ETH4D Research Challenges & Pilot Grants

ETH4D Research Challenges

The goal of the ETH4D Research Challenges is to enable collaborations on project-​based research between ETH researchers, non-​academic partners and partners from low- and lower-middle ​income countries to develop effective solutions for poverty reduction.

An ETH4D Research Challenge needs to be a clearly defined research question that has the objective of creating positive impact for people living in low- and lower-middle-income countries. It must be a research question related to (a) the research interests of an ETH Zurich research group and (b) the current or future work of a private or public organisation. Only solid research proposals with high scientific quality will be funded.

ETH4D Pilot Grants

ETH4D Pilot Grants provide a smaller amount of funding to explore new collaborations or pilot new applied research projects in low- and lower-middle income countries.

ETH4D Pilot Grants can be used for feasibility and pilot studies that might lead to a proposal for a larger research collaboration.

 

 

The call for applications for Research Challenges and Pilot Grants is currently closed. The next call will open in early 2025, and close on 21 April 2025. 

Main application criteria

Main applicant: ETH professor from any discipline of the ETH domain. 

Grant sum: 20 - 200 kCHF

Matching funds: The applicant and/or project partners must provide 50% of the requested grant sum in the form of in-kind and/or cash contributions.

Project duration: up to 18 months

Eligible partner countries: All countries in the external page OECD DAC-LIST 2024-2025 except for upper-middle income countries. If well justified, projects in upper middle-income countries can be funded in exceptional cases.

Application Documents:

  • Project narrative (Download using narrative template (DOCX, 47 KB))
  • Bibliography
  • Work packages and Milestones shown in a Gantt-Chart.
  • Budget (Download using budget template (XLSX, 16 KB))
  • Letter(s) of support from the non-academic partner(s), clearly stating the interest in the project and the partnership, its relevance to the organisation, and the time-related and financial contributions the partner is willing to make to the project
  • CVs of all involved partners (2 pages max. per partner)

Please read the Download Eligibility Criteria and Application Requirements (PDF, 162 KB) before applying.

All application documents must be written in English and submitted in this online application form

Main applicant: ETH professor from any discipline of the ETH domain.

Grant sum: up to 20 kCHF

Project duration: up to 18 months

Eligible partner countries: All countries in the external page OECD DAC-LIST 2024-2025 except for upper-middle income countries. If well justified, projects in upper middle-income countries can be funded in exceptional cases.

Application Documents:

  • Project narrative (Download using narrative template (DOCX, 47 KB))
  • Bibliography
  • Work packages and Milestones shown in a Gantt-Chart
  • Budget (Download using budget template (XLSX, 14 KB))
  • Letter(s) of support from the non-academic partner(s), clearly stating the interest in the project and the partnership, its relevance to the organisation, and the time-related and financial contributions the partner is willing to make to the project
  • CVs of all involved partners (2 pages max. per partner)

Please read the Download Eligibility Criteria and Application Requirements (PDF, 162 KB) before applying.

All application documents must be written in English and submitted in this online application form

Research Challenge & Pilot Project Grantees

ETH4D currently supports several ongoing Research Challenge & Pilot projects

Questions?

Check out our FAQ page here

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ETH4D Research Challenges

Contact

Francis Baranyk
Programme Manager, Grants and Exchanges
  • +41 44 632 97 96
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