TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences (Groups)

The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences supports researchers in developing countries, particularly those lacking essential facilities. Grants of up to USD 54,000 are available for projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics, aiming to enhance scientific capacity and retain talent in science-and-technology lagging countries. The program encourages collaboration, supports the inclusion of MSc students, and prioritizes applications from women scientists and those in Least Developed Countries.

NOTE: No call for this programme will open in 2026
The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences was established in response to the needs of researchers in developing countries, particularly those attached to institutions that lack appropriate research facilities. Under this scheme, grants can be awarded for research projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics either tor to research units in the science-and-technology-lagging countries (S&TLC) identified by TWAS, to enable them to purchase the research facilities they need to enhance their productivity.
The information on this page refers to proposals submitted by research units.
The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences aims to:
Reinforce and promote scientific research in basic sciences in developing countries;Strengthen developing countries' endogenous capacity in science;Reduce the exodus of scientific talents from the South;Build and sustain units of scientific excellence in S&TLC over a longer period to help them achieve a critical mass of highly qualified and innovative scientists capable of addressing real-life problems facing their countries.
The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences is generously supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Italian government. The Sida contribution is mainly intended to support research proposals from S&TLCs in dire need of basic research tools.
Programme Details
TWAS Research Grants are awarded to high-level promising research projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics carried out by research units in the S&T-lagging countries (S&TLC) identified by TWAS.Research Grants to research units amount to a maximum of USD 54,000 (with up to USD 40,000 for equipment and consumable supplies).Goods or funds cannot be sent to other members of the team but only to the PI at his or her home institution, referred to as Administering Institution in the agreement.Awarded research units must also support atleast one MSc student as part of the project (full details will be provided to successful candidates).

Eligibility

Applying research units must be led by a renowned researcher who is a national of a developing country, who holds a PhD and who has good research experience. The research unit should operate within a university or a research institution in one of the S&TLCs and should include a minimum of the Principle Investigator (group leader), plus at least two PhD-qualified researchers and a number of PhD and MSc students, technicians, etc. There is no age limit for unit leaders.Each applicant must have at least one MSc student under his/her supervision.Research unit leaders who submit a satisfactory final report on a previous grant may apply for a renewal.The grants, which are normally provided for a period of 24 months, may be used to purchase scientific equipment, consumables and specialized literature (textbooks and proceedings only).

Ineligibility

Applicant must at the time of application NOT have an active research grant with TWAS or OWSD.These grants do not cover salaries of researchers and/or students, field expenses, or travel expenses. In addition, the purchase of laptops, tablets, drones and laboratory animals is not supported.The TWAS Research Grants Programme in Basic Sciences complements that of the International Foundation for Science (IFS).The two organizations maintain close contact to ensure the complementarity of the two schemes and to avoid duplication.The TWAS Research Grants Programme supports research in the basic sciences only; proposals focusing on more applied research should therefore be submitted to IFS.