São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Name	São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Native name	Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Formation	1960
Headquarters	São Paulo
Region served	São Paulo (state)
Leader title	President

São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public foundation in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, created to support scientific and technological research. It funds basic and applied projects across universities, institutes, and companies, and operates a wide array of grant schemes, research facilities, and international cooperation programs. The foundation plays a central role in regional innovation ecosystems, engaging with higher education institutions, research institutes, and industrial partners across Latin America, Europe, and North America.

History

FAPESP was established by state law during the mid-20th century and began operations amid debates in São Paulo between proponents of institutional research support and advocates of federal programs. Early interactions involved institutions such as the University of São Paulo, the Federal University of São Carlos, and the Polytechnic School of University of São Paulo. During the 1970s and 1980s, FAPESP expanded funding portfolios similar to models used by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development and international funders such as the Wellcome Trust, the European Research Council, and the National Science Foundation. In subsequent decades FAPESP developed targeted initiatives aligned with initiatives at institutions like the Butantan Institute, Embrapa, and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and established partnerships with agencies including the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the National Institutes of Health, and the Max Planck Society.

Organization and Governance

The foundation is overseen by a council composed of representatives from state ministries, academic institutions such as the State University of Campinas and the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, and appointed public officials. Executive management interacts with research offices at the University of São Paulo, the University of Campinas, and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro to coordinate calls for proposals. Governance practices draw comparisons with the Research Councils UK model, the German Research Foundation, and provincial research agencies like Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation. Internal divisions administer programs focused on health and biomedical science involving collaborations with Hospital das Clínicas, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, and the Pasteur Institute partnerships, as well as technology transfer offices associated with companies such as Embraer and Petrobras.

Funding Programs and Grants

FAPESP operates a spectrum of funding instruments including fellowships, thematic calls, and industry-academia grants. Programs parallel international schemes like Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the Horizon 2020 Marie programs, and the Wellcome Investigator Awards, and include support for postdoctoral researchers, doctoral scholarships, young investigator awards, thematic research programs, and innovation vouchers for small enterprises. It offers funding lines aimed at collaborative projects with partners such as IBM Research, Microsoft Research, Boeing, and Siemens, and maintains special calls for translational projects with institutions like Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. The foundation has financed projects in areas represented by institutes such as the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing, the Institute of Physics of São Carlos, and the Center for Research on Energy and Materials.

Research Infrastructure and Centers

FAPESP funds and hosts infrastructure networks and core facilities linked to centers of excellence such as the Center for Research in Energy and Materials, the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, and the Center for Research on Photonics. It supports laboratory consortia associated with the Butantan Institute, the Adolfo Lutz Institute, and the Cancer Institute of São Paulo, and funds computing and data facilities working with the National Laboratory for Scientific Computing and the São Paulo Supercomputing Center. The foundation also sponsors thematic research centers that collaborate with international hubs like the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Max Planck Institutes, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory.

Partnerships and Collaborations

FAPESP maintains bilateral and multilateral agreements with foreign agencies and foundations including the British Council, the German Academic Exchange Service, the French National Research Agency, and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Regional collaborations involve Mercosur universities, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Latin American Science and Technology Network, while sectoral alliances include aerospace partnerships with Embraer and defense-related research with institutions analogous to the Brazilian Army’s research units. Corporate engagement spans alliances with Petrobras, Vale, Natura, and technology firms such as Google and Intel for industry-academia innovation projects.

Impact and Metrics

The foundation measures impact through bibliometric indicators, patent filings, startup formation, and technology licensing metrics similar to those used by Clarivate Analytics and the OECD. Outputs include peer-reviewed publications in journals like Nature, Science, The Lancet, and Cell, patents registered with the National Institute of Industrial Property, and spin-offs incubated at technology parks such as the São Paulo Technology Park and the Campinas Innovation Hub. FAPESP-funded research contributes to award recognition at international prizes, and collaborations have led to high-citation works involving scholars from institutions like Harvard University, MIT, and the University of Oxford.

Controversies and Criticism

Critiques of the foundation have focused on allocation priorities, perceived concentration of funds at major institutions such as the University of São Paulo and the State University of Campinas, and debates similar to those faced by other funders like the European Research Council and the Wellcome Trust. Questions have arisen about transparency and peer review processes, comparisons with funding practices at agencies like CNPq and CAPES, and the balance between basic research and industry-oriented projects involving firms such as Petrobras and Embraer. Discussions in academic forums and legislative hearings have involved representatives from the São Paulo Legislative Assembly, academic unions, and civil society organizations calling for adjustments to funding distribution and accountability mechanisms.

Category:Research funding organizations