Funding call
The Institute of Physics (IOP) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) are pleased to announce a call for proposals for the Africa-UK Physics Partnership (AUPP) Programme’s Intra-Africa Research Mobility and Networking grants.
This initiative aims to strengthen physics research capacity across Sub-Saharan Africa by facilitating mobility and networking among early career physicists, enabling access to research infrastructure, and fostering sustainable collaborative networks.
Physics research faces significant challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, including gaps in human capital, infrastructural deficits, and barriers to international collaboration.
The AUPP Programme was established to address these challenges by unlocking the potential of the Sub-Saharan African physics community through sustainable capacity-building in problem-based physics training and innovation-focused research.
Total funding available: R35 million (approximately £1.5 million)
Funding streams
Two-way research mobility and networking grants: R1 million (£50,000) each
- For collaboration between two different African countries
- Must include two or more higher education/research institutions
Multi-country research mobility and networking grants: R2.5 million (£100,000) each
- For collaboration between multiple African countries
- Must include institutions from a minimum of four different African countries
Thematic Areas
Proposals must address one or more of the following thematic areas
Energy
- Energy materials and renewable energy research
- Clean energy provision to promote industrialisation, education, health, and food security
Climate and Weather
- Climate and weather forecasting
- Integration of climate data into decision-making processes
- Early warning and disaster management systems
Health
- Medical physics research and development
- Interdisciplinary research between medical physics and biological sciences
- Biophysics techniques for health challenges
Big Data and Artificial Intelligence
- Applications in physics research
- Data science for public health, climate science, etc.
- Development of competencies across multiple disciplines
Eligible Countries
Researchers based at higher education and research institutions in the following 18 African countries: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Applicant Eligibility
- Principal Investigators (PIs) must hold a PhD
- PIs may be emerging researchers (up to 7 years post-PhD) or established researchers (8+ years post-PhD)
- PIs and team members must be based at higher education and research institutions in eligible African countries.
- Industry/private sector partners can be included, but cannot serve as PIs.
Application Process
- Partner search registration form deadline: March 14, 2025 (23:59:59 SAST) – Optional
- Full proposal submission deadline: May 19, 2025 (23:59:59 SAST) – Mandatory
- Project implementation period: 2026-2027
How to Apply
- Partner Search (Optional)
- Complete the partner search registration form to connect with potential collaborators.
- Participate in virtual events to form teams
- Full Proposal (Mandatory)
- Submit through the NRF Connect system: https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za
- Applications must be in English
- All required attachments must be included
Required Attachments
- CVs of PI, team members, and industry partners (max three pages each)
- Detailed budget breakdown
- Letter of support from the head of the PI’s institution
- Strategy for meaningful collaboration with ECRs
- Sustainability plan for the initiative
- Letters of support from participating industry partners (if applicable)
Contact Information
For further information or assistance, please contact:
Call Secretariat: National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa
Email: T.Ngomane@risa.nrf.ac.za
Telephone: +27 12 481 4171
Office hours: Mon-Fri 9 AM-4 PM (SAST)
Further Information
Full details of this call, including eligibility criteria, application procedures, and assessment processes, are available through the NRF Connect system at: https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za
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Published on 16 May 2025
Status
open
Deadline
May 19, 2025
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