CNPq — National Council for Scientific & Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico)

Funds Brazilian science and technology activity through national grants for researchers, universities, and innovation-minded firms.

CNPq is Brazil's federal science funding agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. It is the country's main channel for researcher grants, graduate fellowships, and large thematic research networks. In 2025 it deployed R$2.8 billion, sustaining 107,000 active fellowships and 16,000 active projects.

Its flagship calls are scaled for broad scientific coverage. The 2024 Chamada Universal rose 50% year on year to R$450 million, the 2024 INCT cycle reached R$1.5 billion, and a supplementary R$186.3 million credit was added in January 2026. Core routes include Chamada Universal, INCT, MAI/DAI, and PCI, with work spanning AI infrastructure, biotech, climate, energy, materials, medtech, quantum, hardware, IoT edge, and manufacturing.

CNPq usually co-issues calls with MCTI, FINEP and FNDCT, CAPES, and state research foundations. Applicants move through the Plataforma Carlos Chagas and need an active Lattes CV. That makes the agency strong for researchers who can assemble a full academic profile and align with a named call rather than a rolling open grant.