TWAS Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG NAPI)

  • Start Date:

  • Deadline:

  • Agency:
    UNESCO TWAS / German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)

The Office of Grants and Research (OGR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), invites eligible researchers to apply for the Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) offered by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

The programme supports early-career scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa by providing funding to strengthen research capacity, particularly for investigators working in institutions with limited research infrastructure. The grant enables researchers to acquire essential scientific equipment and resources needed to enhance research productivity and innovation. The SG-NAPI programme is fully funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

Programme Overview
The Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators supports promising research projects led by early-career scientists in African countries identified by TWAS as lagging in science and technology. Projects may be conducted in fields such as agriculture, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, engineering, information and computer technology, mathematics, medical sciences, and physics.

Applicants whose research aligns with Germany’s High-Tech Agenda are particularly encouraged to apply. Priority areas include artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, microelectronics, biotechnology, fusion and climate-neutral energy generation, and technologies that support climate-neutral mobility.

Funding and Duration
Successful projects may receive funding of up to USD 67,700 for a period of up to 30 months. The grant is primarily intended for the purchase of scientific equipment and consumables required for the research project. In limited cases, funding may also support partial fieldwork costs, maintenance of equipment, and the purchase of specialised scientific literature.

Awarded Principal Investigators may also access additional programme components such as support for MSc students, international conference grants, industrial link grants with partners in Germany, collaborative mobility grants for research visits in Germany, and open access publication grants. The programme also includes a special scientist-after-child grant designed to support female researchers returning to academia after maternity leave.

Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be nationals of an eligible African country identified by TWAS as lagging in science and technology and must hold a PhD with demonstrated research experience. Applicants must be 40 years old or younger at the time of application and must have obtained their PhD within the last five years in a country other than their home country.

Applicants must have returned to their home country within the last 36 months or plan to return before the end of 2026, and must hold or be in the process of accepting a position at a university or research institution in their home country. The research project must be carried out within an academic or research institution in that country.

Applicants must not hold an active TWAS research grant or the OWSD Early Career Women Scientists Fellowship at the time of application. Women scientists and researchers based in Least Developed Countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

Institutional Requirements
If selected, a formal agreement will be established between TWAS, the Principal Investigator, and the host institution. The host institution will be responsible for administering the grant and providing laboratory space, salary support, and the institutional environment necessary for the research project. Equipment and materials purchased through the grant will remain the property of the host institution after the project ends.

Application Process
Applicants must carefully review the programme guidelines and submit their applications through the TWAS online application portal once the call opens. Researchers may submit only one application at a time and may apply to only one TWAS programme per calendar year. Applicants are also expected to remain based in their home country for the duration of the grant.

Application Deadline
The deadline for receiving applications will be announced once the call officially opens.

Notification
Applications will be reviewed by the SG-NAPI Grants Committee, with selection meetings typically held towards the end of the year. Applicants will be notified of the outcome shortly after the review process.


For more info:https://twas.org/opportunity/seed-grant-new-african-principal-investigators-sg-napi

Interested researchers at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology are encouraged to contact the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) for institutional guidance before preparing their applications.