PSF Announces Research Grant Via Competitive Research Program

PSF announced research grant to assist scientists and researchers in creating & commercializing products in fields of nanotechnology, materials, and artificial intelligence.

A research grant has been announced by the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) to assist scientists and researchers in creating and commercializing products in the fields of nanotechnology, materials, and artificial intelligence as part of the Competitive Research Program.

The grant is open to researchers from R&D organisations, HEC-recognized universities, and businesses who have already finished the first stage of their work and require funding to use their findings to create new products, prototypes, pilot-scale production, and commercialization. This information was provided by a PSF representative.

Additionally, “lone” innovators, startups, or Small and Medium Enterprises that have introduced new products, technologies, techniques, or processes and want to add value or improve them on their own or in collaboration with academic R&D institutes, universities recognised by HEC, scientists, or technologists are also encouraged to apply.

The grants are available in the streams of individual researchers, lone innovators, startups, consortium research groups (multidisciplinary research groups with up to 20 million budgets), and the Triple Helix model for a period of up to two years (collaborative research projects between academia, R&D organizations, and industry up to 20 million budget).

Through import substitution and export promotion, this funding opportunity seeks to encourage the use of R&D results in economic development while saving Pakistani currency. Scientists, engineers, technologists, innovators, academics, lone entrepreneurs from HEC-recognised universities and industry, start-ups or SMEs, and innovators from R&D institutes.

A public sector R&D organisation, private industry, startup, or SME that can be enlisted for pilot scale or commercial trials, production, and marketing activities should be the Principal Investigator’s place of employment if it is a university recognised by HEC.

The official gave information about the projects’ nature, saying that the projects’ execution or completion would take a maximum of two years and a maximum amount of funding of Rs. 20 million (Rs. 10 million for individual researchers).

The Competitive Research Program Grants will be given for the following purposes: the development of new processes, products, prototypes, or applications using indigenous skills; the addition of value to the existing products, prototypes, and processes in accordance with market demands; and Pilot Plant Studies.

The concept proposals are available on the PSF website and must be submitted online. Only Concept Papers submitted via the RGMS online web portal (https://psf.gov.pk/rgms/) are accepted by the foundation. Through https://psf.gov.pk/CRP.aspx, applicants can find out more information regarding the concept proposal submission process.