The call is open for proposals until May 19, which must address one of the seven thematic questions.
The Brazilian National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), with support from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), has opened a call for multi-institutional projects from the North and Northeast regions of the country. The goal of this initiative is to strengthen scientific networks and expand the impact of research on topics that are strategic for regional development. The call was announced this Monday, March 31, during the 71st National Forum of the Brazilian National Council of State Research Support Foundations (CONFAP).
Submitted proposals should respond to one of the seven thematic questions defined in the call for projects, which focus on strategic challenges in the North and Northeast regions.
The seven scientific projects selected will be able to use the facilities of the National Laboratories at CNPEM in order to address strategic challenges in the North and Northeast regions, contributing to Brazil’s scientific, technological and social development.
Proposals should respond to one of the theme questions in the public call for projects, which are grouped into the areas of renewable energy; health and neglected diseases; emerging environmental pollutants; climate change and desertification; regional bioeconomy and biotechnology; applied nanotechnology; and preservation of cultural heritage.
The call is directed at researchers linked to institutions of higher education and non-profits based in the North and Northeast. The proposals must be developed in collaborative efforts between different institutions, creating multi-institutional teams from three to ten entities with at least two members representing each partner.
Voices from the region defined the topics
Submitted proposals should respond to one of the seven thematic questions defined in the call for projects, which focus on strategic challenges in the North and Northeast regions.
These themes were defined from suggestions by participants in CNPEM’s Ambassadors Program who work in research institutions in these regions, as well as from a survey conducted by the Center based on the areas addressed in regional calls for participation in scientific projects.
“From our experience in these territories, we can add unique local demands and characteristics to the discussion, helping to formulate questions that are more in line with regional challenges and can involve researchers from different areas. Regional participation is also essential for bringing together research groups that often work alone. The call strengthens these connections, and access to CNPEM’s infrastructures can boost the quality of analyses and the development of solutions for challenges that are common to the North and Northeast regions,” says André Luis Menezes Carvalho, professor at the Federal University of Piaui and a CNPEM Ambassador.
Submission and evaluation
Proposals must be submitted by May 19, exclusively through the public notice page linked below: link.
The proposals will be evaluated by external experts and internal technical-scientific committees, considering criteria such as scientific quality and innovation, regional impact, institutional diversity, operational strategy and potential dissemination of results.
The successful applicants will be announced from June 24 on the CNPEM website, and work on the projects is scheduled to start in July 2026.
The selected projects will be carried out through CNPEM’s User Program, and successful applicants will be eligible for financial assistance related to food, lodging and travel (in line with program rules) to carry out the activities described in their proposals.
Public notice
The 2026 CNPEM Multi-Institutional Call for Projects was officially launched this Monday, March 31, during the 71st National Forum of the Brazilian National Council of State Research Support Foundations (CONFAP). This event brings together representatives of the 27 State Research Support Foundations (FAPs), as well as strategic partners in Brazilian and international agencies to promote science, technology and innovation in order to discuss challenges, opportunities and paths forward for the future of science in Brazil.
This forum was chosen for the launch of the public call in order to expand visibility and strengthen connections with institutions that work directly to support and finance research at the state level.
“CONFAP, together with MCTI, is an important supporter of this call for projects. In the National Forum, we identified a strategic opportunity to introduce this call to the FAPs and expand the scope of the initiative, strengthening ties with institutions that support research in the North and Northeast regions. The proposal also reinforces the role of the User Office in promoting access to CNPEM infrastructures and encouraging the formation of collaborative research networks in the country,” says Vilmara Helena Tonin Congilio of CNPEM’s User Office.
About CNPEM
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is home to a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment and works on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. It is responsible for Sirius, the largest assembly of scientific equipment constructed in the country, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. CNPEM’s research and development activities are carried out through its four National Laboratories: Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as its Technology Unit (DAT) and the Ilum School of Science — an undergraduate program in Science and Technology supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC).
