The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation supports and promotes missions abroad and in Italy by researchers, professors, experts, distinguished personalities, and cultural operators, both Italian and foreign.
The main objective of this funding is to foster the development of strategic partnerships, as well as cultural and scientific projects between Italian and foreign institutions in the medium and long term.
Who can apply
– Foreign and Italian researchers, professors, experts, distinguished personalities, and cultural operators residing abroad who are invited to spend a period at Italian university or cultural institutions for study or research purposes;
– Italian and foreign researchers, professors, experts, distinguished personalities, and cultural operators who have been residing in Italy for at least two years and are invited to spend a period at foreign university or cultural institutions for study or research purposes.
How to apply
Applicants may submit their requests for funding—prepared using the form available among the attachments on this page and including all required documentation—to this Italian Cultural Institute by writing to iicnairobi@esteri.it.
Grants will be awarded following an evaluation carried out by the relevant offices abroad and central offices, based on the following criteria:
• the applicant’s CV;
• the 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;
• the alignment of the mission with the geographical and thematic priorities identified by the Directorate General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy;
• the existence of an executive programme for cultural cooperation in force between Italy and the applicant’s country of residence (in the case of foreign applicants) or with the destination country (in the case of Italian applicants).
Information and deadlines
Application forms are available in the attachments. Funding is eligible for activities taking place between 1 January and 15 November 2026. Please note that it will not be possible to provide funding for missions scheduled after 15 November 2026. Applications must be submitted to this Institute no later than 17 July 2026.
Applications should be sent to: iicnairobi@esteri.it
