The TWAS Arab Regional Partner (TWAS-AREP) extends its warmest congratulations to our network across the Arab region and beyond. May these blessed days bring peace, prosperity, and renewed inspiration to you and your families.

Eid Mubarak!

📅 Application Deadline: 31 March 2026

The TWAS Arab Regional Partner (TWAS-AREP) is pleased to share a new initiative launched by UNESCO-TWAS with the generous support of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

The Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) is specifically designed to support early-career researchers who have recently completed their PhDs abroad and are returning—or have recently returned—to academic positions in their home countries. This grant aims to provide the necessary resources to "jumpstart" high-level research careers and establish local laboratory independence.

🌍 Eligible Arab-African Countries

Within our regional network, the call is open to nationals and residents of: Egypt | Sudan | Libya | Algeria | Morocco | Tunisia | Somalia | Djibouti | Comoros | Mauritania

The program supports promising research projects across a wide range of disciplines, including:

• Life & Health Sciences: Biology, Medical Sciences, and Agriculture.
• Physical & Formal Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
• Innovation & Tech: Engineering, ICT, and projects aligned with Germany’s High-Tech Agenda.

💡 This grant is ideal for New Principal Investigators who aim to strengthen the scientific capacity of their home institutions and address regional challenges through global expertise.

📧 Inquiries: sgnapi@twas.org

Apply for SG-NAPI:

📅 Application Deadline: 31 March 2026

Opportunity to contribute to the flagship scientific assessment that informs United Nations deliberations on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This open call for stakeholder inputs seeks to strengthen the science–policy–society interface and ensure that the GSDR 2027 provides actionable, evidence-based guidance to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the crucial years leading to 2030 and beyond.

Why participate? By sharing your research and lessons learned, you help provide actionable guidance for governments to solve global challenges using regional expertise.

Who can apply? If you are a researcher, policy expert, or work with a sustainable development organization, your voice is needed!

Link to contribute:

📅 Application Deadline: 8 April 2026.

The prestigious Nature Awards for Inspiring Women in Science. Held in partnership with The Estée Lauder Companies, these global awards celebrate those who are breaking barriers for women and girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The awards are divided into two distinct categories, both of which are open to individuals and initiatives within the Arab Region:

1. Scientific Achievement: Recognizes early-career women researchers (typically within 10 years of completing their PhD) who have made exceptional scientific contributions and demonstrate a commitment to mentoring and outreach.
2. Science Outreach: Recognizes highly effective initiatives or organizations that support girls and young women in engaging with STEM subjects or encourage women to remain in scientific careers.

Benefits and Recognition

• Winners: Receive a USD 50,000 prize to support their work.
• Shortlisted Finalists: Receive a USD 5,000 prize.
• Global Exposure: Winners and finalists are featured on the official Nature.com website and receive opportunities for international mentoring and networking.

Key Information

• Eligibility: Global (All Arab countries are eligible).

We encourage our universities and research centers to nominate outstanding female scientists and impactful outreach programs that have demonstrated excellence in advancing the role of women in science.

Official Link:

📅 Application Deadline: 15 April 2026

We are pleased to announce the opening of the TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits Program, specifically designed for postdoctoral researchers from the MENA region. This initiative, a collaboration between The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), aims to foster international scientific cooperation by facilitating research stays in Germany.

The program provides early-career researchers with the opportunity to visit a research institute in Germany for up to three months. These visits are intended to help scientists establish long-term collaborations, share expertise, and initiate joint research projects.

Eligibility Criteria

• Location: Must have been living and working in a MENA region country for at least the last five years.
• Academic Level: Must hold a PhD obtained no earlier than 2021.
• Fields: Open to all academic disciplines.

Support for Female Researchers

In a dedicated effort to support gender equity in science, the PhD age limit for female applicants can be extended by two years per child (e.g., if an applicant has two children, the PhD graduation limit can be extended by four years).

Grant Details

• Duration: Maximum of 3 months.
• Timeline: The visit must be undertaken within 12 months of receiving the award.
• Funding: The grant covers international travel and provides a monthly subsistence allowance for the duration of the stay.

Full Details & Application Link:

📅 Application Deadline: 15 April 2026

The TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits Programme provides postdoctoral researchers who have obtained their PhD not earlier than 2021 and have been living and working for at least the last five years in sub-Saharan Africa <https://twas.org/sub-saharan-african-countries-0> with the opportunity to make a 'Cooperation Visit' to an institute in Germany.
For female applicants the year limit for the PhD can be extended by two years per child.

Such visits will have a duration of no more than three months and must be undertaken within 12 months of the award.

All information, including the online application form, is available here:

📅 Application Deadline: 16 April 2026

Funding Amount: Up to USD 60,000 per project.

The GTCR-MENA program is a high-impact initiative designed to empower early-career researchers in the Middle East and North Africa. By providing significant funding for laboratory infrastructure and fostering partnerships with German research institutions, the program aims to accelerate scientific productivity and address global challenges through regional expertise.

Why apply? ✅ Enhance your lab’s productivity. ✅ Build interdisciplinary links with German research labs. ✅ Fully supported by the BMBF.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this grant, applicants must fulfill the following:

• Academic Level: Must be an early-career researcher (typically within a specific number of years post-PhD).
• Location: Must be a national of and currently working/living in one of the following 11 countries:

Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen.

This program supports a wide array of cutting-edge and essential fields, including:

• Technology: AI, Quantum Technologies, Microelectronics, and Aerospace.
• Environment: Climate-Neutral Energy, Mobility, Marine, and Sustainability Research.
• Life Sciences: Biotechnology and Health Research.
• Society: Critical research in the Humanities.

📧 Contact for Inquiries: gtcr@twas.org

👉 Apply Online:

📅 Application Deadline: April 17 2026

The opening of the 2026 nomination season for the VinFuture Prize. This international award honors transformative scientific research and technological innovations that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create meaningful change in people's daily lives.

Prize Categories:

• Grand Prize: USD 3,000,000 – For breakthrough research and inventions proven to better human life.
• Special Prize for Innovators from Developing Countries: USD 500,000 – Dedicated to researchers working in organizations within the global south.
• Special Prize for Women Innovators: USD 500,000 – Honoring outstanding female researchers and inventors.
• Special Prize for Emerging Fields: USD 500,000 – For outstanding achievements in non-traditional or interdisciplinary fields.

Important Requirements:

• Nomination Basis: No self-nominations are allowed. Reputable organizations (universities, academies, research institutes) and distinguished individuals are invited to submit nominations.
• Language: Nominations must be submitted in English.

We encourage our academic institutions to identify and nominate exceptional Arab researchers whose work has demonstrated significant real-world impact.

👉 Submit a Nomination via the VinFuture Portal: