Portugal–Germany Bilateral Cooperation 2026: Joint Research Grant for Researcher Mobility and International Scientific Collaboration

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) of Portugal and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) have officially launched the Portugal–Germany Bilateral Cooperation 2026 Joint Call, inviting eligible research institutions and researchers to submit proposals for international collaborative projects aimed at strengthening scientific cooperation between Portugal and Germany.

The programme is established under the long-standing Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement signed between Portugal and Germany in 1990. Through this initiative, both countries seek to promote international research collaboration by supporting the mobility of professors, researchers, and particularly early-career researchers working in higher education institutions and research organizations.

Successful projects will receive funding to facilitate researcher exchanges and collaborative scientific activities over a maximum project duration of 24 months.

If you are a researcher or institution seeking to build international partnerships, enhance scientific cooperation, and promote mobility between Portugal and Germany, this grant programme presents an excellent opportunity.

About the Portugal–Germany Bilateral Cooperation Programme

The Portugal–Germany Bilateral Cooperation Programme was created to strengthen academic and scientific relations between the two countries through collaborative research initiatives.

Implemented jointly by:

• Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal
• Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD), Germany

the programme supports researcher mobility within jointly developed international research projects.

Rather than funding large-scale research budgets, the initiative focuses on enabling researchers from both countries to work together, exchange expertise, share scientific knowledge, and develop long-term institutional partnerships.

The programme also places particular emphasis on involving early-career researchers, helping them gain valuable international research experience.

Objectives of the Programme

The joint funding initiative aims to:

• Strengthen scientific cooperation between Portugal and Germany.
• Encourage international collaboration between higher education institutions and research organizations.
• Support researcher mobility within bilateral research projects.
• Foster knowledge exchange between Portuguese and German researchers.
• Promote the participation of early-career researchers.
• Build sustainable international research partnerships.
• Encourage scientific excellence and innovation through collaborative research.

Funding Details

Successful applicants will receive funding from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) to support mobility activities under approved bilateral research projects.

Funding Amount

Each approved project may receive:

• Annual funding of €2,500 from FCT.

Project Duration

Projects may run for:

• Up to 24 months.

Funding is awarded on an annual basis and projects may be renewed in accordance with Articles 13 and 14 of the programme regulations.

The grant is specifically intended to support researcher mobility and collaboration between Portuguese and German research teams.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to a broad range of institutions that are part of the Portuguese National System of Science and Technology.

Eligible beneficiaries include:

• Higher education institutions.
• University institutes.
• Research and Development (R&D) units.
• State laboratories.
• International laboratories based in Portugal.
• Private non-profit institutions primarily engaged in research and development.
• Other public and private non-profit organizations conducting scientific research.
• Companies of any legal form that participate in scientific research activities.

Applications must involve collaboration between eligible institutions in Portugal and Germany.

Joint Application Requirement

Applications must be prepared jointly by the Principal Investigators (PIs) representing both countries.

Specifically:

• The Portuguese Principal Investigator submits the application to FCT.
• The German Principal Investigator submits the corresponding application to DAAD.

Both applications should describe the same collaborative research project.

How to Apply

Researchers wishing to participate should follow several important steps.

Step 1: Prepare a Joint Proposal

Principal Investigators from Portugal and Germany should jointly develop a collaborative international research proposal.

Step 2: Portuguese Coordinator Registration

Before applying, the Portuguese Principal Investigator must:

• Register for a Ciência ID.
• Create a Ciência Vitae curriculum vitae.

The Ciência Vitae CV is mandatory and must be included in the application.

Questions relating to Ciência Vitae can be directed to:

info@cienciavitae.pt

Step 3: Submit the Application

Applications from the Portuguese research team must be submitted through the official FCT Application Submission Portal HERE

Step 4: Host Institution Validation

Following the application deadline, the Declaration of Commitment of the Host Institution will become available on the myFCT platform.

The declaration must be validated by:

• The legal representative of the host institution, or
• A duly delegated institutional representative.

Validation must be completed before the stated deadline.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications submitted to FCT will undergo scientific evaluation conducted primarily by evaluators affiliated with national institutions.

Each proposal will be assessed according to four main criteria.

A. Scientific Merit and Quality

Evaluators will assess:

• Scientific excellence.
• Originality.
• Research quality.
• Innovation.
• Overall feasibility.

B. Quality of the Research Teams

Assessment includes:

• Expertise of the participating researchers.
• Institutional capacity.
• Complementarity between Portuguese and German teams.

C. Participation of Early-Career Researchers

Special attention will be given to:

• The involvement of early-career researchers on the Portuguese side.
• Opportunities for researcher development.

D. Mobility Activities

Evaluators will examine whether:

• Planned mobility activities appropriately support the research objectives.
• Exchange visits contribute effectively to international collaboration.

Key Dates

Applicants should take note of the following deadlines.

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted by:

11 September 2026 at 17:00 (Lisbon Time).

Host Institution Validation Deadline

The Declaration of Commitment must be validated by:

25 September 2026 at 17:00 (Lisbon Time).

Late submissions or incomplete applications may not be considered.

Benefits of Participating

The Portugal–Germany Bilateral Cooperation Programme offers numerous advantages to participating researchers and institutions.

These include:

• Funding to support international researcher mobility.
• Stronger research partnerships between Portugal and Germany.
• Increased international visibility.
• Opportunities for early-career researcher development.
• Access to international expertise.
• Long-term institutional collaboration.
• Enhanced research capacity.
• Cross-border scientific knowledge exchange.

For More Information

For enquiries regarding the programme, applicants may contact:

Portugal

Sílvia Silva
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)
Email: silvia.silva@fct.pt
Telephone: (+351) 21 392 43 66

Germany

Ramona Sterz
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Email: sterz@daad.de

Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully read the complete call documents and application guidelines before preparing and submitting their proposals.

Conclusion

The Portugal–Germany Bilateral Cooperation 2026 Joint Call represents an excellent opportunity for researchers and institutions seeking to establish or strengthen international scientific collaborations between Portugal and Germany. By supporting researcher mobility, encouraging the participation of early-career researchers, and promoting innovative bilateral research projects, the programme contributes to advancing scientific excellence and fostering long-term academic partnerships. Eligible applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their joint proposals early and ensure that all application requirements are completed before the 11 September 2026 submission deadline.

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