Call for Applications: Research Grant Scheme (Malaysia)

Deadline: 31-May-25

The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation invites applications to assist the Malaysian palm oil industry in efforts to conserve biodiversity, the environment, and wildlife.

Priority Areas of Research

• Research Domain
  • The research to be conducted must be closely related to the palm oil industry in Malaysia. Each application must meet one (1) of the six (6) Research Domains as follows:-
    • Conservation;
    • Sustainability;
    • Environment and Biodiversity;
    • Plantation;
    • Wildlife; or
    • Forestry
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Each application must meet one (1) of the 3 Goals Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as follows: – (a) SDG 13 – Climate Action; (b) SDG 14 – Life below Water; (c) SDG 15 – Life on Land;
• Impact of Research Projects on the National Palm Oil Industry
  • The projects carried out must directly benefit the industry Malaysian palm oil by meeting the following criteria:
    • Relation to the National Agri-Commodity Sustainability agenda;
    • Positive impact on biodiversity;
    • Effectiveness of project implementation; and
    • Project sustainability.

Funding Information

• Allowance to fund a Graduate Research Assistant – GRA) full-time research mode only. Allowance ceiling is not exceeded RM2,500.00 for Ph.D students and RM2,000.00 for Masters students.
• Allowance to fund Research Assistants for Agencies, NGOs and Private Companies. The allowance ceiling does not exceed RM1,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• This grant is open to academic staff (Professor, Associate Professor, Lecturer) Senior and Lecturers), Government Agencies, NGOs and Private companies with the following conditions:
  • Permanent/contractual Head of Research must have at least one (1) researcher with a permanent Malaysian citizen in the field same expertise and from the same Institution/Agency as the Principal Investigator Next (Next Appointed Leader).
  • The lead researcher must have conducted a research project. Lead researcher from the University/Agency must have published at least two (2) journal articles and need to send journal abstracts to MPOGCF.
  • Each applicant is only allowed to submit one (1) application.
  • Each research project applied for must produce talent as stipulated following:
    • Three (3) year project
      • required to produce at least one (1) student PhD; or two (2) Master’s students as Research Assistants Graduate (Graduate Research Assistant -GRA); and
      • The appointed GRA must conduct research mode of study full-time from the grant recipient institution.
    • Two (2) year project
      • required to produce at least one (1) student Master as a Graduate Research Assistant (Graduate Research Assistant – GRA); and
      • The appointed GRA must conduct research mode of study full-time from the grant recipient institution.
  • Research and talent development must be carried out within the country.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with relevant Industry/Agency/NGOs to implement the research project (documentary evidence is at least a letter of intent and other relevant documents).
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit proof of patent search.
  • Applicants are required to identify and submit plans towards risk management (risk assessment) for each project application.
  • Approval from the Human/Animal Research Ethics Committee from the IPT/University (if related) and research permit from the relevant Department must be included along with the first progress report, if the project is approved.

For more information, visit MPOGCF.