Research Grants Programs of National

& International Agencies

By Saima Muzaffar

The core reality is that most of the grants are given where the projects are having a strong positive and long lasting impact on society

The projects are given priority that have main objectives like

Poverty alleviation

Benefitting maximum no. of people

Special focus on women and children

Focusing under privileged segment of society

Hunger and disease eradication

Water, sanitation and hygiene

Renewable energy, green energy

Education and revolutionary policies

Nature Conservation and Environment

Agriculture Development & Food Security

Need of the Hour

This is the need of the hour that our research must be more focused for community development objectives and of applied nature if we wish to chase grants and funding. The more applied research we will carry out the better will be the opportunities for funding.

Keeping in view the typical scenario of Pakistan and unique requirements to resolve our problems, a more focused research can be fruitful for the institute as well as for the nation.

The more a research project effective to resolve our national problems benefitting the under privileged class, the greater will be the opportunities to get funding.

Industrialization and Commercialization of Research projects For any HEI research should be a top priority for sustainable economic

growth and future knowledge economy

The main objective should be the transformation of invention (pure Knowledge) into innovation (products and production processes)

Industry or commercial market has entirely different mind-set and more profit-oriented, while academia follow an opposite track rout. The basic mission is to mitigate the gap between the two by interacting, collaborating and sharing innovative ideas and concepts.

It is highly significant to motivate both academia and industry to acquire, develop and promote state of the art technologies and ideas for development of innovative products to expedite the process of technology revolution in Pakistan and developing its image around the globe as a nation rich in high-tech services.

Membership of Clubs and Societies

Pakistan Information Security Association

Pakistan Software House Association PASHA

Pakistan Software Export Board

IEEE

Cyber Security Task Force

Computer Society of Pakistan

Toast master International

Details of some Prospective Funding Agencies

ERC Starting Grant ERC-2016-STGHorizon 2020

Areas or Domains

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Life Sciences

Social Sciences and Humanities

Total Budget: 485,000,000 euros

Eligibility Criteria:

Excellent principal investigators at the career stage, open to researchers of any nationality who intend to conduct their research activities in any member state or associated country ( Pakistan Included).

The deadline for this call is Tuesday November 17, 2015 at 17:00:00 Brussels local time

For details visit www.Europa.erc

ERC Advanced GrantsHorizon 2020

Areas or Domains

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Life Sciences

Social Sciences and Humanities

Funding up to 3.5 million per grant for up to 5 years

Eligibility Criteria: Excellent principal investigators, of any age or any nationality, having a strong research track record as research leaders. Projects must be highly ambitious, pioneering and unconventional

The deadline is 1st September, 2016

www.erc.Europa.eu

ERC Consolidator Grants: ERC-2015-CoGHorizon 2020 Areas or Domains

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Life Sciences

Social Sciences and Humanities

Funding up to 2.75 million per grant for up to 5 years

Eligibility Criteria: Excellent principal investigators, of any age or any nationality, having a strong research track record as research leaders. Projects must be highly ambitious, pioneering and unconventional

The deadline is February 2nd, 2016

www.erc.Europa.eu

Pak-US Science & Technology Program

In 2005, the United States Agency for International Development USAID joined with the Ministry of Science and Technology MOST and HEC to support joint Pak-US Science and Technology Cooperation Program.  in 2008, the United States Department of State (DoS) joined USAID as a U.S. co-sponsor of the program. This program is implemented by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in the U.S. and by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Pakistan, and is intended to increase the strength and breadth of cooperation and linkages between Pakistani scientists and institutions with counterparts in the United States.

Program Objectives Enhancing the ability of the science and technology community to spur human and

economic development in Pakistan. Improving the quality, relevance, or capacity of education and research at Pakistani

institutions of higher education in science and technical fields. Improving the capacity of Pakistani research institutions to support industry

competitiveness

Program Focus Areas

Education

Health & Nutrition

Water & Sanitation

Agriculture

Environment/ Biodiversity

Energy & renewable Energy

Social Sciences

Economic Development

Democracy & Governance

Engineering Sciences

Pak-US Science & Technology Program

The deadline for phase 6 has passed but we can prepare for the next phase

Investigators should clearly explain how the proposal, if funded, would facilitate research capacity building at the institutional level in Pakistan. Projects that would only enhance the capabilities of their individual participants, with no demonstrated broader impact, will be considered less competitive and thus less likely to receive funds. Applicants are reminded that priority is given to projects in which the main locus of activity is in Pakistan, not the United States, so budgets should be allocated accordingly.

The Toyota Foundation:Building a Better future

Established in 1974 by Toyota Corporation, the Toyota Foundation is committed to expedite research and technology in wide variety of areas related to human and natural environments, social welfare, education and culture via its grant-making programs.

The basic aim is to keep a careful watch on society as it develops, encouraging potential for the future and working towards public welfare and development of society.

The vision is to make a strong contribution to the realization of a human oriented society for the sake of greater human happiness.

