ICGEB Research Grants 2026 – CRP Collaborative Research Programme
The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) has opened applications for the 2026 Collaborative Research Programme (CRP) – ICGEB Research Grants, a long-standing international funding mechanism designed to support high-quality, original research projects in ICGEB Member States.
Established in 1988, the CRP programme aims to:
- Stimulate international scientific collaboration
- Strengthen research capacity in Member States
- Promote training of young scientists
- Facilitate development of appropriate research infrastructure
- Support projects addressing scientific problems of particular relevance to the host country and regional priorities
The programme provides competitive research funding in the following thematic areas:
- Basic Life Sciences
- Human Healthcare
- Industrial Biotechnology
- Agricultural Biotechnology
- Bioenergy
Projects must demonstrate scientific excellence, feasibility within the designated timeframe (maximum 36 months), and strong international collaboration.
Type of Support & Funding Value
- Maximum annual contribution: EUR 25,000 per year
- Maximum project duration: 36 months
Funding is intended to support direct research costs only
Eligible Budget Categories:
- Equipment (max 30% of total budget; no major equipment > EUR 10,000)
- Consumables
- Training (short-term visits; long-term trainees from other Member States)
- Travel (max 10%)
- Literature (max 5%)
Costs NOT Funded:
- Salaries of Principal Investigators
- Institutional overheads and administrative costs
- Infrastructure, building, or maintenance expenses
- Bank charges and secretarial costs
Geographic Scope
This opportunity is:
- Country-specific: Open to all ICGEB Member States
- Province-specific: Not restricted by province/state within eligible countries
ICGEB Member States include (among others):
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy*, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe, and others.
Important: Laboratories based in Italy are excluded from this call.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
Hold a position at a University or Research Institute in an ICGEB Member State
CRP-Guidelines_2026
- Be affiliated with an institution that can administer the grant
- Ensure previously awarded ICGEB projects (if any) have been satisfactorily concluded
- Submit a proposal with fully integrated international collaboration
International Collaboration Requirement
International collaboration is mandatory and must be fully integrated into the project. The role of each collaborator must be clearly defined and essential to project success.
Collaboration may involve:
- Other ICGEB Member States
- Non-member countries
- ICGEB laboratories in Trieste (Italy), New Delhi (India), or Cape Town (South Africa) (not mandatory but considered an asset)
A formal letter confirming collaboration must be included.
Special Category: Early Career Return Grants
A dedicated funding stream exists for:
- Researchers 40 years or younger at time of application
- Those who have spent at least 2 consecutive years abroad
- Those who have returned to an ICGEB Member State (excluding Italy) within the past two years to establish an independent laboratory
National Endorsement Requirement
Each ICGEB Member State may endorse:
- Up to 3 standard Research Grant applications
- Up to 2 Early Career Return Grant applications
Applications must be endorsed by the national Liaison Officer to be considered for funding
Application Process
Applications must be submitted online via the ICGEB Service Gateway.
- Submission Deadline: 30 April 2026, 23:59 CET
- Liaison Officer endorsement deadline: 31 May 2026
Applications undergo a two-tier review process:
- Expert committee triage
- External peer review
Final funding decisions are made by the ICGEB Committee and are not subject to appeal
Click HERE to visit the official website.