The Brazilian Scientific Mobility Program at CNPq/MCT
Aug 24, 2011
The Brazilian Government is starting a programme of scholarships, to promote the consolidation and expansion of science, technology and innovation in Brazil through international exchange and mobility.
The Brazilian Scientific Mobility Program at CNPq/MCT
This year, the Brazilian Government is starting a programme of scholarships, to promote the consolidation and expansion of science, technology and innovation in Brazil through international exchange and mobility.The main goals of the proposal are:
-Create a collaborative association encompassing the training of Brazilian students and scientists abroad, with reciprocal opening of
opportunities at institutions in Brazil.
- Create a collaborative Scientific Fellowship Program for
allowing scientists from abroad to join a Brazilian group of excellence (e.g. Brazilian National Institutes for Science and Technology - INCTs) or Brazilian Senior Scientists to stay at foreign institutions within the context of a scientific project.
Such collaborative agreement would have then two components:
• Undergraduate, Doctoral or Post-Doctoral
fellowships for Brazilian students and investigators
at foreign institutions;
• Collaborative Senior Fellowships.
Will CNPq be responsible for
arrangements regarding students
placements and identifying
institutions for joint projects?
Although CNPq will seek arrangements with foreign institutions, the
Brazilian investigators and institutions are primarily responsible for
identifying opportunities of collaborations. There must be an accorded
match with the foreign institutions, as they usually will have the last say
whom they are willing to accept.
Are equal numbers of students and
scientists expected in each direction?
Not necessarily. Brazilian institutions will be able to receive at least
the same number of students and scientists but precise matching is not
required.
How about the language barrier? Brazilian students will have access to high quality on line English
courses before their departure. Arrangements for short immersion courses
may also be negotiated as needed.
Brazilian Embassies and Consulates will be stimulated to promote
Portuguese courses to people interested in participating in the Science
without Borders Program. Local groups will care for enhancing the insertion
of foreigners easing the language barriers.
Visiting students and researchers
must work in the themes and areas
of the Program?
Students coming to Brazil may study and engage in projects at all
areas of knowledge although support to Brazilians abroad is restricted to
the theme/areas of the Science without Borders Program.
Visiting post-docs and senior researchers will engage in projects with
local groups and support is limited to the themes/areas of the Program.
How to handle eventual intellectual
property, non-disclosure agreements
etc.?
This will be negotiated in individuals basis. CNPq may help Brazilian
institutions in the negotiations but will not claim intellectual property for
itself.
Will CNPq pay tuitions and fees for
the students?
CNPq will negotiate exemption of fees with Universities or local
governments, or will participate in negotiations for obtaining private
support for payment of the fees.
In the senior exchange who should
pay what?
CNPq will support Brazilians stay abroad and will provide
supplementary support in the range of US$7,000 per month to foreigners
during their stay in Brazil. We expect that the foreign institution
maintains their investigators’ salaries during this period.
CNPq will further provide a grant to the hosting local institution.
The foreign institution is expected to provide the necessary support
locally.
CNPq is able to pay scholarships to students to participate in the
project both in Brazil and abroad. We may also support a foreign post doc
to work in Brazil in the context of the collaboration.
Periods of stay in Brazil for the
collaborative senior fellowships are
fixed to one or two months per year
during the project?
Such periods are given as example, and different proposals may
require distinct periods. Periods at different years are not necessarily
similar, may be four months in the year and only one months in the
following years, e.g.
Such aspects will be decided individually, based on the project needs.
How to participate
CNPq will actively engage in agreements with the best technological and scientific institutions around the World and Brazilian institutions are alsostimulated to seek international collaborations with counterparts abroad. Proposals may not be limited to the forms described here and we welcome creative new approaches to the same goals.
More informations and inquires:sciencewithoutborders@cnpq.br
About: CNPQ: Brazilian National Scientific and Technological Research Council
CNPq operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT). It has an elaborate system to support Science and Technology (S&T) focused on scientific and technological research and education.
CNPq grants scholarships to the training of professionals in all fields of scientific and technological research, both in Brazil and abroad. It also funds research projects either directly or in partnership with State Funding
Agencies. CNPq selects proposals for grants for projects that aim to contribute significantly to the scientific and technological development and innovation in the country. The research proposal must be clearly characterized as scientific or technological innovation.
The bilateral cooperation agreements, maintained by the CNPq, support the mobility of researchers within the framework of joint research projects, development and innovation, in preferred areas, agreed with foreign funding institutions.
Contacts:
Institutions willing further information or interested in presenting alternative proposals related to the Science without Borders Program, please contact:
For more information please visit: http://www.capes.gov.br/images/stories/download/diversos/folder-SWB.pdf