The grant program for year 2015 is closed, but grants for year 2016 will be announced shortly.

Please visit: www/ The Toyota Foundation.com

Australian Aid Agency:Dept. of Foreign Affairs & Trade; Govt of Australia

AUSAID focuses on promoting prosperity, reducing poverty, enhancing stability throughout the world. Priority areas details are given below

Education & Health

Research (in any area)

Building resilience, disaster risk reduction, social protection

Gender equality, empowering women and girls

Effective Governance

Infrastructure, trade facilitation, international competitiveness

Agriculture, fisheries and water

Research Overview for AusAid

Australian aid funds many different types of research to cater development challenges and to monitor development impact. The research which can be funded should

Be directed towards a specific practical aim

Use the results of applied research and empirical knowledge to produce new products or services and to grow markets i.e., creating value for knowledge

Analyzing and summarizing primary research

AusAid specially focuses HEIs for grant-making and every year they fund many research projects throughout the world. All the details are available at the website: www.dfat.gov.au

Pakistan and Belarus Scientific and Technological Cooperation

Through an agreement, the Ministry of science and technology Pakistan and State Committee on Science and Technology of Republic of Belarus invite scientists and researchers of Pakistani and Belarusian R&D institutions and universities to submit joint proposals of projects in the following areas;

Material Science and Engineering

Information and Communication Technologies

Renewable Energy Technologies

Nano technology, Micro-electronics

Agriculture and Bio-Technology

Food Security

Industrial chemicals and mineral exploration

PAK –Belarus Cooperation

The project proposals should be submitted by PI in soft copy till November 1st, 2015 to the respective focal points responsible for the program in each country

For details pls visit

www.gknt.gov.by

www.most.gov.pk

www.scienceportal.org.by/en/

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:Grand Challenges Exploration Round 16: Main Areas or Topics

Explore new ways to measure delivery and use of digital financial services data

Explore new solutions in global health priority areas

Novel approaches to characterizing and tracking global burden of antimicrobial resistance

Addressing newborn and infant gut health through microbiome engineering

Eligibility:

Anyone from any country around the world

From any discipline

From students to tenured professors

From any organization: HEIs, Universities, govt labs, profit or non-profit, private or public

Bill Melinda Gates Foundation

Application Deadline: November 11, 2015

Proposal review completed: FEB 2016

Selection completed and notification sent: May 2016

For details visit:

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Com

www.GCE round 16

USAID: Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program AFP

Funding Areas

Water Sanitation and Hygiene

Entrepreneurship

Cultural preservation

Women’s issue

Wildlife conservation

Criteria for valid proposals under AFP;

Support High impact, high visibility and quick implementation activities

Improve basic economic conditions in Pakistan at local community level

Be limited to organizations having adequate management capabilities to plan, organize and execute

USAID: Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program AFP

No deadlines, the projects can be submitted throughout the year but Sept, Oct and Nov is the ideal time as their fiscal year starts from Sept.

For details, visit

www.sgafp.org.pks

Department for International Development DFID: UKaid

Main Areas

Education

Health

Economy

Democracy, Peace and Stability

Humanitarian

Women & Girls

Eligibility Criteria

Public Sector Organizations

Private Sector

Bilateral Donors or International Organizations

DFID: UKaid

Pls get the details from

For general enquiries: enquiry@dfid.gov.uk

Main website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organizations/department-for-international-development

Country Website: www.gov.uk/world/pakistan

TWAS-COMSTECH Joint Research Grants

TWAS is an autonomous International organization that has funded several programs in OIC Countries and developing world to individual scientists and research groups.

Main Areas

Engineering Sciences

Earth sciences

Information Technology, Computer Sciences

Material Sciences

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Renewable Energy

The CFPs will be opened in the month of June 2016

HEC Programs

National Research Program for Universities (NRPU).

Grants provided for one to three years. Preferred areas: Sciences, Management Sciences, Engineering and

Tech etc. Grants up to Rs.15 Million on the basis of the impact factor of PI

Pakistan-US Science & Technology Cooperation Program

HEC- British Council INSPIRE Strategic Partnership 2010

Its basic aim is to support the development of higher education academic and research partnerships between HEIs of UK and Pakistan.

HEC Programs

University-Industry Technology Support Program UITSP Grants are awarded on competitive merit by HEC for high level and promising industrial

research projects. Grant is usually of two years with a budget up to Rs. 6 Million but in some cases, this

budget can exceed to Rs. 8 Million as well.

Grants for Organizing Seminars, Conference, Workshops etc

Maximum assistance of Rs.1.5 Million for Int. events and Rs. 1 Million for National events.

Applications should reach in R&D Division (CIIT) seven weeks before the proposed dates of event.

Pakistan Program for Collaborative Research (PPCR) Collaborative research between faculty at Pakistani Uni. / DAI’s and those abroad. Will also support the faculty and students at Pakistani Universities. To conduct certain short experiments/analysis (which would not be possible to perform

in the local institution). AirFare + DA (as per HEC rules)

Thank you very much