Regular Innovation Grant (Auxílio à Inovação Regular)
Funds researcher-driven innovation across artificial intelligence, biotechnology, climate, energy, hardware, and materials.
⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.
The 2026 Auxílio à Inovação Regular (AIR) call is a competitive grant programme administered by FAPESP for researchers based at public or private higher education and research institutions in São Paulo state. AIR funds innovation projects that aim to generate economic, social, or environmental impact across all fields of knowledge. The 2026 call carries a total pool of R$ 12 million. Each approved project may receive up to R$ 600,000 over a 36-month duration, equivalent to approximately R$ 200,000 per year. Submission via FAPESP's SAGe portal closes on 15 June 2026, with no provision for reconsideration of rejected applications.
To qualify, a Responsible Researcher must hold a doctorate and maintain an active employment relationship with a FAPESP-eligible São Paulo institution. Researchers who currently hold an active AIR award are not permitted to apply; a new AIR may only be initiated once the previous one has concluded. Budget requests above R$ 600,000 trigger an additional enquadramento review step. Submitted project documents may not exceed 20 pages excluding annexes. Researchers with outstanding reporting obligations to FAPESP in any programme are ineligible until those obligations are cleared.
AIR evaluations apply a qualitative rubric weighing scientific and technological merit, innovation potential, and the feasibility of impact delivery. Unlike company-facing FAPESP instruments, AIR is institution-facing — no commercial co-investment requirement exists. Strong applications clearly articulate the path from research outputs to practical innovation uptake, name qualified team members, and provide a realistic 36-month workplan with milestones. The programme does not set sector restrictions, making it one of FAPESP's most flexible mechanisms for institution-based translational and applied research.
Innovation projects in any field by São Paulo-affiliated researchers with a doctorate, targeting economic, social, or environmental impact via the 2026 Auxílio à Inovação Regular call.
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