The Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) 2027 Visiting Fellowship Program supports early-career international researchers undertaking a 12-month research project in France. The programme is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE), and implemented by Campus France.
The programme aims to strengthen international scientific collaboration and research addressing major environmental and climate challenges, with particular consideration given to innovative approaches involving advanced technologies.
Research Areas
Eligible research projects must fall within one of the following areas:
- Earth system sciences
- Climate change and sustainability sciences
- Energy transition
- Societal challenges related to environmental issues
- Human, animal and environmental health under a One Health approach
Projects involving advanced technologies within these research areas will receive particular consideration.
Fellowship Support
Each successful fellow will receive:
- €2,500 monthly allowance for 12 months
- €500 settling-in allowance
- Health insurance, civil liability insurance and repatriation assistance
- French Government Scholarship holder status
The fellowship is paid directly by Campus France. The host laboratory provides the scientific environment required for the research project but does not receive funding through the programme.
International travel costs to France are not covered by the fellowship.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Hold a doctoral degree awarded less than five years before the application deadline
- Have defended their PhD between December 2021 and December 2026
- Be of foreign nationality; French nationals are not eligible
- Apply for international research mobility to France
- Not be residing and professionally active in France at the time of application
- Not have previously received a MOPGA fellowship
An extension to the five-year eligibility period may apply in cases of maternity leave.
Host Laboratory Requirement
Applicants must identify and secure a French host laboratory or research unit for their proposed research project. The research project should be clearly defined before contacting potential host institutions.
The host laboratory must provide the appropriate scientific environment and resources required to undertake the research project.
Application Requirements
Applicants will need to provide:
- Project title
- Six keywords
- Research project summary
- Background and motivation
- Scientific objectives
- Methodology and timeline
- Relevance of the project to the MOPGA initiative
- International collaboration and/or expected impact for the applicant's country of residence or origin
- CV including publications
- Doctoral degree certificate or official proof of degree
- CV of the scientific supervisor at the French host laboratory
- Letter of support from the scientific supervisor
- Letter from the laboratory director or equivalent commitment
- 1–3 letters of recommendation
- Passport or national identity document
Applications may be submitted in English or French.
Important Dates
- Applications open: 15 September 2026
- Application deadline: 15 December 2026
- Results announced: May–June 2027
- Research stays begin: September–December 2027
Geographic Scope
The programme is open to researchers of all nationalities except French nationals, subject to the eligibility requirements and the requirement to undertake their research mobility in France.
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- South Africa
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Ghana
- Ethiopia
- Rwanda
- India
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Canada
- Australia
- Japan
- Germany
- Italy
- United Kingdom