2026 TWAS Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) – Opportunities For Africans

Application Deadline: 31 March 2026

Applications at the moment are open for the 2026 TWAS Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators.
With the help of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), UNESCO-TWAS launched a brand new programme to strengthen the capability of African nations lagging in science and expertise.

The programme is geared toward early profession researchers who’ve obtained their PhD overseas and have not too long ago returned or will shortly return to an educational place of their home nation. grants are awarded to promising high-level analysis tasks in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth sciences, Engineering, Information Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics and/or Germany’s High-Tech Agenda carried out in African nations lagging in science and expertise recognized by TWAS.

Programme Details

• SG-NAPI grants are awarded to high-level promising analysis tasks in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Information Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics carried out by Principal Investigators (PI) within the African nations lagging in science and expertise recognized by TWAS.
• In addition, Germany’s High-Tech Agenda is a nationwide innovation initiative centered on key rising applied sciences. If your analysis aligns with any of the next analysis areas Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Technologies, Microelectronics, Biotechnology, Fusion and climate-neutral vitality Generation or Technologies for climate-neutral mobility, you’re strongly inspired to apply.
• The complete quantity awarded for SG‑NAPI could also be as much as USD 67,700.
• The grants, usually awarded for a length of 30 months, may be utilized for the acquisition of scientific tools and consumables. This consists of in distinctive circumstances partial funding for fieldwork, upkeep of kit and specialised literature, reminiscent of textbooks and proceedings solely. If any single merchandise of kit is valued at USD 5,000 or above, a sound proforma bill from a provider should be uploaded to the application portal. The grant doesn’t cowl salaries of the Principal Investigator or journey bills except they’re clearly associated to one of many convention and/or mobility elements talked about beneath. Additionally, please notice that the buy of gas, charges for consultants or consultants or labourers, laptops, tablets, drones and laboratory animals is not supported.
• Awarded PIs might also help MSc pupil as part of the challenge, request funding for worldwide convention grant, industrial hyperlink grant with companions in Germany, collaborative mobility grant in Germany and open entry publication grant. Full particulars of every element are specified by the rules.
• The programme has a further element which seeks to reinforce the productiveness of feminine scientists returning to academia after a maternity go away, scientist-after-child grant. Full particulars of this element may be discovered within the tips.

Eligibility

• Applying Principal Investigators should be nationals of an eligible nation, who holds a PhD and has good analysis expertise. The grant ought to function inside a college or a analysis establishment in one of many African nations lagging in science and expertise.
• The PI should be 40 years previous or youthful. Any applicant turning 41 within the 12 months of application just isn’t eligible.
• The PI will need to have obtained their Ph.D. throughout the final 5 years in a rustic aside from their home nation.
• The PI will need to have returned to their home nation (seek advice from listing within the tips) throughout the final 36 months or will return home earlier than the top of 2026.
• The PI should maintain, be provided or be within the means of accepting a place at an educational and/or analysis establishment (together with worldwide analysis facilities) of their home nation.
• The PI should be nationwide of an eligible African nation that’s lagging in science and expertise (seek advice from listing within the tips).
• Applicant should on the time of application NOT have an energetic analysis grant with TWAS or OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship.
• Applications from girls scientists and people working in Least Developed Countries are particularly inspired.
• The applicant should submit a powerful Research Proposal, it’s possible you’ll discover additional info on how one can write a powerful proposal by visiting AuthorAID.
• Please be suggested that candidates could apply for just one programme per calendar 12 months within the TWAS and OWSD portfolio. Applicants won’t be eligible to go to one other establishment in that 12 months underneath the TWAS Opportunities/visiting-scientist”>Visiting Scientists the Opportunities/visiting-scientist/professors”>Visiting Professor programmes. One exception: The head of an establishment who invites an exterior scholar to share his/her experience underneath the TWAS Opportunities/visiting-scientist/professors”>Visiting Professor programme or the TWAS Visiting Expert programme should still apply for one other programme.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the TWAS Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators