The goal is to foster unprecedented and bold collaborations among researchers, driving high-impact ideas.
This Sunday, the 14th, Pioneer Science launches the Sementes Pioneiras call, aimed at fostering unprecedented and bold collaborations among researchers supported by the initiative, driving high-risk, high-impact ideas.
The Sementes Pioneiras call will support innovative proposals with funding of R$ 180,000 over a period of 2 years. Through an initial seed funding mechanism, the goal is to stimulate new questions, bold approaches, and high-risk explorations capable of producing transformative scientific advances.
About the call:
Eligible proposals include innovative and bold research at the interface between the health, biomedical, and exact sciences, in one or more of the three areas of interest: molecular and cellular biology, the physics and mathematics of biology, and neuroscience and cognition.
Interdisciplinary proposals exploring emerging frontiers between fields are strongly encouraged.
Who can participate:
▪️Applicants must be grantees and/or lead researchers of projects supported by Pioneer Science.
▪️Proposals must be submitted by 2 or 3 proponents.
▪️Submitted proposals must be distinct from each researcher’s own Pioneer Science-supported project.
▪️At least two members must come from different Pioneer Science projects.
▪️Each researcher may participate in only one proposal.
Selection process:
Applicants must submit proposals in accordance with the guidelines in this call. All eligible proposals will be evaluated by the Pioneer Science executive committee. The selection process will take place in two stages, with different funding amounts in each. For more information on the process stages and evaluation criteria, read the full call.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PERIOD:
From December 14, 2025 to January 23, 2026.
CALL:
Read the full call at this LINK
Proposals must be submitted electronically by filling out the form.
Submit your proposal at this LINK
SCHEDULE:
12/14/2025 – Call announcement at the Pioneer Science Annual Meeting.
12/14/2025 – Proposal submissions open at the LINK.
01/23/2026 – Proposal submissions deadline.
01/26 to 02/13/2026 – Phase 1 review period.
02/19/2026 – Phase 1 results announcement.
02/23 to 06/22/2026 – Phase 1 proposal execution period.
06/23 to 07/22/2026 – Phase 2 proposal submission period.
07/23 to 08/23/2026 – Phase 2 review period.
09/01/2026 – Phase 2 results announcement.