Understanding the CAPES Edital 17/2026 and Its Role in Regional Academic Collaboration
The Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil’s primary agency for graduate education and research funding under the Ministry of Education, has released Edital nº 17/2026. This call selects joint research projects under the Programa CAPES-AUGM, fostering collaboration between Brazilian higher education institutions and members of the Associação de Universidades do Grupo Montevidéu (AUGM).
Launched in May 2026, the edital supports up to 15 projects per call, with each project lasting up to four years. It emphasizes scientific exchange, human resources training, and the internationalization of Brazilian postgraduate programs through mobility and co-authored publications.
Background on the CAPES-AUGM Partnership
The CAPES-AUGM program stems from a cooperation agreement signed on March 13, 2024, between CAPES and AUGM. AUGM unites 51 public, autonomous universities from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, promoting regional academic integration since its founding in 1991.
This initiative aligns with broader Brazilian efforts to strengthen South American research networks, building on prior CAPES international programs that have supported thousands of mobility actions across the continent.
Key Objectives of the Edital
The program pursues five core goals: expanding cooperation among postgraduate programs; fostering scientific exchange on strategic topics; supporting mobility for postdoctoral researchers and doctoral students; advancing the internationalization of Brazilian graduate education; and building international research networks for joint publications.
Projects must involve Brazilian teams from up to five institutions partnering with at least one AUGM-member university abroad, allowing both bilateral and multilateral configurations.
Funding Structure and Eligible Expenses
Each approved project receives up to R$ 1.4 million over four years from CAPES, with annual allocations including up to R$ 10,000 for project maintenance, R$ 50,000 for work missions (typically 4–8 missions total), and up to R$ 290,196 for scholarships in both directions.
CAPES covers Brazilian-side costs such as international travel, health insurance, daily allowances, and installation aid. AUGM members handle counterpart funding for their scholars, including maintenance stipends and local support. Total funding per call reaches approximately R$ 21 million across the 15 projects.
Mobility Opportunities and Scholarship Modalities
The edital funds several mobility types: work missions for Brazilian faculty and researchers; sandwich doctoral scholarships (doutorado sanduíche); postdoctoral fellowships; and, in some cases, master’s-level sandwich opportunities. Scholarships flow in both directions, with CAPES supporting Brazilians abroad and foreign scholars in Brazil.
Typical benefits include monthly stipends, installation allowances (around R$ 2,200–R$ 5,200), health insurance (US$ 90), and travel support. Values adjust according to current exchange rates and CAPES portarias.
Application Timeline and Process
Two independent calls exist. The first (2026/2027) has a submission deadline of July 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. Brasília time. The second runs from February 1 to July 1, 2027.
Proposals undergo technical analysis, merit review, prioritization, and final selection. Institutions must register in the CAPES system by June 22, 2026, for the first call. Activities begin in January 2027, with scholarships starting in March 2027. An intermediate evaluation occurs after two years to assess progress and decide on continuation.
Eligibility and Proposal Requirements
Proposals require coordination by a Brazilian faculty member affiliated with a postgraduate program. Teams may include up to five Brazilian institutions collaborating with AUGM universities. Required documents include project descriptions, budgets, team CVs, and letters of commitment from partner institutions.
Projects must demonstrate clear research impact, joint publications potential, and alignment with strategic knowledge areas. Multilateral proposals involving multiple AUGM countries receive favorable consideration.
Impact on Brazilian Higher Education Institutions
Universities such as UFSCar, UFMG, FURG, UFPA, and others have already disseminated the edital through their international offices, highlighting opportunities for faculty and graduate students. The program strengthens institutional internationalization strategies and supports CAPES’ broader goals of elevating Brazilian research output in regional rankings.
Successful projects often lead to sustained networks, co-supervised theses, and increased visibility for participating programs in fields ranging from exact sciences to humanities and health.
Challenges and Considerations for Applicants
Applicants should note budget contingencies, currency fluctuations affecting scholarship values, and the need for strong partner commitment. The four-year horizon requires robust project management and contingency planning for the intermediate evaluation.
Institutions without prior AUGM ties may need additional time to establish formal agreements, making early preparation essential before the July deadline.
Future Outlook and Regional Research Networks
With two calls planned, the edital positions Brazil to deepen ties within the Southern Cone academic community. As AUGM expands its commissions on academic groupings and international relations, this program contributes to a growing ecosystem of regional research consortia.
Long-term outcomes include enhanced postgraduate quality, more co-authored publications in high-impact journals, and greater mobility for the next generation of Brazilian researchers.
Resources for Prospective Applicants
Full details appear in the official edital PDF on the CAPES website. University international offices provide guidance on proposal preparation and partner matching. Prospective coordinators are encouraged to review the agreement terms and consult CAPES portarias governing scholarships and missions.
