The Embassy wishes to inform that grants funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation are available to support travel and accommodation expenses for researchers, lecturers, experts, and cultural operators. The primary objective of this funding scheme is to foster the development of strategic partnerships and cultural and scientific projects between Italian and foreign institutions.
Applications may be submitted by:
- Italian and foreign researchers, lecturers, experts, distinguished personalities, and cultural operators residing in Italy for at least two years, who have been invited by foreign universities or cultural institutions for study or research purposes;
- Foreign and Italian researchers, lecturers, experts, distinguished personalities, and cultural operators, residing abroad, who have been invited by Italian universities or cultural institutions for study or research purposes.
The grant, intended as a partial contribution towards travel and accommodation expenses, is awarded as a lump-sum payment up to a maximum amount of €1,500 or €3,000 depending on the destination, for activities lasting no longer than 10 days. The contribution consists of a comprehensive daily allowance of: €250 per day for stays of up to 5 days; and €50 per day from the 6th to the 10th day of stay abroad or in Italy, for a maximum total amount of €1,500 per mission.
To encourage cooperation with strategic but geographically distant regions, such as countries in Asia, Africa (excluding the MENA Region), and the Americas, a contribution is provided equal to €350 per day for stays of up to 5 days and €250 per day from the 6th to the 10th day, up to a maximum amount of €3,000 per beneficiary.
No contribution will be granted beyond the tenth day of stay. For calculation purposes, only the days during which cultural and/or research activities are effectively carried out shall be considered eligible.
The contribution may be granted for activities taking place between 1 January and 15 November 2026.
Applications must be submitted to the Embassy of Italy in Wellington (wellington.promozione@esteri.it) and to the Coordination Unit (dgce06.missioni@esteri.it), using the attached application form, no later than 31 July 2026.
The application must be accompanied by the supporting documentation listed in the attachment.
Within ten days following the conclusion of the mission, applicants shall document their application by submitting the following documents to both the Embassy and the Coordination Unit for the purpose of the payment of the grant:
- travel documents, including airline tickets and boarding passes;
- a certificate of stay issued by the host institution;
- a final report on the activities carried out.
Please note that only applications submitted by individuals who have received an official invitation from a university or cultural institution will be considered. Preference will be given to invitations issued within the framework of bilateral Cultural Cooperation Agreements and Executive Programmes.
For Italian applicants or applicants residing in Italy, the invitation must be issued by a foreign university or cultural institution. Conversely, for foreign or Italian applicants or Italian citizens residing abroad, the invitation must be issued by an Italian institution.
Grants awarded to foreign beneficiaries will be paid through the Italian diplomatic mission abroad that received the application. Italian beneficiaries, on the other hand, will receive the grant directly from the Coordination Unit.
