Chapter 4 of Programme Vinci, the annual call of the Université Franco Italienne / Università Italo Francese (UFI/UIF), funds a first postdoctoral step for holders of a France–Italy cotutelle doctorate.
The head of a French research unit applies with an Italian partner unit. If the project is funded, the unit then selects the postdoc, who spends at least four months at the Italian partner. Only the French side ran in 2025 and 2026.
Benefits & funding
- €25,000 per project, paid once to the French unit in the last quarter of the call year.
- Passed to the selected researcher, mainly to repay mobility costs during the Italian stay; the unit may pay it as remuneration instead.
- Funded period of four months to one year, with at least four months (may be split) at the Italian partner.
- Unspent funds go back to UFI (2025 rules).
Eligibility
- The applicant is the head of a research unit at a French higher-education and research institution, in agreement with a unit at an Italian university or eligible Italian body.
- The future postdoc must hold a France–Italy cotutelle doctorate defended between 15 December 2023 and 30 June 2026 (2026 call: the two years before each call).
- Researchers cannot apply themselves; the unit selects them after the award.
- One award per beneficiary; no nationality or age rule is stated.
- Italian-led projects were not offered in 2025 or 2026, pending Italian rule changes on assegni di ricerca.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Candidature présentée par la direction d'une structure de recherche issue d'un établissement d'enseignement supérieur et de recherche français pour l’attribution d’un financement annuel pour l'insertion professionnelle d'un·e docteur·e de recherche en cotutelle franco-italienne ayant soutenu sa thèse au cours des deux années précédant la date de publication de l'appel à projets.” Eligibility
Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1The French unit head (or a delegate) completes the online form in both French and Italian; single-language forms are rejected.
- 2Attach a confirmation letter signed by the French unit and the Italian host unit, committing to host a researcher.
- 3The project must not identify the future beneficiary, or it is inadmissible.
- 4Submit by 16 February 2026, 12:00 Paris time; funded units then have up to one year from the call’s publication to select the postdoc.
Program timeline
16 February 2026, 12:00 Paris time
2026 application deadline
June 2026
2026 results published