The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation supports and promotes missions abroad and in Italy carried out, respectively, by researchers, lecturers, experts, prominent figures and cultural operators, both Italian and foreign.
The main objective of the funding is to encourage the development of strategic partnerships and cultural and scientific projects between foreign and Italian institutions in the medium and long term.
Who can apply?
• Foreign researchers, lecturers, experts, prominent figures and cultural operators, as well as Italian citizens residing abroad, invited to spend a period at Italian university or cultural institutions for study or research purposes;
• Italian and foreign researchers, lecturers, experts, prominent figures and cultural operators residing in Italy for at least two years, invited to spend a period at foreign university or cultural institutions for study or research purposes.
Only applications from candidates holding an official invitation from a university or cultural institution will be considered.
The contribution is admissible for all activities taking place between 1 January and 15 November 2026.
Amount of the contribution
The contribution consists of a daily lump sum, all-inclusive, for a maximum of 10 days:
€250 per day for stays of up to 5 days, plus €50 per day from the sixth to the tenth day of stay abroad or in Italy, up to a maximum total of €1,500 per mission.
For calculation purposes, only the days of actual cultural and/or research activity are to be included.
Where to send the application
Applications must be submitted to the Italian Cultural Institute in London (icilondon@esteri.it) by 19 July 2026.
The application must be sent to the indicated email address and include:
letter of invitation, letter of acceptance, curriculum vitae, copy of a valid identity document, travel documents, boarding passes, certificate of stay issued by the host institution, and final report on the activities carried out.
Application forms are available in the attachments.
Missions must be completed no later than 15 November 2026, which is also the final deadline for submitting the required documentation.
Within ten days of the end of the mission, in order to receive the contribution, the applicant must supplement their application with the following documents to be sent to the Institute and to Office VI of the Directorate General for the Promotion of the Country System:
• Travel documents, such as flight tickets and boarding passes;
• Certificate of stay issued by the host institution;
• Final report on the activities carried out.
Payment of the contribution will be made upon completion of the mission, subject to submission of the required documentation and favourable evaluation by the Institute and the Directorate General.
Evaluation of applications
Contributions will be awarded following evaluation by the relevant offices abroad and central administration, based on the following criteria:
• the applicant’s curriculum;
• potential medium- and long-term impact of the mission in terms of developing cultural or scientific projects and partnerships between Italian and foreign institutions;
• the prestige of the cultural institutions involved;
• the principle of rotation among beneficiaries;
• consistency of the mission with the geographical and thematic priorities identified by the Directorate General;
• the existence of an executive programme of cultural cooperation in force between Italy and the relevant foreign country.