Apply Now – 2026 TWAS Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI)

Application Deadline: 31 March 2026

UNESCO-TWAS is now accepting applications for the 2026 round of its Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI). This programme, backed by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), is dedicated to building scientific and technological capacity in African nations that are currently lagging in these areas. Early-career researchers represent the primary target group, particularly those who have completed doctoral studies overseas and have either recently moved back or are preparing to return to an academic post in their country of origin. The central objective is to support outstanding research talent, enabling them to launch and direct significant research initiatives from a base within Africa.

Grant Details & Funding
Substantial research backing is offered through the SG-NAPI in the following structure:

• Supported Disciplines: Funding is provided for high-potential projects within the fields of Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Information Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences, and Physics.
• Alignment with German Priorities: Projects connected to Germany’s High-Tech Agenda are strongly welcomed. Relevant focus areas include:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Quantum Technologies
• Microelectronics
• Biotechnology
• Fusion and climate-neutral energy generation
• Technologies for climate-neutral mobility

Award Specifications

• A maximum award value of up to USD 67,700 is available.
• The standard project period spans 30 months.

Permitted Costs: Financial support is designated mainly for:

• Acquiring scientific apparatus and necessary consumables.
• Under specific circumstances, partial coverage for fieldwork, maintaining equipment, and purchasing specialized academic texts.
• Important: A valid proforma invoice is mandatory for any individual equipment piece costing USD 5,000 or more.

Supplementary Funding: Recipient Principal Investigators may also request resources for:

• Engaging an MSc student on the project.
• Attending an international conference.
• Establishing an industrial link with a partner in Germany.
• A collaborative research visit to Germany.
• Covering open-access publication fees.

• Special Initiative: A dedicated “scientist-after-child” grant is incorporated into the programme to assist female researchers in resuming their academic work following maternity leave.
• Excluded Expenses: The grant funding cannot be applied to the PI’s salary, general travel costs, personal electronics like laptops or tablets, drones, laboratory animals, fuel, or fees for external consultants.

Eligibility Criteria

• Prospective Principal Investigators are required to satisfy every one of these conditions:
• Citizenship & Research Base: Hold citizenship from an eligible African nation (identified as lagging in S&T) and be based at a qualifying university or research institution within such a country.
• Age Limit: Be no older than 40 years at the point of application (applicants who reach 41 within the application year are not eligible).
• Academic History:
• Possess a PhD.
• Have been awarded the PhD within the preceding 5 years from an institution located outside their home country.

Career Position

• Have relocated back to their home country within the past 36 months OR have confirmed plans to return by the close of 2026.
• Currently hold, have received an offer for, or be finalizing acceptance of a role at an academic or research institution in their home country.
• Existing Awards: Must not be in receipt of an ongoing TWAS or OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) fellowship during the application process.
• Submission Cap: A maximum of one application to any TWAS or OWSD programme is permitted per calendar year.

Who Should Apply
This funding opportunity is perfectly suited for promising, early-career African researchers who have recently repatriated or are firmly committed to doing so to develop their scientific careers at home. It is an excellent match for individuals with a robust, high-calibre research proposal in fundamental sciences or areas intersecting with Germany’s High-Tech Agenda. Special encouragement is extended to women scientists and applicants from Least Developed Countries.

How to Apply & Important Notes

• Submission of a compelling Research Proposal is mandatory. Proposal writing support can be accessed through AuthorAID.
• A thorough review of the complete guidelines is essential for verifying country eligibility and understanding the specifics of all supplementary grant components.
• Submissions from female researchers and those based in Least Developed Countries are given particular encouragement.

For More Information: Visit the Official Webpage of the TWAS Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators

Click here to Apply