Grants for Research Collaboration Projects in Growth Countries (Window 2)

Deadline: 26-Feb-21

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (MFA) invites Phase 1 applications for grants related to development research with partners in selected growth and transition countries (Window 2). The Danida Fellowship Centre (DFC) administers the MFA’s support to development research.

The Window 2 covers research collaboration projects between Danish researchers and researchers in selected growth countries included in the Strategic Sector Cooperation.

Research Themes

The thematic focus areas of the call are:

Renewable energy;
Environment, including manufacturing, urban development and waste;
Water resources, including urban water;
Food quality, including food safety;
Health systems, including occupational health and safety (OHS);
Maritime development.

Funding & Duration

The duration of Window 2 projects is from 18 to 36 months with a maximum grant of DKK 5 million for each project.

Eligible Countries

The research must be implemented in one of the following growth and transition countries involved in the Strategic Sector Cooperation with Denmark: Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Myanmar, South Africa, and Vietnam.

Eligibility Criteria

Main applicant:
- Applications must be submitted only by universities or by a research-based institution (public or private) in Denmark, which will be responsible for the grant. The project coordinator must have an affiliation with the applying institution.
- At the time of submitting the application, the project coordinator must hold a PhD or equivalent qualification, documented clearly in the CV. Documented evidence that he/she is a Professor, Assistant Professor, or Associate Professor is regarded as equivalent to a PhD.
- Experience shows that the project coordinator plays a key role in ensuring that a research collaboration project is successful. An effective engagement/ involvement of the project coordinator will entail a substantial workload, noticeably at the beginning of the project.
- It is important that the project coordinator and the research team are able to document relevant scientific merits and qualifications as well as a research background within the topic applied for. A person may appear as project coordinator on several applications, but only one project per project coordinator may be approved for this funding window.
Project participants:
- The application must list all partner institutions in growth and transition countries, partners in Denmark, and possibly international partners. At least one researcher from each partner institution (project participant if private sector partner) must be named in the Phase 1 application (Task: Project participants in the e-application form).
- Research collaboration is considered an important means to strengthen research capacity. In order for research partners to benefit from the collaboration, partnerships should be equal, and partners must contribute actively in preparing both Phase 1 and subsequent Phase 2 application (if prequalified).
- It is strongly encouraged to involve partners from the private sector and national authorities in the partner country or in Denmark in the research project, and grant funding can be used for their direct input to project activities, but not overhead expenses. Such partners are encouraged to contribute with additional resources (funding or in-kind) for the projects. International research institutions and research institutions in countries outside Denmark and outside the growth and transition countries can equally be supported by the grant for their direct input to the project activities with no overhead.
- As the project duration is only up to three years, it is not envisaged that PhD studies can be included. Direct input of ongoing PhD studies may be included.