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Initiative Articulates MEC, CAPES, CNPq, and FAPs to Finance 1,000 Doctors for Up to Four Years, Focusing on Research, Innovation, and Reducing Regional Inequalities, Including Priority for the Legal Amazon, Through High-Value Monthly Scholarships.
Doctors from all fields of knowledge, trained in Brazil or abroad, are expected to gain a new entry point to continue research at universities and also in Brazilian companies.
The proposal provides for 1,000 scholarships of R$ 13,000 per month, lasting 48 months, within the Program for Supporting the Retention of Doctors in Brazil (Profix-CB), articulated by CAPES, CNPq, and state research funding foundations (FAPs).
Over four years, the estimated investment is R$ 624 million, an amount calculated to sustain approximately one thousand scholarships during the period.
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The money will come from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT), and the scholarships will be linked to the program Knowledge Brazil, one of the strategic fronts funded by the fund.
The expectation, according to the institutions involved, is to increase the presence of doctors in research and innovation projects, with distributed action across the national territory and special attention to reducing regional inequalities in Brazilian science.
Profix-CB Expands Opportunities for Doctors in Brazil
The Profix-CB is an initiative designed to support the retention of doctoral researchers in the country, offering conditions for them to maintain active research lines and establish links with scientific, technological, and innovation institutions, as well as companies.
Capes, an agency linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC), participates in the action alongside the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the FAPs, which act as the state arm for research support.
In practice, the program depends on this triple mechanism to reach the states, organize selections, and sustain projects over time.
In a statement released by the institutions, the president of CAPES, Denise Pires de Carvalho, stated: “This initiative aligns with the current government’s policy of addressing the asymmetries between and within regions and valuing the science produced in the country, especially in the Amazon. In addition to retaining scientists in Brazil, it strengthens national research in the pursuit of improvements in the quality of life for the population, focusing on sustainability, diversity, and inclusion.”
Similarly, the president of CNPq, Olival Freire Júnior, assessed that “this is the largest action taken in recent years aimed at retaining researchers in the country,” emphasizing that the measure responds to a demand for more opportunities for the insertion of doctors in Brazilian universities and companies.
Scholarships of R$ 13,000 Monthly for Up to 48 Months
The monthly amount expected for each scholarship holder is R$ 13,000.
If this amount is maintained during the 48 months, the total for each researcher can reach R$ 624,000 by the end of the period, considering only the scholarship payment.
The scholarships from Profix-CB were designed to match the amount offered in the repatriation call for researchers launched in 2024, according to official information.
The strategy, in this regard, is to align the funding level with a standard already recently practiced, focusing on attracting and retaining doctors.
While the core of the program is the monthly scholarship, the implementation involves other instruments that fall under the responsibility of the FAPs and the executing institutions.
Therefore, the operational details tend to vary depending on state calls, the scope of each project, and the criteria agreed upon between the agencies.
Legal Amazon and Reducing Scientific Inequalities
Among the central objectives of Profix-CB is to reduce regional asymmetries in the National System of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
The announced priority falls on the Legal Amazon, in an attempt to increase the retention of doctors and research capacity in areas where the availability of opportunities and scientific infrastructure tends to be more unequal.
In addition, the initiative aims to create a more favorable environment for doctors to continue research activities in Brazil, both in public institutions and in innovation environments connected to the productive sector.
The proposal, according to the institutions involved, also aims to contribute to retaining researchers in ICTs and companies, reinforcing the continuity of projects and team formation.
In this design, the presence of the researcher is not treated merely as an individual bond.
The logic of the program is to induce the development of applied and academic research with institutional support, enhancing the capacity of the territories and organizations that receive the scholarship holders.
Role of FAPs and Financial Support for Projects
The state research funding foundations are expected to play a decisive role in the execution of Profix-CB.
The selection processes for the granting of Knowledge Brazil scholarships will be conducted by the FAPs.
In addition to the scholarship announcement, the foundations will be responsible for providing research assistance, whether funding and/or capital, in amounts to be agreed upon with the federal agencies as a counterpart for each granted scholarship.
It’s not just about paying a monthly salary to the researcher.
The architecture of the program also involves support to ensure that the project has the material conditions to exist, which may include operational expenses and investment, according to what is defined in each state and each call.
Commenting on the partnership, the president of Confap, Márcio de Araújo Pereira, stated: “This partnership demonstrates that the capillarity of the FAPs allows science to be present everywhere, for all people, more quickly, achieving the objectives and results that Brazil needs. It reflects the work of the FAPs with the Federal Government.”
Letter of Intent and Schedule for Announcements
The formalization of Profix-CB occurred with the signing of a letter of intent between CNPq, CAPES, and Confap on December 4, during the 70th National Forum Consecti and Confap held in Goiânia.
From this milestone, the next step is the public call for FAPs to confirm their interest in participating in the program.
According to the disclosed schedule, the foundations must express their interest by February 2026.
The expectation is that the state calls will begin to be published starting in March, in accordance with the organization of each foundation and the terms agreed upon with the federal agencies.
There is also an additional academic component planned.
The possibility of granting master’s and/or doctoral scholarships from CAPES to selected candidates who qualify for graduate programs at the executing institutions of the research projects is indicated.
This measure may enhance the impact of the program within the participating groups and laboratories.
How to Follow Announcements and Apply for Scholarships
Those who wish to apply should keep an eye on the announcements from the research funding foundation in their state.
It is also necessary to monitor the official announcements from federal agencies, as the selection processes will occur through state calls linked to Profix-CB.
Following the public call for FAPs to join, announcements will be published with rules, deadlines, criteria, and required documentation.
Excelente noite interesse e bem merecido para os Drs. Porém, penso que os especialistas necessitam também de um maior apoio no stricto sensu não é uma razão absoluta mas, precisamos sim de incentivo
Seria maravilhoso participar dessa seleção.
Seria maravilhoso participar dessa seleção, professora: Sônia M. Rocha.