Fully Funded Frontiers 2026 Program for Researchers and Innovators in Brazil

The Royal Academy of Engineering has opened applications to participate in the international Frontiers Symposium 2026, which will be held in person in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, from September 30 to October 2, 2026.

The symposium focuses on the theme “Community-led circular solutions for inclusive climate action” and brings together researchers, innovators, practitioners, policymakers, and representatives from companies, non-governmental organizations, and local communities from around the world.

The program aims to develop fairer and more inclusive solutions for the transition to a circular economy, strengthen collaboration among participants, and build international partnerships to address environmental and social challenges related to waste, mining, infrastructure, and climate action.

Symposium Themes

The symposium includes three main themes:

1. Engagement, decision-making, and climate governance in circular systems.
2. Community-led circular systems and innovations.
3. Finance, enabling conditions, and resilient productive infrastructure for the circular economy.

Selected participants will receive the following benefits:

1. Coverage of travel costs from the participant’s country to Brazil and back.
2. Coverage of accommodation costs throughout the symposium period.
3. Coverage of living expenses and meals during the program.
4. No participation fees for the symposium.
5. Participation in interactive sessions, training activities, and multidisciplinary discussions.
6. Networking with researchers, innovators, policymakers, and experts from around the world.
7. An opportunity to build international research or professional partnerships.
8. Possibility to apply later for seed funding of up to GBP 20,000 for collaborative projects that emerge during the symposium.
9. Possibility to discuss accessibility needs or caregiving responsibilities with the organizing body.
10. The program does not cover the participant’s regular salary or any income they may lose while attending the symposium.

Applications are open to candidates from different countries around the world, including Arab countries. The program targets:

1. Researchers and academics.
2. PhD students and students working in fields related to the symposium theme.
3. Innovators and entrepreneurs.
4. Professionals working in companies and industrial organizations.
5. Staff members of non-governmental organizations and associations.
6. Representatives of local communities or Indigenous communities.
7. Government and civil service employees.
8. Policymakers and practitioners in development and climate-related fields.
9. Applicants at early, mid, and senior career stages.

Applicants are not required to be engineers; the program accepts participants from engineering, natural sciences, medical sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and other disciplines.

Required Documents and Information

The expression of interest form requires the following information:

1. Personal information and contact details.
2. Name of the institution, company, or organization where the applicant works.
3. Job title.
4. Link to a professional online profile, such as LinkedIn, a personal website, or an institutional profile page.
5. The country where the applicant currently works or resides.
6. Career stage and professional experience.
7. Sector and professional specialization.
8. A short description of a challenge the applicant is working on that relates to the symposium theme.
9. An explanation of the experience or perspective the applicant can share with other participants.
10. A description of a project, research work, initiative, or activity related to the symposium.
11. Selection of the theme most closely related to the applicant’s field of work.

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