The Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) was established in response to the needs of researchers in developing countries, particularly those attached to institutions that lack appropriate research facilities. Under this scheme, grants can be awarded for research projects in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Information Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics to Principal Investigators in the African countries lagging in science and technology identified by TWAS, to enable them to purchase the research facilities they need to enhance their productivity.
The Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) aims to support early-career scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa, with particular emphasis on Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It is fully funded by The German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Grants will be provided to purchase scientific equipment, consumables and specialized literature. Awarded PIs may also support MSc student as part of the project, request funding for international conference participation, industrial link grant, mobility grant and open access publication grant. Also included is an additional component which seeks to enhance the productivity of female scientists returning to academia after a maternity leave, scientist-after-child grant.
Applying Principal Investigators must be nationals of an eligible country who hold a PhD and have good research experience. The grant should operate within a university or a research institution in one of the African countries lagging in science and technology. The PI must be 40 or under, and have obtained their Ph.D. within the last 5 years in a country other than their home country.
