BBVA Foundation – Leonardo Scholarships 2026

The BBVA Foundation's Leonardo Grants are intended to support the work of researchers and cultural creators who, being in intermediate stages of their career, are characterized by a highly innovative scientific, technological or cultural trajectory.

By naming these scholarships after Leonardo da Vinci, the aim is to emphasize the characteristic attributes of this universal figure of culture, notably his passion for knowledge, and his openness and exploration of new fields and problems.

The purpose of this call is to award individual grants to researchers and cultural creators at an intermediate stage of their career, between 30 and 45 years old (both inclusive), for the development of a markedly personal and innovative project in the corresponding field of scientific, technological or cultural specialization.

The specific purpose of the grant is at the discretion of each applicant, the only requirement being that the funding is associated with the development of the submitted project.

The total funding for this call is set at EUR 2.750.000, and 55 scholarships will be awarded with a maximum gross amount of EUR 50.000.

The areas covered by the call for proposals are as follows:

• Physics and chemistry
• Medicine (Clinical and Translational)
• Biology and Biomedicine
• Environmental Sciences
• Engineering
• Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science
• Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science
• Economics and Social Sciences
• Linguistics, Philosophy, History and Literature
• Music, Opera and Visual Arts
• Literary Creation and Performing Arts

The projects submitted will have an execution period of between 12 and 18 months from the signing of the commitment to accept the scholarship.