Grants for Transformative and Collaborative Research in the Middle East and North Africa (GTCR-MENA) Region

The programme ‘Grants for Transformative and Collaborative Research in the Middle East and North African  region’ (GTCR-MENA) was established in response to the needs of researchers in selected countries in the MENA region, particularly those attached to institutions that lack appropriate research facilities. Under this scheme, grants can be awarded for research projects in the eligible fields to Principal Investigators in the eligible countries to enable them to purchase the equipment and/or consumables they need to enhance their productivity.

The programme GTCR-MENA is fully funded by The German Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

Programme Details

• The Grants are awarded to promising and competitive research projects in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Technologies, Microelectronics, Biotechnology, Fusion and Climate-Neutral Energy Transition, Technology for Climate-Neutral Mobility, Aerospace, Health Research, Marine, Climate and Sustainability Research, Humanities and Social Sciences carried out by Principal Investigators (PI) in the eligible countries.
• The grants, typically awarded for a duration of 24 months, can be utilized for the purchase of scientific equipment and consumables. This includes in exceptional cases partial funding for fieldwork, maintenance of equipment and specialized literature, such as textbooks and proceedings only. If any single item of equipment is valued at USD 5,000 or above, a valid proforma invoice from a supplier must be uploaded to the application portal. The grant does not cover salaries of the Principal Investigator or travel expenses unless they are clearly related to one of the conference and/or mobility components mentioned below. Additionally, please note that the purchase of fuel, fees for experts or consultants or labourers, laptops, tablets, drones and laboratory animals is not supported.
• Awarded PIs may also support MSc student as part of the project, request funding for international conference grant, collaborative mobility grant in Germany and open access publication grant. Full details of each component are laid out in the guidelines.
• The programme has an additional component, which seeks to enhance the productivity of female scientists returning to academia after a maternity leave, scientist-after-child grant. Full details of this component can be found in the guidelines.

Eligibility

• In order to apply in year 2026, candidates must fulfill the following criteria:
• Be nationals of and preferably residing in one of the following countries:
  • Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen.
• Be no more than 40 years in age if male, with an exception for female applicants has a limit of three children, which equals a maximum of six years. i.e. a female applicant with three children may be a maximum of 46 years or younger in age.
• Have a PhD degree
• Submit research proposals focusing on one of the six key technologies relevant to the ‘High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD)’:
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Quantum Technologies
  • Microelectronics
  • Biotechnology
  • Fusion and Climate-Neutral Energy Transition
  • Technology for Climate-Neutral Mobility
• Alternatively, research proposals may address one of the following strategic research fields highlighted by the HTAD:
  • Aerospace
  • Health Research
  • Marine, Climate and Sustainability Research
  • Humanities and Social Sciences.
• Have a position or securing a position at an academic and/or research institution (including international research centres) in one of the eligible countries listed above.
• Have an ongoing collaboration with a German Science Institution or be in the process of establishing one via the programme. In both cases, a Letter of Collaboration from the German partner must be submitted with the application.
• Applications from women scientists are especially encouraged.
• Applicants must at the time of application NOT have an active research grant with TWAS or OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship.
• The applicant must submit a strong Research Proposal, you may find further information on how to write a strong proposal by visiting AuthorAID.
• Please be advised that applicants may apply for only one programme per calendar year in the TWAS and OWSD portfolio. Applicants cannot apply for other TWAS programmes i.e. Postdoctoral and Visiting Researcher programme within the same year in order to be present in their home country throughout the duration of the grant.

Agreement

• If selected, a trilateral written agreement is drawn up between TWAS, the Principal Investigator and the home institution. The home institution undertakes to administer the grant according to the agreement and to provide laboratory space, salaries and other facilities necessary for the project. Equipment, consumables and literature provided for the project through the GTCR-MENA grant programme remain the property of the home institution after the project is completed.
• In general, the grant funds are kept at TWAS for the purchase of items requested by the grant holder. TWAS places the orders with the supplier(s) upon receipt of proforma invoices submitted by the grant holder in accordance with the approved itemized budget.
• The agreement will also provide details on how to activate other benefits of the grant such as support for MSc students, international conference component, collaborative mobility component, open access publication component and scientist-after-child component.
• Grant holders must submit a final report before the completion of the award.

How to apply

• Ensure that you have read and fully understood the guidelines.
• GTCR-MENA grant applications, once the call opens will need to be submitted online by clicking on the “Apply Now” link at the bottom of this page. Please note the link will only be active once the call opens and not before (or after it is closed).
• Please note that a researcher may only submit one application at a time and for only one kind of grant. Applicants cannot apply for other TWAS programmes i.e. Postdoctoral, Visiting Scholar and Visiting Researcher programme within the same year in order to be present in their home country throughout the duration of the grant.
• For any queries please contact the TWAS Grants office, e-mail: gtcr@twas.org

When to apply

• The deadline for receiving applications will be updated once decided. We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the deadline but submit the application as early as you can.

Notification

• Please note that the Selection Meetings of the GTCR-MENA Grants Committee will be held by the end of the year. Applicants will be notified of the outcome shortly after the meeting.
• Any PI currently holding an award for any TWAS programme may not apply before completing the current award.