Here's the honest truth about most "funded" research visits: they expect you to bring your own money. This one is different. The TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Cooperation Visits Programme sends young scientists from the world's least developed countries to Italy for three months of collaborative research, with your travel and living costs covered. It's run by UNESCO-TWAS together with the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and SISSA — the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste — and it's one of the few schemes built specifically for early-career researchers who don't have a wealthy home institution behind them.
In short: The TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Cooperation Visits Programme 2026 offers fully funded three-month research visits at centres of excellence in Trieste and Udine, Italy, for scientists aged 40 or under from least developed countries. Applications close on 31 October 2026.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: Italy (Trieste and Udine)
- Host Institution: SISSA, ICGEB, and INFN — centres of excellence in Trieste/Udine
- Degree Level: MSc holders and above (young scientists, researchers)
- Program Duration: 3 months
- Funding Type: Funded (travel + subsistence costs covered)
- Deadline: 31 October 2026
Benefits of the TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Visits Programme
The funding here comes from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, channelled through UNESCO-TWAS. Here's what's covered:
- Travel expenses to and from Italy — Your international travel is covered, so you don't have to drain savings to get there.
- Subsistence costs during your stay — Living costs for the three months in Italy are provided, so you can focus on the science.
- World-class lab access — You'll work in genuinely excellent facilities: SISSA, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), or INFN's labs in Trieste/Udine.
- Collaboration that outlasts the visit — The programme's stated purpose is to seed long-term links between your home research and Italian labs. Many fellows keep collaborating for years afterward.
- Capacity-building for your home country — The whole design pushes you to bring expertise back home, which strengthens your own standing there.
Eligibility Criteria for the TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Visits Programme
Read this carefully, because the eligibility is narrow — that's by design.
- Maximum age of 40 — You must be 40 or under on 31 December of the application year.
- MSc or higher — You need at least a master's degree in a relevant scientific field.
- National of a least developed country — Only nationals of countries on the UN's least developed countries (LDC) list qualify. Check the current list at un.org before you assume anything.
- Hold a research position in an LDC — You must actually be working in a research role in a least developed country, not just born there.
- Not already in Italy — Applicants already on site in the host country are not eligible.
- Right field, sustainability focus — Only applications in the scientific fields listed in the application form are considered, and special attention goes to projects under the umbrella of sustainability science that support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Women scientists encouraged — The call explicitly encourages applications from women.
One important note for our readers: Pakistan is not on the UN's least developed countries list, so Pakistani nationals are not eligible for this particular programme. If you're from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, or another LDC, this is very much for you.
How to Apply for the TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Visits Programme
Start early — you need a host supervisor's invitation letter, and that alone can take weeks of emailing. The official guidance says to begin well in advance.
1. Study the host institutions. Go to the SISSA, ICGEB, and INFN pages and look at research areas and possible supervisors. For INFN, note that only one host supervisor is available: Prof. Andrea Vacchi. 2. Contact potential host supervisors. Introduce yourself, describe your research, and discuss a concrete plan for a three-month visit. Be specific about what you'd work on — vague emails get ignored. 3. Secure the invitation letter. Once a supervisor agrees, get a recent invitation letter through one of the eligible host laboratories. It must state the proposed timing of the visit (3 months) and confirm that you and the host have discussed the scientific work, the timing, and the facilities available. 4. Write your statement on scientific interests. This is a key document: describe your scientific interests and your future plans for research in sustainability sciences in your home country, explicitly referring to which SDGs your work would contribute to. 5. Collect your two reference letters. Recent signed letters from two referees who know your work. Unsigned letters are not accepted — make sure your referees actually sign them. 6. Complete the application form in English. Fill it fully and accurately. 7. Compile the full document set (see the checklist below) and submit before the deadline.
Applications are judged by a Selection Committee on scientific merit, and you must provide evidence that you will return to your home country after the fellowship. Part-time visits are ineligible — it's a full three-month commitment.
Required Documents
The official call requires exactly these materials:
- Completed application form
- Copy of passport (the page with personal details is enough, even if expired)
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement on scientific interests and future research plans in sustainability sciences in the home country, with explicit reference to relevant SDGs
- Full list of publications (do not enclose reprints of articles)
- Copy of the MSc (or higher) certificate
- Recent invitation letter from an eligible host laboratory, stating the proposed 3-month visit, the scientific work, the timing, and the facilities
- Two recent signed letters of recommendation from referees familiar with your work
TWAS-SISSA-Lincei Research Visits 2026 Deadline
The deadline for receipt of applications is 31 October 2026. That's a hard receipt deadline — your complete application must be in by that date, not just started. Because the invitation letter from a host supervisor takes real time to arrange (first find the supervisor, agree on a plan, then get the letter), starting in the final week is a recipe for a rushed, rejected application. If you miss this round, the programme runs annually — watch the official TWAS opportunities page for the next call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this really fully funded, or are there hidden costs?
Travel expenses and subsistence costs for the stay in Italy are covered through UNESCO-TWAS with Italian government funding. That's the official position. As with any international move, keep a small buffer for personal expenses, but the big two — flights and living costs — are handled.
I'm from Pakistan. Can I apply?
No, and I want to be upfront about this. The programme is restricted to nationals of least developed countries on the UN list, and Pakistan is not on it. If you hold a passport from an LDC (like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Nepal) and work in research there, you're eligible.
What counts as a "least developed country"?
The UN's official LDC category — currently around 44 countries. Check the current list at un.org (Development Policy Analysis Division) before applying, because the list does get reviewed.
Do I need a PhD?
No. An MSc or higher degree is the minimum. The programme explicitly targets young scientists at the beginning of their careers.
How important is the invitation letter?
Decisive. Your application must include a recent invitation letter from an eligible host lab confirming the proposed visit, the scientific work, the timing, and the facilities. No letter, no chance — start contacting supervisors now.
Which host institutions can I choose?
SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies), ICGEB (International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology), and INFN (National Institute for Nuclear Physics) — the last one with only one available host supervisor, Prof. Andrea Vacchi. All are in Trieste or Udine.
Does my research have to be about sustainability?
It doesn't have to be exclusively, but particular attention is given to projects that fall under sustainability science and support the SDGs. Your statement must explicitly connect your plans to specific SDGs, so choose your framing wisely.
Can I do a part-time or split visit?
No. Applications for part-time visits are explicitly ineligible. It's three months, full commitment.
Is there an age limit?
Yes — maximum 40 years on 31 December of the application year.
Can I reapply if I was rejected before?
The call doesn't bar reapplications. If your research plan is stronger or you've found a committed host supervisor this time, apply again.
Final Words
If you're a young researcher working in one of the world's least developed countries, opportunities to spend three months in a top-tier Italian lab — with travel and living costs paid — don't come around often. The barrier to entry is real: you need the host supervisor's invitation letter, a tight research plan tied to the SDGs, and complete documents. But the door is genuinely open, and the deadline is fixed. Start your supervisor emails this week.
