The Consortium of international companies (Masi Agricola from Italy, Sogrape from Portugal, Viña Concha y Toro from Chile and Yalumba Family Winemakers from Australia) is contributing, in addition to the OIV’s contribution, enabling the provision of different types of research grants.
Short-term research grants
As part of its Strategic Plan, the OIV may award yearly research scholarships in priority program areas. These short-term grants (six to fifteen months, up to €15,000) support specific postgraduate training programs. Eligible candidates should be highly qualified individuals eager to advance their research and stay updated on the latest developments in their field of study or work.
3 years research grants
Do you have a Research and Development project? Would you like to explore or improve an area of scientific competence compatible with the priority themes of the OIV? Apply for a 3-year research grant for a maximum amount of €50,000!
The actors involved:
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The OIV, which signs an Agreement with the grant holder,
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An individual with an advanced university degree, interested in pursuing doctoral or post-doctoral studies or engaging in research for a 3-year period. They cannot be an employee of a company.
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The Consortium of international companies,
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An academic research laboratory associated with a doctoral school which will host and supervise the grant holder for the academic part of the work and to which the supervisor is attached.
Priority themes for 2026 research grants
Research grants have to meet one of the following priority themes and topics:
A. Addressing the climate change, water soil and biodiversity management challenges through solutions for sustainable vitiviniculture
1. Biodiversity and other objective indicators for measuring vitiviniculture impacts and dependencies in ecosystems, including quantitative key-indicators of sustainability and vineyards ecosystem services, including harmonized monitoring frameworks at both EU and international levels.
2. Technology management in vitiviniculture for achieving resilience against intra-annual extreme climate and weather oscillations, including modulation of ripening rates, improvement of soils, techniques for reducing GHG emissions, precision agriculture, AI-based forecasting tools and decision-support systems.
3. New approaches for plant protection and disease management (RNAi technology, managing insect pests through biodiversity and biocontrol, effective IPM), with reduced reliance on chemical inputs (i.e., copper) and alignment with evolving regulatory frameworks.
B. Deploying technological breakthroughs in grape and wine analytics and production materials in processing and packaging
1. Strategies, processes, and methods for improving the sustainability of processes, packaging and market acceptance of diverse vitivinicultural products, including de-alcoholised and partially de-alcoholised wines. This considers consumer perception, regulatory constraints and export market dynamics for all types of No/Low beverages.
2. Developing cross-sector approaches to achieve energy savings and reduction of the carbon footprint for vitivinicultural production: collaborative creation of new, low-footprint materials for grape and wine transport, packaging and conservation and development of innovative ultra-low weight glass bottles and glass alternatives including circular economy approaches and life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies.
3. Developing green analytics and SMART indicators and improving the overall sustainability performance of wine making processes and methods of analysis through standardised metrics, digital traceability and certification schemes.
C. Whole of value-chain management to improve systemics resilience of the global vine and wine sector
1. Consumer perception and willingness to pay for sustainability attributes and vineyard-based ecosystem services as an element of premiumization: strategies, communication tools, impacts in emotional response, preference, and trading-up behavior. Best indicators of sustainability and effective labeling and communication strategies to enhance perceived value.
2. Social, economic and environmental sustainability: the vineyard's valuable contribution to the economy, culture and tradition, including its contribution to the maintenance of the rural population and wine tourism and its role in regional development and landscape preservation.
3. Barriers to trade: Tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, including cross-retaliation, labelling demands, health information and restrictions on marketing. Intellectual property barriers to trade, including geographical indications and trade marks, as well as the impact of evolving international trade policies and sustainability requirements.
D. Consumer: Safety, Nutrition, Health and information
1. Understanding and managing sources of contamination by contact materials like plastic and coatings and forever chemicals (PFAS) to reduce risks from toxic chemicals and microplastics in vitivinicultural products including improved packaging standards and risk assessment methodologies.
2. The effects of wine and grape derivative product’s consumption on diseases and health (in particular, all-cause of mortality and wine consumption, wine consumption and body weight, longevity, polyphenols, and gastrointestinal diseases) with a focus on evidence-based communication and public health implications.
3. The relationships between cultural and social aspects with alcohol consumption: emerging trends in consumption patterns and influences that contribute to the consumption, social and psychological benefits from consumption of grapevine-derived products and potential misuse of wine and alcoholic beverages derived from winegrapes (social norms, drinking guidelines, health warning labels) including behavioral insights and policy implications at national and international level.