# HFSP Research Grants 2027 (Early Career & Program)

**Funder:** HFSP
**Budget:** Fixed sums by team size (~$150K-$450K/year for 3 years)
**Deadline:** 26 March 2026 (LOI ID required by March 17, 2026. LOI submission March 26, 2026. Full proposals (by invitation) ~Sep 2026. Awards announced Mar 2027. International teams, basic life sciences only.)
**Duration:** 3 years
**Consortium:** Required
**Application:** LOI → full-proposal
**TRL:** 1-2
**Frequency:** annual
**Next round:** 2027-03
**Official call:** https://www.hfsp.org/funding/hfsp-funding/research-grants
**Last verified:** 14 June 2026

## Summary

HFSP Research Grants fund international collaborative teams to pursue high-risk, high-impact basic life sciences research over three years, with budgets from approximately €400,000 to €1,350,000 depending on team size. The call welcomes both established researchers and early-career scientists leading teams across borders. Teams must involve researchers from at least two different countries and focus on fundamental mechanisms underpinning living systems, with particular interest in novel, unconventional approaches.

## Who should apply

- Early-career and established researchers with original ideas in basic life sciences
- International teams spanning at least two countries; US researchers may lead teams with international partners
- Researchers willing to undertake high-risk projects at the frontiers of fundamental biology
- Teams working at technology readiness levels 1-2 (basic research, not applied development or clinical)
- Scientists with collaborators in different geographical regions and complementary expertise

## Key dates

- Letter of Intent ID required by 17 March 2026; LOI submission deadline 26 March 2026
- Full proposals (by invitation only) due approximately September 2026; awards announced March 2027
- Three-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- The LOI is the gating step: clarity, novelty, and team coherence matter most at this stage. Avoid overselling; HFSP panels recognise and reward intellectual risk and transparency about unknowns.
- International collaboration is not optional, teams must span at least two countries. Emphasise complementary expertise and why the cross-border partnership is essential, not convenient.
- Focus on fundamental questions and novel, unconventional mechanisms. HFSP explicitly seeks high-risk work that wouldn't fit traditional grant schemes; incremental extensions of established lines score poorly.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does an HFSP Research Grant pay?

Budgets range from approximately €400,000 to €1,350,000 over three years depending on team size and scope.

### Can early-career researchers lead an HFSP Research Grant team?

Yes, HFSP Research Grants are open to both early-career and established researchers. Early-career scientists may lead teams, provided they meet the consortium and international collaboration requirements.

### Do HFSP Research Grants require international collaboration?

Yes, teams must involve researchers from at least two different countries. US researchers may apply as team members or leaders in international consortia.

### What is the two-stage application timeline for HFSP Research Grants?

Letter of Intent (LOI) is due 26 March 2026 with an ID registration deadline of 17 March 2026. Invited full proposals follow in September 2026, with awards announced March 2027.

### What research areas does HFSP fund?

HFSP funds basic life sciences research that explores fundamental mechanisms underpinning living systems, with emphasis on novel, unconventional approaches at early technology readiness levels.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/hfsp-research-grants-2027) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.