Call For Proposals: 2013/2014 Financial Year

Science, Technology and Innovation Grant

Call For Proposals: 2013/2014 Financial Year

Competitive Grants for Postgraduate, Innovations and Women Scientists Programmes

Background

Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) is recognized as an essential ingredient for industrialization and sustainable development of a nation.

The Kenya Vision 2030 and the manifesto of the Jubilee government envisages a knowledge based economy which has the capacity to compete in the global market.

This is highly dependent on the ability to innovate, adopt and apply the relevant technologies to industries and productive sectors.

To achieve this, ST&I with research and innovation will play a pivotal role.

The generation, dissemination and application of new knowledge has become a major engine of economic growth.

Some of the recent legal reforms in the ST&I sector to facilitate this has led into enactment and gazettement of ST&I Act, 2013 to create a conducive policy framework.

The ST&I Act transformed National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) into National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) with expanded mandate to effectively advice, promote, coordinate, regulate and assure quality in the Science, Technology and Innovation sector.

In execution of this mandate, NACOSTI on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has been administering the Kenya Government ST&I Grant since its inception in 2008/2009 financial year.

The purpose of this Grant is to support Scientific Research and Innovations in ST&I priority areas for national development. The ST&I grant has so far supported a total of 975 research and innovation projects throughout the country in both public and private institutions.

In order to have maximum impact, the grant has been structured to support specific targeted categories in line with the ST&I sector flagship projects.

Some of the key strategic funding programmes the Commission has put in place are:-

Support of Postgraduate (PhD & MSc/MA), Innovations and Women Scientists.

The Commission is pleased to invite eligible applicants for the 2013/2014 financial year to submit their proposals for consideration under the following competitive ST&I grants.

1) The 5th Call for MSc/MA and Phd Research Proposals

These research programmes are among the key priority areas under ST&I grant that will significantly contribute in building capacity for adequate trained human resource required to drive the agenda of Kenya Vision 2030.

Since the inception of the grant in 2009/2010, NACOSTI has funded 241 PhD and 194 MSc/MA research projects.

It is envisaged that continued support of these programmes will go a long way in generating a critical mass of technical and skilled manpower, new knowledge and innovations that will culminate into effective interventions for socio-economic development.

Eligibility, budget limit and project duration

This grant is intended to support only the research component of the PhD and MSc/MA degree programmes in all disciplines. Proposals to be submitted for consideration must have been defended and approved by the respective Universities.

The successful PhD proposals will be funded up to a maximum of Kenya shillings one million two hundred thousand (Ksh 1,200,000) for a period not exceeding three (3) years to be disbursed in three installments, maximum of Ksh 400,000 per year.

The successful MSc/MA proposals will be funded up to a maximum of two hundred thousand (Ksh 200,000) for a period not exceeding one (1) year. Kenyans registered in foreign Universities may apply but will be required to get affiliation in a local institution and must conduct their research in Kenya.

Deliberate efforts are needed to boost certain disciplines to ensure adequate supply of professionals in those fields. The Commission encourages applicants in the areas such as ICT, engineering, biotechnology, nuclear physics, oncology, nanotechnology and space sciences to apply.

2) The 5th Call for Innovations

The Commission recognizes the critical role played by innovations in the country’s economic growth. The Kenyan government, as expounded in the Jubilee manifesto, is putting every effort towards achieving a rapid economic growth, reduce poverty and meet the requirements of the growing population.

Support of innovations is one of the government’s priority, geared towards job creation and improving the quality of life for its citizens.

This programme is therefore aimed at harnessing the potential of innovations in the country. So far, a total of 78 innovation projects have been funded, some of which have been completed and resulted in business start-ups for the innovators.

In this Call, the Commission is inviting Kenyans with novel ideas and new inventions to nurture this creativity. This is an opportunity for Kenyans and particularly the youths to participate in solving societal challenges and creating wealth.

The ideas/inventions to be submitted should have a potential to lead into new or improved products, services and new technologies acceptable in the markets to contribute to improving the quality of life.

NACOSTI recognizes that intellectual property rights (IPR) are valuable entrepreneurial products that should be well protected and their economic potential fully utilized.

Applicants are highly encouraged to protect their ideas through the national offices in charge of IPRs in the country these include: Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), Copyright board and Plant breeders rights office. Non-disclosure forms will be signed by the external reviewers to enhance confidentiality.

Budget limit and project duration

The successful innovation projects will be supported up to a maximum funding level of Kenya Shillings one million (Ksh 1,000,000).

The project period should not exceed one (1) year.

3) The 5th Call for Women Scientists

The Commission is committed to promoting the empowerment, equal and full participation of women in ST&I activities.

In efforts of mainstreaming gender in ST&I policies and programmes in Kenya, NACOSTI created this product for Kenyan women scientists which to date has funded 90 multi-disciplinary research projects.

Applications are invited for funding considerations from MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL and MULTIDISCIPLINARY research teams from both public and private institutions.

Each application must be submitted by a team of researchers from at least three (3) institutions.

The proposed projects to be submitted should clearly demonstrate strategies of how to address the varied challenges facing our country.

For the project to be supported, it must be in line with the ST&I sector flagship projects identified in Kenya Vision 2030, Millennium Development Goals and in conformity with the new Constitution. The proposed research work must be conducted in Kenya.

Budget and project duration

Successful proposals will be funded up to a maximum of Kenya shillings three million (Kshs. 3,000,000) for a period of two (2) years.

4) Submission Deadline

Applications for ALL programmes POSTGRADUATE, INNOVATION AND WOMEN SCIENTISTS should be submitted not later than Friday, 4th October 2013.

Incomplete applications and/or those that reach after the deadline will NOT be considered.

Only the successful applicants will be contacted.

The list of the successful applicants will be uploaded on our Website to notify the public.

All applications to be submitted online at http://oris.ncsti.go.ke using the prescribed application forms.

Applicants must register first with the on-lines ystem to access the application form and apply.

Copy of duly completed applications also to be sent to the following email addresses:-

Postgraduate applicants:- postgraduate@ncst.go.ke

Innovators:- innovation@ncst.go.ke

Women scientists:- womensti@ncst.go.ke

Note:

Applicants who have been funded under ST&I grant with on-going projects are not eligible for these Calls.

Any proposal that is being funded by other donors should not be submitted for these Calls. Any such proposal will be disqualified.

Only original work should be submitted, plagiarism is highly discouraged and will be punishable.

Successful applicants with research proposals using human participants and/or animals or genetically modified organisms will receive their funding only after approval by an accredited Institutions.

Female innovators and those with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply

Secretary/CEO,
National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI),
P.O. Box 30623-00100,
Nairobi

Tel: 020-2242175/020-310571

Fax: 020-2213215


National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation


Ministry of Education, Science and Technology