Italia-Kenya: Flagship project for researcher mobility takes off

Strengthening scientific cooperation between Italia and Kenya and allowing Kenyan researchers access to Italy's main research infrastructures and platforms. This is the objective of the new call for proposals published by the Ministry of University and Research, which finances access to research infrastructures and the mobility of Kenyan researchers towards Italia, at Research Infrastructures, Technological Innovation Infrastructures and National Centres supported by the Pnrr.

With a total budget of EUR 500,000, the call finances mobility periods of 3 or 6 months, providing each researcher with a contribution of EUR 3,000 per month to cover the costs of participation in the activities, including travel, accommodation, food and local mobility.

The call is part of the Mattei Plan and aims to strengthen cooperation between Italia and Kenya in the fields of higher education, training and research. A cooperation consolidated by the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, in February 2026, and further renewed by the Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the Fields of Research and Innovation, signed on 21 April between the Mur and the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation of the Republic of Kenya, on the occasion of President William Samoei Ruto's visit to Rome.

The initiative also reinforces the impact of the investments made under the NRP's Mission 4, Component 2, 'From Research to Enterprise', by facilitating the access of international researchers and expanding opportunities for non-European collaboration.
Applications may be submitted by universities, public research organisations and implementing bodies of National Centres funded under the NRP. Applications can be submitted until 12 noon on 16 June 2026.