Scientific Acceleration Program for the PALOPs
Section
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in partnership with the GIMM Foundation, the University of Cape Verde, and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon has launched the Scientific Acceleration Program for PALOP to provide recent graduates with opportunities to strengthen their skills and pursue advanced studies.
The Scientific Acceleration Program — PALOP has the following objectives: Contribute to the development of a new generation of scientists with a comprehensive and multidisciplinary understanding of Health and Life Sciences; Provide its participants with interdisciplinary skills that better enable them to pursue advanced studies, master's or doctoral degrees, in the area of Health and Life Sciences or to join research institutions or industry; and Strengthen and expand the scientific networks of the PALOP countries, connecting with other African countries and building collaborative ties with Portugal, increasing research and development opportunities.
The program will run for 18 months, beginning in January 2026, with the first 10 months at the University of Cape Verde in Praia, followed by 6 months at a scientific or technological institution in Europe, particularly in Portugal, or in Africa. Twenty scholarships will be awarded to recent graduates from Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Applicants must be citizens and permanent residents of PALOP countries, aged 30 or younger as of 31 December 2025, and must have completed an undergraduate degree in Health and Life Sciences after 2022 with an average of at least 14.0 on a 20-point scale. Candidates must also demonstrate an intermediate or advanced level of English and must not hold a master’s degree.
The scholarship includes financial support of €500 per month for non-residents of Praia and €300 per month for residents of Praia during the first 10 months, covering participation in the specialization course “Scientific Research in Biomedicine.” Accommodation in university residences, roundtrip travel, and travel insurance are also covered. For the final six months, participants will receive €1,200 per month to undertake an internship in a scientific institution in Europe or Africa, along with travel expenses and insurance.
Applications must be submitted through the MyGulbenkian platform between 4 August 2025 and 30 September 2025 at 5:00 pm (Lisbon time). Required documents include a curriculum vitae, authenticated degree certificate with grades, and the contact details of up to two referees for recommendation letters. Evaluation is based on curriculum, final undergraduate average, and the candidate’s motivation, with results to be communicated via MyGulbenkian by 15 November 2025.
