The iF Social Impact Prize aims to publish and support design projects that contribute to solving urgent challenges and help to improve living conditions in the developing world. Solutions should already be established and help to solve well-known issues in any category of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The best projects will share a cash prize of €100 thousand in total. Eligibility extends to non-profit organizations, companies, and foundations (student concepts will not be accepted). Social projects can be submitted until 20 May 2026. iF Social Impact Prize
biotechnology
Marc and Nora Van Montagu Fund — Fellowship Program for Women Researchers in Africa
The Open Doors Fellowship Program (ODFP) targets post-doctoral and mid-career women researchers conducting agricultural research in Africa. Fellows receive financial incentives to enhance their scientific visibility and a research stay in Belgium. Applicants’ research fields must be plant breeding, agrobiotechnology, molecular biology and genetics, microbiology, chemical ecology, plant & soil health, livestock or aquaculture. There are no age limits. The application deadline is 31 January 2026. Open Doors Fellowship Program
International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology — Research Mobility Grants
The ICGEB SMART Fellowship program provides fellowships to scientists in the early stage of their career wishing to spend between 3 and 9 months at a research institution in an ICGEB Member State other than their own. The stipend ranges from US$ 800 to US$1,500 per month. SMART Fellowships are intended to promote collaboration among researchers. Applications are welcome in any area of the Life Sciences. The application deadline is 31 March 2026. SMART Fellowship
Council for the Advancement of Science Writing — Science Reporting Award
The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) awards the Sharon Begley Science Reporting Award. The award recognizes the accomplishments of a mid-career science journalist. The winner receives US$20 thousand to undertake a significant reporting project. Candidates must be experienced journalists who have compiled a substantial body of work in science journalism. The deadline for submissions is 30 April 2026. CASW Science Reporting Award
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation — Start-up Support for Social Enterprises
The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation supports early-stage, high-impact social enterprises and seeks projects and innovations that dramatically improve the lives of people and the world. The foundation is open to U.S.-based and international nonprofits or fiscally sponsored projects, particularly those working in areas such as education, health, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and social justice, and prioritizes organizations led by visionary founders with innovative approaches. Grants typically range from US$25 thousand to US$50 thousand, often as unrestricted support. The Foundation has a rolling online application process throughout the year; there is no deadline. Click here
Roddenberry Foundation — Catalyst Fund
The Catalyst Fund makes small grants for ideas that are early-stage, unconventional, and innovative. It favors bold ideas that depart from the status quo, and that look at a problem and its solution in a new light. There are no restrictions by theme or place (and may include the subjects of the Terra Viva Grants Directory). Proposals can take the form of cutting-edge products, experimental programs, new services, inventions, etc. Eligibility for funding extends to anyone in the world, individuals and teams. Grants range from US$2,500 to US$15 thousand. The Fund accepts applications on a continuous basis with no deadlines. Find out more
European Commission — Zukunftskolleg Konnect Fellowships
The European Commission, through the Euraxess initiative, offers the Zukunftskolleg Konnect Fellowships to support researchers from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. ZUKOnnect aims to extend research networks and environments through on-campus research stays at thirteen departments of the University of Konstanz. Subject areas include ecology, limnology, ecotoxicology, botany, amongst many others. The fellowship offers a stipend of €1,300/month for doctoral students and €2,000/month for postdoctoral researchers, as well as travel expenses and access to resources and events. The deadline for applications is 01 February 2026. Zukunftskolleg Konnect Fellowships
Latin America Regional Fund for Agricultural Technologies — Call for Proposals 2026
The Latin America Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology – Fondo Regional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (FONTAGRO) – calls for innovations for the sustainable increase of agricultural productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of climate change. FONTAGRO member countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Proposals are accepted from multi-country consortia of public and private organizations at national, regional, and international levels. Grants are up to US$200 thousand for projects of up to 36 months. Projects will require counterpart contributions. The closing date for preliminary applications (Spanish) is 30 March 2026. Convocatoria 2026
International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology — Research Fellowships 2026
The Arturo Falaschi Fellowships Program offers long and short-term fellowships to assist in the training of scientists from ICGEB’s member states, including many developing countries. The fellowships are for research at collaborating universities in the UK, Italy, India, and South Africa. The closing date for applications is 31 March 2026. More about the Fellowships
WASCAL – Innovative Ideas Competition for Sustainable Energy
The West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) provides grants of up to €20 thousand for individuals, groups or registered organizations in West Africa. The call aims to foster and support the implementation of innovative projects in renewable energy and green hydrogen. Any individual or group of young people from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo is eligible. The current application deadline is 31 December 2025. Link to more information