Call for intra-Africa research mobility and networking grants

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

Please check out the stories and let us know what you think. We would love to hear from you!

Let’s continue the conversation on our social media

Follow us on LinkedIn

Published on 16 May 2025