International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology ICGEB invites application from fellow scientists and researchers in the area of biotechnology and genetic engineering to apply for research grants. Established in 1988, the programme aims to stimulate collaborative research in the Member States and with the ICGEB Component laboratories, to promote training of young scientists and to facilitate the creation of appropriate research facilities. The programme provides support for research projects in basic science, human healthcare, industrial and agricultural biotechnology, and bioenergy. ICGEB calls application for research grants annually.

Furthermore, ICGEB provides funding opportunities through the Collaborative Research Programme (CRP) – ICGEB Biotechnology Research Grants, which is a dedicated source of funding. It aims to finance projects address original scientific problems of particular relevance for the host country and of regional interest.

Eligibility

Applicants for research grant proposals (identified as “CRPs”) should hold positions at Universities or Research Institutes in any of theICGEB Member States.

Active collaboration with ICGEB Research Groups is welcome but is not mandatory. Projects addressing issues of interest for specific geographic regions are preferable. Further, scientists collaborating across more than one country are preferable.

Investigating groups do not qualify for submission of applications:

•  if previously awarded projects have not been evaluated and satisfactorily concluded;
• Also, if the University or Research Institute of the Principal Investigator is based in Italy.

Moreover, a special category of CRP-ICGEB Early Career Return Grants intends to fund young researchers with an outstanding track record, who have spent a minimum of 2 years abroad and have recently returned to an ICGEB Member State to establish their own independent laboratories.

Applicants for Early Career Return Grants should be no more than 40 years of age at the time of application.
Applicants should have returned to an ICGEB Member State (except Italy) no more than 2 years prior to submitting the application.

Grants

The ICGEB funds can only be used to support research activity in the laboratory of the Principal Investigator. The funds may be used in the following four budget categories:

EQUIPMENT
This budget category must not exceed 30% of the total grant requested/awarded. The beneficiary may spend it for the purchase of basic standard laboratory equipment and/or components. However, this equipment will be the property of ICGEB once the scientist completes his/her project.

CONSUMABLES
This budget category intends to cover the purchase of consumable items needed to carry out the proposed research.

TRAINING
This budget category intends to cover short-term training visits (maximum 3 months per project, subject to prior approval from ICGEB) of scientists directly involved in the project for hands-on training related to the project.

TRAVEL
This budget category must not exceed 10% of the total grant requested/awarded. It intends to cover the participation of scientists, in major conferences/meetings related to the project objectives.

LITERATURE
This budget category must not exceed 5% of the total grant requested/awarded. Funds may cover purchasing costs of scientific literature and reference material. Also, you may use the funds to cover publication costs of scientific manuscripts pertinent to the project in peer-reviewed journals.

How To Apply

In adherence with the ICGEB mandate to equally support its Member States, each ICGEB Member State can endorse up to 3 standard Research Grant applications, plus up to 2 Early Career Return Grants for each call.

Principal Investigators should submit their complete applications in electronic format (pdf) to his/her Country representative (Liaison Officer ), who is in charge of endorsing the application at the national level. A copy of the application should also be sent directly to the ICGEB.

Deadline

The deadline for submission by e-mail of the completed application form (as a pdf file) to the ICGEB Liaison Officer for endorsement, with a copy, also sent to ICGEB, is 30 April.