Amics del País - Becas Dr. Joan Guinovart

Becas Dr. Joan Guinovart

You get a one-off payment of 4,500 EUR for a research stay of at least three months at a university or research centre abroad. The award funds young researchers from Catalonia who want to work overseas. Each year Amics del País, a Barcelona civic society, hands out 15 of these grants with support from the 'la Caixa' banking foundation. Over the past 16 years the scheme has funded around 200 people. Note that your travel costs are not covered and come out of your own pocket.

Who can apply

• Who you are: You are teaching or research staff, or a PhD student.
• Where you are based: You are employed at or enrolled in a Catalan university or research centre.
• Age: You are under 35 when you apply.
• Where you go: Your stay is abroad, at a foreign university or research institution, and lasts at least three months.
• Research field: Your work fits one of six areas linked to the progress of Barcelona and its region: economic development, historical research, urban planning, industry and new emerging sectors, education policy, or health.
• No double funding: You do not hold another grant of the same kind from another body at the same time.

How to apply

You fill in the form on the Amics del País website and hand it in with your documents, including a recommendation letter and an invitation letter from your host abroad. A jury reviews the applications and may invite finalists to an interview, then proposes the winners to the board, which makes the final decision. For the 2025-2026 round you could apply from 4 November to 31 December 2025.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is cut narrowly. You must be under 35, tied to a Catalan institution, working in one of six named fields, and have a host abroad lined up, so the eligible group is small. With 15 grants awarded every year, a well-matched applicant with a solid host invitation and a clear research plan has good prospects. Lining up your invitation letter early is what makes or breaks a strong application.