Work with Brazilian Researchers: NERC–FAPESP Lead Agency
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) · United Kingdom and the State of São Paulo, Brazil
Collaborative funding mechanism allowing UK researchers and researchers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil to submit joint research proposals under existing NERC funding opportunities through a single review process. This is not a separate funding scheme and applications must be submitted under an eligible NERC opportunity. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Collaborative funding mechanism allowing UK researchers and researchers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil to submit joint research proposals under existing NERC funding opportunities through a single review process. This is not a separate funding scheme and applications must be submitted under an eligible NERC opportunity. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Natural and environmental sciences within the remit of both NERC and FAPESP.
Match funding
Not specified beyond the standard funding rules of NERC and FAPESP.
Eligible applicants
UK-based project leads must be based at an eligible UK research organisation and meet NERC eligibility requirements. São Paulo-based partners must be affiliated with FAPESP-eligible higher education or research organisations, including public or non-profit institutions. São Paulo project leads must confirm their eligibility with FAPESP and obtain a formal eligibility letter. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Combined Full Economic Cost can range from £950,000 to £3.45 million, depending on the eligible NERC funding opportunity used. (UK Research and Innovation)
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
NERC funds 80% of Full Economic Cost for the UK component. Equipment is funded at 100% FEC. FAPESP funds the São Paulo component according to its own funding rules. (UK Research and Innovation)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Collaborative research proposals in disciplinary or interdisciplinary areas where the majority of the research falls within the remit of both NERC and FAPESP. Proposals must also fall within the scope, funding limits and duration of the specific NERC funding opportunity used. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible expenses
- UK costs including directly incurred staff payroll, travel, subsistence and consumables; directly allocated researcher salaries, estates costs and shared resources; indirect costs; and equipment. UK equipment is funded at 100% FEC. FAPESP funds justified eligible costs under its own rules. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service for the UK application and FAPESP's Sistema de Apoio a Gestão (SAGe) system for the São Paulo application. The UK application must now be submitted through the UKRI Funding Service rather than Je-S. (UK Research and Innovation)
Competitiveness
Not specified
Decision timeline
The assessment process usually takes around six months but may take longer. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment process
NERC assesses applications on behalf of both organisations using its normal assessment process, with FAPESP-nominated experts involved throughout. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Sections follow the requirements of the specific NERC funding opportunity. The UK application must include the international collaborative proposal information and the FAPESP-funded project lead as an international project co-lead. FAPESP-funded costs and activities must not be claimed again in the UK budget. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if eligibility or collaboration requirements are not met, budgets are not clearly separated, duplicate funding is requested, or the proposal does not align with the relevant NERC funding opportunity. (UK Research and Innovation)
Timeline and partners
Opening date
Not specified
Project duration
Determined by the NERC funding opportunity used for the application
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Collaboration rules
- Applications must represent an integrated collaborative project between UK and São Paulo researchers. Both the UK and São Paulo components must be submitted through the required systems and the collaboration must be clearly identified. (UK Research and Innovation)
Consortium requirements
- Projects must include an eligible UK research organisation and a FAPESP-eligible São Paulo research partner.
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-13.
International Collaboration Requirement
Mandatory collaboration between UK researchers and researchers based in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Research Category
Environmental science and interdisciplinary research within the remit of NERC and FAPESP.
Research Organisation Funding
Host organisations must provide appropriate research infrastructure and support for the project.
Subcontractors
Not specified
Interview Stage
Not specified
Key Requirements
The São Paulo project lead must first obtain FAPESP eligibility confirmation. Both project leads must have active SAGe registrations and confirm participation. The São Paulo lead submits through SAGe, after which the UK lead must submit the UKRI application within seven days of receiving the SAGe application. The UK application title must be prefixed with “NERC-FAPESP:”. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
The combined UK and São Paulo budgets must remain within the funding limit of the relevant NERC opportunity, but the amounts requested from NERC and FAPESP do not need to be equal. The UK and São Paulo costs must be clearly differentiated, and FAPESP costs in the NERC application must be converted to GBP using the current HMRC exchange rate. NERC funds the UK component and FAPESP funds the São Paulo component. The opportunity was last updated on 30 March 2026. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
Open - no closing date
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- Combined Full Economic Cost can range from £950,000 to £3.45 million, depending on the eligible NERC funding opportunity used. (UK Research and Innovation)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Natural and environmental sciences within the remit of both NERC and FAPESP.
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 6 May 2022