European Research Council Starting Grants

European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they are starting their own independent research team or programme. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their scientific proposal.

Size of ERC Starting Grants: Starting Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of EUR 1,500,000 for 5 years. (This does not apply to ongoing projects). Additional funding up to EUR 1 000 000 can be requested in the proposal to cover the following eligible costs when these are necessary to carry out the proposed work:

• "Start-up" costs for Principal Investigators moving to the EU or an Associated Country from elsewhere as a consequence of receiving the ERC grant and/or
• The purchase of major equipment and/or
• Access to extensive facilities and/or
• Other significant experimental and fieldwork costs, excluding personnel costs.
• All funding requested is assessed during evaluation.

Profile of ERC Starting Grants Principal Investigator:

• The Principal Investigators shall have been awarded their first PhD at least 2 and up to 7 years before the deadline.
• A competitive Starting Grant Principal Investigator must have already shown the potential for research independence and evidence of maturity, for example by having produced at least one important publication as the main author or without the participation of their PhD supervisor.
• Applicant Principal Investigators should also be able to demonstrate a good track record of early achievements appropriate to their research field and career stage, including significant publications (as the main author) in major international peer-reviewed multidisciplinary scientific journals, or in the leading international peer-reviewed journals of their respective field.
• They may also demonstrate a record of invited presentations at well-established international conferences, granted patents, awards, prizes, etc.

Apply Opportunity: For more information and to apply, visit the link European Research Council Starting Grants

National Center of GIS and Space Applications (NCGSA) Research Fund for Faculty Members and Researchers

The National Center of GIS and Space Applications (NCGSA) is a project of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan led by the Institute of Space Technology (IST), a consortium of seven research laboratories in seven Higher Education Institutions of Pakistan. NCGSA encompasses endeavours that strive to achieve and sustain human, technological, research and entrepreneurial capacities in Space Science, Technology and its Applications.

Applicant:

• Research proposals are invited from full-time faculty members and researchers of public/private Higher Education Institutions and Research and Development Organizations in Pakistan.
• The proposals should focus on Pakistan's sustainable socio-economic development through Space Science, Technology and its Applications.
• Proposals shall be joint research projects from academia and industry.

Funding Amount: Up to 15 Million PKR

Duration of Research Project: Up to 2 Years

Research Domains: Research grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to commercially viable proposals resulting in sustainable products/prototypes/applications or solutions in the following major research domains:

• Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Science.
• Small Satellite Technology.
• Positioning, Navigation and Timing.
• Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrobiology.
• Space Popularization and Outreach.
• Space Applications and Advanced Systems.

Note:

• Proposals can be submitted through standard NCGSA Research Fund Proposal Forms.
• Submission can be made through email, hard copy, and website.

Apply Opportunity: For more details and to apply for this opportunity, visit the link National Center of GIS and Space Applications Research Fund

Women's Fund Asia Grants offering Strengthening Feminist Movements Grants

Women’s Fund Asia (WFA) is pleased to announce a call for proposals for Strengthening Feminist Movements (SFM) to support women, girls, trans, and intersex rights activists, groups, and networks working on the local, subnational, and national levels. The common threads that run through the grants under this programme are:

• Promoting feminist principles and a rights-based perspective in women, girls, trans, and intersex rights work in the region, the key components of which are decision-making, agency, and voice.
• Strengthening the leadership of women, girls (ages 18-24), trans, and intersex people, especially second-line leadership.
• Networking and collaborations among groups and activists working at local, subnational, and national levels.

Grant Priorities: WFA will prioritize supporting applications submitted by:

• Those working towards strengthening movements to realise and sustain their rights.
• Those working in difficult contexts and/or have limited access to resources.
• Those using feminist, right-based, and intersectional approaches in their work.
• Those groups are self-led; i.e., the leadership of the group is representative of the constituency with which the group is working.

Grant Information:

• Organizational grants will range from USD 5,000 – USD 10,000.
• For applicants who have not been supported by WFA previously, the maximum amount for an organizational grant is USD 7,000.
• Individual grants will be up to USD 5,000.

Grant Duration: Individuals and organizations can apply for a grant for either 6 months or 12 months.

Eligibility: The call is open to women, girls (ages 18-24), trans, and intersex rights activists, groups, and networks working at the local, subnational, and national levels in the 17 Asian countries where they work:

• South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
• East and Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao DR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
• Individuals and organizations are both eligible to apply for this grant.

Apply Opportunity: To apply for this opportunity, visit the link Women's Fund Asia Grants 

HOST Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Summer School for International Students

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is seeking proposals from member universities to host the ACU Summer Schools. Hosting an ACU Summer School is a great way to enhance your university’s visibility to international students and academics. ACU Summer School brings together 40-50 students from around the Commonwealth for an exciting week of expert lectures, group project work, field trips, skills development, and social and cultural activities.

The Summer School is open to postgraduate and final-year undergraduate students from Commonwealth universities. Each year, ACU-funded bursaries are available for approximately 50% of participants from member universities who have not previously had the opportunity to travel overseas. Taking part in an international summer school is an excellent way for students to learn new skills, increase their intercultural understanding, and build diverse new networks.

Themes, Eligibility, and Timelines: ACU is seeking proposals on topics linked to the following themes:

• Ocean science and the blue economy.
• Sport and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Peace and reconciliation.
• Decolonising the curriculum.

As part of the proposal, you must submit the following:

• Explain the theme and details of your university’s institutional expertise in that area.
• Learning outcomes.
• Details of their organising committee, including the academic lead and visa/immigration contact.
• Details of proposed speakers.
• A draft programme - the programme should be broken down day by day and include a mix of lectures/seminars, discussions, skills development, group project work leading to project presentations, intercultural sessions, and field trips (which should feed into the group project work) social events and one full-day excursion.
• A proposed budget. The host institution is required to contribute at least 50% of event costs. The ACU cannot fund the host institution's staffing costs or pay speaker fees but will contribute to event costs such as accommodation, catering, transport, entrance fees and welcome packs. Please give costs in both local currency and GBP.
• Accommodation and venue details.
• Safeguarding and student welfare information.
• A letter from the Executive Head of the institution expressing support for the planned event. The letter should explain how the event links to the university's expertise and should confirm that the university will commit to dedicating sufficient staff time, resources and facilities to enable the delivery of the event.

Apply Opportunity: For more information and to apply for this opportunity, visit the link HOST Association of Commonwealth Funding Scholarships for Students