ICGEB-COMSTECH Research Grants 2026 CRP – Collaborative Research Programme

Type of Support

The ICGEB CRP Grants programme was established in 1988 and aims to stimulate collaborative research in Member States and with the ICGEB Component laboratories, promote training of young scientists, and facilitate the creation of appropriate research facilities. The programme supports research projects in basic science, human healthcare, industrial and agricultural biotechnology and bioenergy. A call for applications is launched yearly.

Within this programme, and thanks to the co-funding of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, the ICGEB-COMSTECH CRP Grants provide a dedicated channel to funds research projects of researchers in ICGEB-COMSTECH common Member States.

Grants are awarded to contribute to the implementation of outstanding scientific research projects. An important element of successful applications is the feasibility of the proposed project within the designated timeframe (1 Year). The maximum annual contribution from ICGEB is Euro 9,000.

Funds can only be used to cover expenditures directly relevant to the project. This may include purchasing consumable items, scientific literature and basic standard laboratory equipment. Travel and training costs can also be covered.

Salaries of the Principal Investigators and infrastructural support (e.g., normal administrative and overhead expenses of the Institution, maintenance and rental of capital equipment, building, etc.) are not admissible and cannot be funded.

Eligibility

Applicants for research grant proposals (identified as “CRPs”) should hold positions at Universities or Research Institutes in any of the ICGEB-COMSTECH common Member States:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Türkiye, and United Arab Emirates.

IMPORTANT NOTE: the ICGEB-COMSTECH Research Grant call for 2026 is reserved only for women researchers under the age of 45.

International collaboration is a key feature of all ICGEB grants. It must be fully integrated into the project, detailing the exact role of the collaborators and explaining why this collaboration is crucial to the project’s success. International collaborations can be established with ICGEB Member States or other countries. Collaboration with any of the ICGEB groups (in Trieste, New Delhi or Cape Town) is not a mandatory requirement for the grants but is considered an additional asset. Particular attention will be given to: i) projects addressing issues of interest for specific geographic regions; ii) projects presented by groups collaborating across more than one country; iii) projects entailing new rather than existing collaboration; and iv) projects involving ICGEB PIs in the three components.

Investigating groups do not qualify for submission of applications:

• if previously awarded projects have not been evaluated and satisfactorily concluded;
• if the University or Research Institute of the Principal Investigator is based in Italy.

A special category of CRP-ICGEB Early Career Return Grants is intended to fund young researchers with an outstanding track record who have spent a minimum of 2 consecutive years abroad and have recently returned to an ICGEB Member State to establish independent laboratories.
Applicants for Early Career Return Grants should be no more than 40 years of age at the time of application.
For this call, applicants should have returned to an ICGEB-COMSTECH common Member State within the last two years preceding their application.

Submission and Closing Dates

Principal Investigators should submit their complete applications online via the ICGEB Service Gateway by the deadline of 30 April, 23:59 CET. A copy of the full application will be accessed by the Country representative (Liaison Officer), who is responsible for endorsing the application at the national level. ICGEB will only acknowledge receipt of the endorsed applications.