research infrastructure | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans

NRF Grant for 2011-2012: Support for Black Rated Researchers, Africa

scholarshipnigeria / February 10, 2011 Leave a Comment

in October 2010, the Minister of Science and Technology provided additional once off funding in support of Research Capacity Development through Human Capital Development and Research Infrastructure expansion. The investment is channelled through eight programmes, managed by the National Research Foundation.

A budget allocation of R25 million is earmarked for dedicated support for women and young researchers to improve the race and gender equity profile of the research and academic workforce. Black National Research Foundation Y rated researchers with a valid Y rating as at January 2011 will be supported based on the following criteria:

Only researchers based at South African public funded universities and Science Councils are eligible for funding.
Black Y-rated researchers holding substantial NRF research grants, such as the South African Research Chairs Initiative are not eligible.
Black Y-rated researchers as at October 2010, excluding those with rating elapsing on 31 December 2010, are eligible.
All black female researchers that were recently awarded a NRF Y Rating in December 2010 are eligible.
All black male researchers that were recently awarded a NRF Y Rating in December 2010 are eligible but will only be considered for support in March 2011 should additional funds become available.

This once-off research grant of R300 000 (three hundred thousand rand) will be paid to the institution, in full, by March 2011. The grant must be fully expensed by December 2012 and may be used to cover the following research related costs: running expenses; travel; equipment; student support; and technical support.

Grant letters together with the Conditions of Grant will be sent to eligible black Y-rated researchers and the university Designated Authority will be copied on all correspondence.

Scholarship Application Deadline: Contact Employer

Further Scholarship Information and Application

Call for Applications for the Expansion of the National Equipment Programme

scholarshipnigeria / January 17, 2011 Leave a Comment

An additional call for Applications for the Research Infrastructure Grants has been opened due to
additional funds becoming available for investment in 2010, in the categories listed below. All applications must be validated by the respective institution’s research administration or responsible person, before submission to the NRF.
1. Strategic Research Infrastructure Investments
In addition to NEP and NNEP, there exists a need for research infrastructure investments that support human capital development, research and innovation focussing on the fiveGrand Challenges, the Science and Technology Missions and other strategic research areas. The Strategic Research Infrastructure Programme (SRIP) has been created in order to specifically address these research infrastructure requirements that fall outside NEP and NNEP and that require investments in excess of R7 million.
This category of equipment includes instrumentation that is not only able to push the frontiers of science, but is also able to address the development of scarce skills, attract industry involvement, drive scientific and technological productivity and advance national priorities. In most cases, additional resources need to be earmarked by the institution to provide the necessary space, services, utilises, technicians, maintenance and additional support facilities such as information technology. Applications in this category must address the following requirements:
– Alignment with national priorities as defined in the National R&D Strategy and the Ten-Year Innovation Plan;
– Creating enabling research infrastructure for South African research and academic institutions to compete with leading institutions internationally;
– Demonstrated ability of the applicant and co-applicants to train postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows;
-Demonstrated ability of the applicant and co-applicants to attract research grants and contract income to sustain the proposed research;
-Existing facilities available at the applicant’s institution to support the requested research infrastructure;
– Institutional commitments for providing additional human resources and/or infrastructure, e.g. buildings and fixtures, that may be required to house the specialised equipment;

Fellowship Application Deadline: 31 January 2011

Further Fellowship Information and Application