Applications are now open for the Merck Research Grants 2026 programme, a global research funding initiative designed to support innovative scientific research with strong potential for future impact and industry collaboration.

Since 2018, Merck has awarded research grants to scientists and research teams working on breakthrough solutions across emerging scientific and technological fields. For the 2026 funding cycle, grants are available across five strategic research areas, with funding of up to €500,000 per year available depending on the topic.

develoPPP Ventures is now accepting applications for its 2026 funding round supporting innovative startups with scalable and development-oriented business models across selected African markets.

The initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented through:

The Fundación Alsea, AC, in partnership with World Vision México, has opened applications for the Alsea Foundation Prize for Research Projects 2026.

The international research funding initiative supports innovative and impactful research projects focused on food systems, nutrition security, sustainability, and public health, particularly projects benefiting vulnerable populations.

The programme aims to strengthen evidence-based solutions that improve food and nutritional security while contributing to sustainable development and informing public policy.

The UNICEF Venture Fund has launched the Climate Ventures 2026 Call for Applications, inviting startups developing frontier technology solutions at the intersection of climate change and children’s health to apply for equity-free funding and support.

The initiative is part of UNICEF’s five-year Climate Ventures investment programme aimed at supporting scalable, open-source technologies that improve climate resilience, healthcare preparedness, environmental monitoring, and child wellbeing in emerging markets.

The Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund is a global funding programme that supports innovative, evidence-based solutions with the potential to improve millions of lives. The fund operates as an R&D engine for development, combining risk-tolerant capital with rigorous evidence and scaling pathways.

DIV’s core objective is to identify, test, and scale cost-effective innovations that deliver measurable social impact particularly in low- and middle-income contexts.

Funding Structure (Tiered Model)

About the Due Diligence Fund

The Due Diligence Fund (DDF) is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as part of the Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains Initiative (SASI). Now in its fifth round, the DDF has already supported 30 projects across four previous rounds since 2022.

Opportunity Type: Research Funding / Seed Grant

Funding Organisations:
South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF) & National Research Foundation (NRF)

Application Deadline: 10 June 2026
Project Duration: Up to 2 years (Starting 1 August 2026)
Number of Projects Funded: Up to 20 projects

Overview

This global Grand Challenge seeks innovative solutions to significantly reduce the cost of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) used to treat Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. 

The objective is to enable more children to access life-saving treatment by improving cost-efficiency across formulation, production, and supply systems. Proposals must demonstrate a minimum 30% reduction in the ex-factory unit cost of RUTF, while maintaining nutritional quality and regulatory compliance.