Professional, scientific and technical activities

The National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, in partnership with the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), invites applications for collaborative research projects under the 2027–2029 Joint Call.

This programme aims to strengthen bilateral research collaboration between South Africa and Flanders (Belgium) by supporting high-quality, innovative research across all scientific disciplines. Projects should demonstrate scientific excellence, societal relevance, and strong international collaboration. 

Objective

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

Opportunity Type: Challenge Submission / Collaboration Opportunity

Organisation: South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF)

Submission Deadline: 27 March 2026

Event Dates: 26–27 May 2026
Format: Virtual Event
Cost: Free Participation

Overview

Applications are now open for the 2026 FINCA Ventures Prize Competition and the CLIC Agrifood Investment Connector Program, two complementary opportunities designed to support impact-driven enterprises operating in financial inclusion and sustainable agriculture and food systems across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has opened applications for the 2026 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA).

These awards aim to recognise and celebrate outstanding women scientists and researchers, while also profiling them as role models for young women entering science, technology and innovation fields. 

The 2026 theme is:
"Placing Women at the Centre of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)" 

The L’Oréal Green Sciences Incubator 2026 is now open for startups developing sustainable, bio-based, and green science innovations aimed at transforming the cosmetics industry. The programme is delivered in collaboration with L’Oréal Research & Innovation, Genopole, and Hello Tomorrow, providing startups with incubation, technical expertise, and potential collaboration opportunities. 

2026-Brochure-LOreal-GSI-2026

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. 

This global Grand Challenge seeks to fund breakthrough innovations that significantly reduce the cost of diagnostic and screening tools for use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The focus is on developing scalable, high-impact technologies that can deliver diagnostic results at approximately USD 1 per test or near-zero incremental cost, while maintaining quality, speed, and usability in low-resource settings.