The User Program from the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is the set of guidelines that provides guidance and enables the scientific community to access to the Center’s open facilities, promoting excellence in research, scientific collaboration, and the expert use of large research infrastructures.
Through the User Program, researchers from public and private institutions, both national and international, can submit research proposals for the use of CNPEM’s open facilities, free of charge, competitively and transparently. The proposals are evaluated by specialized committees, based on criteria of scientific merit, technical feasibility, and alignment with the capabilities of available infrastructure.
The Program also establishes general rules for carrying out experimental activities, including operational and safety aspects, access flows to facilities, and guidelines for the use of institutional resources. In this context, researchers may be eligible for grants provided by the User Program, in accordance with current regulations and budgetary availability, in order to enable the execution of research.
As one of the key lines of activity that make up CNPEM, the User Program contributes to the training of human resources, the strengthening of research networks, and the expansion of scientific impact in the country, in line with the objectives of the Brazilian Science, Technology and Innovation System (CT&I).
The User´s Office (EdU) is the unit responsible for the management, coordination, and operation of the User Program, acting as a point of contact between external researchers and CNPEM. EdU offers ongoing support throughout the user journey, from proposal submission to project completion, ensuring proper application of the Program guidelines.
