University of Illinois System
TeamStrategiesFAQClustersFaculty ResearchBrasillinois NewsGrants

Brasillinois and CONFAP Call for Proposals

Request for Proposals: University of Illinois System & CONFAP Collaborative Research Program

Date: March 25, 2026

Deadline: May 26, 2026

The University of Illinois System Brasillinois Initiative, in partnership with Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies, announces a call for proposals to support collaborative research projects between faculty at the University of Illinois System and researchers affiliated with Brazilian state funding agencies.

This program aims to promote and strengthen international collaboration in key priority areas through joint research, researcher mobility, and academic exchange.

Program Overview

Funding Period: 2 years (projects begin January 2027)

Award: Up to $40,000 total per project

  • Up to $20,000 (University of Illinois System)
  • Up to $20,000 (CONFAP / participating FAPs)

Announcement of Results: End of August 2026

Research Areas

Proposals must align with at least one of the following priority areas:

  • Climate, Sustainability, and Agriculture
  • Public Health and Medicine
  • Democracy and Inclusion

Eligibility

Each proposal must include two Principal Investigators (PIs):

  • Illinois PI:
    Must be a full-time faculty member or postdoctoral researcher at the University of Illinois System with an active appointment for the duration of the project.
  • Brazilian PI:
    Must be affiliated with a university or research institution in a Brazilian state whose funding agency (FAP) is participating in this call.

Each PI may submit only one proposal.

Application Requirements

Applicants must prepare a joint proposal (maximum 10 pages) in English that includes:

  • Description of the collaborative research project
  • Clear division of work between teams
  • Expected outcomes and added value of collaboration
  • Budget summary table

Illinois-side submission must include:

  • Research proposal
  • Proposal submission form
  • Budget summary table
  • CV of the PI(s)

Application Submission Process

Proposals must be submitted to both sides:

  1. Brazilian PI submission:
    Submit through the CONFAP system
    (Additional submission to specific FAP platforms may be required)
  2. Illinois PI submission:
    Illinois PI submission details coming soon!

Proposals must be submitted to both systems by the deadline to be considered.

Funding Details

Funding is intended to support:

  • Researcher mobility and exchange visits
  • International travel and per diem expenses
  • Workshops and collaborative meetings
  • Seed funding for initial research activities (e.g., data collection, consumables, small equipment)

Each side will fund its own research team.

Participating Brazilian State Funding Agencies (FAPs)

The following Brazilian state agencies are participating in this call:

  • FAPEAL (Alagoas)
  • FAPEAM (Amazonas)
  • FAPESB (Bahia)
  • FAPES (Espírito Santo)
  • FAPEG (Goiás)
  • Fundação Araucária (Paraná)
  • FAPERGS (Rio Grande do Sul)
  • FAPERO (Rondônia)
  • FAPESC (Santa Catarina)
  • FAPT (Tocantins)

Additional Information

  • Projects are expected to begin in early 2027
  • Applicants must ensure compliance with visa and insurance requirements for international mobility
  • Proposals will undergo independent review by both parties, followed by joint selection

Contact

For questions or additional information, please contact:

University of Illinois System
Angelina Sandora
sandora3@uillinois.edu
Thais Duarte Zappelini
thaisdz@illinois.edu