU-Brazil and EU-LAC research and innovation partnerships.

Individual researchers can take part in mobility programmes under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions scheme (MSCA). Researchers from Latin America and the Caribbean may also apply for the European Research Council (ERC) grants, which are for the most ambitious and highest quality researchers.

Additional opportunities open to researchers from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico: Argentinian, Brazilian and Mexican authorities signed implementing arrangements with the European Commission to allow (postdoctoral) researchers to temporarily join research teams run by ERC-grantees to conduct frontier research activities in Europe.

=> read the short guides we prepared for LAC researchers and institutions, and discover how you can benefit from MSCA here and the ERC here.

Many other institutions and agencies from EU member states and associated countries, third countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and other LAC countries as well as international foundations also fund researchers mobility.

To support your mobility projects, EURAXESS LAC identifies and regularly highlights schemes to support researcher collaboration, exchange, or mobility. These schemes are available on EURAXESS Funding database and in EURAXESS LAC regular Flashnotes and social media. Register here to receive our automatic notifications.

European Union Member Statesand associated countries have developed many cooperation programmes with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and other LAC countries in the fields of research and innovation, facilitating collaborative projects between European and LAC research laboratories, increasing researchers' mobility and promoting scientific exchanges between the two regions. To review the range of grants and funding opportunities that are available, please check their Embassies Portals. Their national open calls are also regularly published in the funding portal.

Latest edition:

EURAXESS HELPS YOU SUCCEED

EURAXESS Tutorials

How to find NCPs

The network of National Contact Points (NCPs) is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.

How to increase your institution’s visibility with the EURAXESS Portal

EURAXESS Partnering tool is useful to find partners, but also to be visible to international partners

How to post a job offer on the EURAXESS portal

Increase your positions' visibility worldwide and recruit research talents from everywhere In the world.

EURAXESS Hosting tool - How to post hosting offers on EURAXESS portal? 

Express your institution’s interest in hosting researchers, MSCA or ERC fellows. Open to all institutions, including from Latin America and the Caribbean who are keen on receiving MSCA Global fellows for up to 2 years.

Step by step to MSCA Individual Fellowship proposal - How to submit a MSCA IF proposal 

Experienced researchers (completed doctoral degree or at least four years’ full-time research experience) can apply for postdoctoral funding within the MSCA Individual Fellowships. EURAXESS Worldwide team prepared a step-by-step process on how to apply for this type of grant.

Becoming an EC expert in the evaluation of proposals - How to become a Horizon2020 Evaluator?

The European Commission is constantly looking for experts to assist in the evaluation of proposals and project monitoring and to join the peer review groups for Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The call for experts and registration is open throughout the whole period for the Horizon 2020 framework programme (2014-2020).

Brazil and LAC

These guides were specially drafted to highlight how Brazilian and other Latin American and Caribbean students, researchers and institutions can benefit from European mobility schemes:

• Focus on Erasmus + for LAC students, researchers and higher education institutions

• Guide to MSCA for LAC researchers and institutions  

• Focus on ERC (European Research Council)

Country / region specific content:

BRAZIL

• MSCA: Read also our Individual Fellowships applications tips for Brazilians: New opportunities for Brazilian researchers and Brazilian host institutions
  •  (472.25 KB) by Elisa Natola, MSCA National Contact Point for Brazil, Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies (CONFAP)

  • Marie Curie Alumni Association Brazil Chapter  (408.32 KB)

• Focus on Erasmus + for Brazilian students, researchers and higher education institutions
  • Read also Brazilian testimonies on Erasmus+ (Jean Monnet activities at UFMG; UFRJ experience with Erasmus Mundus and interview with the Erasmus Mundus Alumni Association - EMA representative in Brazil)
  • Interview with Brian Holmes, Director, European Commission Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
• Focus on Erasmus Mundus

LAC

• Guía (2022) de Acciones Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) para Personal Investigador e Instituciones de América Latina y Caribe 
• Focus on Individual LAC Researchers 

Find more about the research landscape in EURAXESS countries:

EU – LAC research collaboration

Implementing arrangements with Argentina, Brazil and Mexico

EU – BRAZIL research collaboration

EU-Brazil implementing arrangement

Report - First meeting of EU researchers in Brazil, 20 April 2021

Additional resources:

In Spanish:

Guía para la participación exitosa de INVESTIGADORES de LAC en las MSCA

Guía para la participación exitosa de INSTITUCIONES de LAC en las MSCA (Red LAC NCP)

Manual de participación en el Horizonte 2020 (Red LAC NCP)

In English:

Boost your research career - Come to Europe *new*

Take your research career to the next level with EURAXESS

The EURAXESS LAC team is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Bogota, Colombia, from where it covers the whole of Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Visit us in Rio de Janeiro! EURAXESS LAC's office in Brazil is hosted by the French Consulate at Casa Europa, in the city center. It is necessary to schedule an appointment by writing to brazil@euraxess.net.

To request a meeting with the Regional Representative in Colombia, please send an e-mail to lac@euraxess.net. 

EURAXESS LAC on-site visits in the LAC countries.

It is possible to invite EURAXESS Brazil / LAC team to universities, research institutes, and companies to present the services offered by EURAXESS and more specifically EURAXESS Brazil / LAC, but also cooperation and career opportunities with Europe.

The team covers the main EU's funding framework programme for research and innovation Horizon Europe including opportunities for individual researchers (the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions - MSCA and the European Research Council - ERC) as well as for research institutions (Global Challenges, MSCA SE & MSCA DN)

Depending on your needs, the interactive session can target faculty members, senior scientists, or young researchers.

If you wish to organise such a presentation in your organisation, please contact brazil@euraxess.net or lac@euraxess.net.

Virtual presentations (webinar or videoconference) are also available for all LAC countries.

If you would like to co-organise an event with EURAXESS Brazil / LAC or to share ideas and suggestions, please do so by writing to brazil@euraxess.net or lac@euraxess.net.

For any questions related to Horizon Europe, contact the Research & Innovation Section of the EU Delegation to Brazil: DELEGATION-BRAZIL-CIENCIA@eeas.europa.eu

For EU funding of researchers' mobility, contact Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions MSCA and the European Research Council ERC National Contact Points (NCPs) in your country. Their contact can be found at bit.ly/HorizonEurope_NCP.

EURAXESS Brazil / LAC team can also provide you with useful information and present the funding opportunities. Contact us at brazil@euraxess.net or lac@euraxess.net.

To receive updates on EURAXESS LAC activities in Brazil and other Latin American and Caribbean countries, but also information on EU-Brazil / EU-LAC scientific cooperation and opportunities, sign up for our mailing list at http://bit.ly/EuraxessBR_LAC_Mailing