BRICS Multilateral Call for Pre-proposals 2021

The BRICS STI Framework Programme aims to support excellent research on priority areas which can best be addressed through a multinational approach. The initiative should facilitate cooperation among the researchers and institutions in the consortia which consist of partners from at least three of the BRICS countries. As part of the initiative the following 12 research funding agencies from the BRICS countries have agreed to jointly establish a new scheme for funding multilateral collaborative research consortia for 2022 – 2024 years.

1. Brazil: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)
2. Russia: Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MSHE)
3. India: Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Department of Science and Technology (DST)
4. China: Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
5. South Africa: Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), National Research Foundation (NRF), South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the Water Research Commission (WRC)

The NRF will support interdisciplinary research projects submitted only within the following 5 BRICS themes

• Transient astronomical events and deep survey science.
• HPC and big data for sustainable development: solving large scale ecological, climate and pollution problems.
• Materials science and nanotechnology for addressing environmental, climate change, agricultural, food and energy issues
• Renewable energy, including smart grid integration
• Ocean and polar science and technology

South African researchers interested in submitting applications within the other five BRICS themes should apply directly to the other South African funders mentioned above. 

Applicants must submit their pre-proposals (mandatory) directly to the BRICS Call Secretariat. The Project Coordinator must submit the pre-proposal Joint Application Form (JAF) to the BRICS Call Secretariat through the online BRICS STI Framework Programme Application Management System (BRICS AMS) at http://ams.rfbr.ru/BRICS. The JAF must be completed in English. Only 1 JAF should be submitted per project consortium.

The NRF Online Submission System (https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/) will be open only to those researchers who have been approved to submit a full proposal.

Key dates:

Pre-proposal deadline to the BRICS Call Secretariat is Thursday, 14 October 2021, 15:00 Moscow Time (UTC+3)

Applicants who will be able to submit full proposals, will be notified when the call opens.  The deadline for DA submission to the NRF is Monday, 28 February 2022, 23:59:59 hours SAST.

• South African researchers must consult their institutions for internal closing dates.
• Applications received after the abovementioned closing dates will not be considered for review and for funding by both the BRICS Call Secretariat and the NRF.

Applicants are encouraged to follow the link: http://brics-sti.org/?p=new/30 for further details on the application process (including the NRF eligibility criteria and funding regulations).

NRF Contacts:
Ms Nombuso Madonda
Knowledge Advancement and Support (KAS)
Tel: +27 12 481 4285         
Email: NP.Madonda@risa.nrf.ac.za