International agreements

Contents

Lead agency agreement with Sao Paulo Research Foundation

EPSRC accepts joint proposals under the lead agency agreement between the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in Brazil, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to encourage and support proposals involving international collaborative teams.

Under the lead agency agreement, a single joint proposal from applicants in both countries is submitted to EPSRC and processed according to EPSRC’s standard peer review procedures. Successful UK-based research groups are funded by EPSRC, and Sao Paulo-based research groups are funded by FAPESP.

Joint applications to this programme are accepted at any time.

Application process

EPSRC accepts joint applications for standard research grants under the joint EPSRC-FAPESP scheme at any time. Joint applications should be submitted through the EPSRC working with overseas scientists funding opportunity.

Submission of joint proposal

This includes:

  • except where indicated otherwise, joint applications should follow standard EPSRC format. Additional pages are not permitted
  • the title of all applications submitted under this partnership must begin ‘EPSRC-FAPESP’
  • a single joint proposal should be submitted to EPSRC via the Funding Service,with the Sao Paulo applicants designated as project partners. Include the scientific case for both components of the project in your vision and approach section
  • a section on the Sao Paulo applicants must be included in the applicant and team capability to deliver section
  • the total direct costs requested by the Sao Paulo applicants from FAPESP should be included in the application form as a cash project-partner contribution
  • the resource and cost justification must include a section on the costs requested by the Sao Paulo-based research groups, making it clear which costs will be funded by FAPESP and which costs will be funded by EPSRC if the application is successful
  • the Sao Paulo-based researchers must submit a copy of the proposal through FAPESP’s SAGe submission system concurrently with the UKRI Funding Service application and according to FAPESP’s guidelines

Reviewers’ comments and the project lead response to reviews will be shared with FAPESP once the funding decision has been made.

Ask a question about the agreement with the Sao Paulo Research Foundation

Email: ukri-agreement@fapesp.br

Last updated: 7 August 2025

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services.