Funding South Asia Related Research and Education

SASNET Planning grants

Swedish funding agencies

Nordic and European funding agencies

Other funding agencies

Links to Swedish and EU funding agencies         service by the International Office, Lund University (in Swedish only)

Work permit while studying in Sweden

SASNET has provided support to Swedish researchers and teachers to plan networks for developing research or education programmes, and for networking in such programmes, in collaboration with South Asian colleagues. Three kinds of grants have been available:

Networking grants for planning and continued activities in research and education programmes/projects, in collaboration between Swedish and South Asian partners;

Guest Lecture grants, making it possible to invite a guest lecturer from South Asia to lecture at two or more different Swedish universities; and

Interdisciplinary Workshop Grants, making it possible to organise a South Asia related interdisciplinary research workshop in Sweden or in South Asia.

Information on the applications for which grants have been given 2001–2009.

Please note, no SASNET grants will be distributed in 2010!

The Crafoord Foundation

Forskningsrådet för arbetsliv och socialvetenskap, FAS
The Swedish council for working life and social research. The Council was established in 2001 through a merger of the Swedish Council for Social Research and the Swedish Council for Work Life Research. The Council supports research by giving grants for projects. The council also creates research positions at Swedish universities and provides grants for visiting researchers as well as scholarships for post-doc studies abroad, during a period of 6–24 months. Applications are made in two steps. A short application should be given before 1 February, and if that one is approved a more thorough application should be given before 1 June.
For smaller amounts, maximum 30 000 SEK, applications can be made anytime during the year (but 8 weeks in advance of the researcher’s departure). FAS has drafted a research strategy for the period 2005 to 2008, ”Researching people’s work and living conditions”. More information (only in Swedish).

Formas, the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning
A governmental research-funding agency, established in 2001, related to the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications and the Ministry of Education and Science. Formas supports basic research and applied research in the fields of the environment, agricultural sciences, building sciences and urban development. Formas promotes ecologically sustainable growth and development in society, multi- and interdisciplinary research and international research cooperation and experience interchange.
Every year, Formas announces grants for research and development projects within all the fields mentioned above. More information.
 
Besides, a number of regular grants that may be applied for at any time, Urgent grants, Travel grants, and Grants for conferences, symposia and workshops (more information). Formas also provides funding for specific programmes, such as:

A Joint Formas – Sida/SAREC funded program for research on sustainable development in developing countries was announced in 2007. The program aims to promote participation of scientists from Sweden in sustainability research in developing countries, with an overall intention to contribute to global sustainable development in the spirit of the UN Conference in Johannesburg 2002. Decisions were taken on 14 June 2007.
More information.
Information about the South Asia related projects awarded grants.

An Environmental technology program, jointly funded by Research Council Formas and VINNOVA. In early 2007, the two institutions were mandated by the Swedish Government to draw up a common research strategy for environmental technology. The objective of the research strategy is to make a concerted effort concerning research and development of environmental technology. The strategy intends to promote the development of new knowledge and to strengthen competence in the field of environmental technology, and to promote Swedish competitiveness in the global market for environmental technology. Formas is now advertising a call for applications for research grants in the field of environmental technology. The total funds available for the period 2008-2010 amount to SEK 15 million. Last day of application was Monday 18 February 2008. More information.

Formas is also partly responsible for the Swedish contacts with the EU programmes under the 5th Framework Programme on Environment and Quality of Life.

Forskraftstiftelsen Theodor Adelswärds Minne
FSTAM, offers funding for students dealing with international organisations and co-operation.

International Foundation for Science
IFS is a NGO (non-governmental organisation) founded in 1972, with its secretariat located in Stockholm. Funding comes from governmental and non-governmental sources, as well as national and international organisations. The annual budget is approximately USD 5 million. IFS has 135 Affiliated Organisations in 86 countries, of which three-quarters are in developing countries and one-quarter in industrial countries. IFS offers grants through a programme open for project proposals from developing country scientists conducting research on the sustainable management of biological resources. This includes topics in both natural and applied sciences such as agriculture, soil science, forestry, biodiversity, environmental chemistry, natural products, food science, animal husbandry, veterinary medicine, aquaculture, marine resources... as well as social or economic aspects of the sustainable management of natural resources, or the production and transfer of knowledge for sustainable development. Grants are normally awarded to individual researchers, for a specific research project lasting 1-3 years. Application deadlines are 30 June and 31 December every year. More information on Eligibility Criteria.

Knut och Alice Wallenbergs stiftelse
One of the major research funders in Sweden and supports research and educational projects at the national universities, colleges and comparable research institutes. During 2004 a total of SEK 786 million were awarded to around hundred different projects. Most of the grants were donations for expensive scientific equipment within the natural sciences, technological and biomedical basic research.

Linnaeus-Palme International Exchange Programme
An exchange programme for teachers and students at undergraduate and master's level in higher education, which aims at strengthening co-operation between universities in Sweden and developing countries. The Programme was established in May 2000 and is financed by Sida, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and administered by the International Programme Office for Education and Training (Internationella programkontoret). Last date for applications to the programme for 2010/11 was 1 December 2009.

Minor Field Studies (MFS)
Grants for field studies, aimed at giving Swedish students the opportunity to procure knowledge on developing countries and development issues. This programme also aims to give students, lecturers and institutions at universities and colleges the opportunity to establish contact with institutions and organisations in developing countries. financed by Sida, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and administered by the International Programme Office for Education and Training (Internationella programkontoret). Decisions for 2010 were taken in January 2010. Grants were given to 695 applications at 107 departments/international offices at 34 universities. See the list.
 
A large number of Swedish undergraduate students have got MFS grants to do thesis work in developing countries. A searchable database where all MFS theses since 2003 are presented in full-text is available. Go to the database.
See also specific lists of South Asia related MFS projects during the period 2003-07: – Afghanistan (1 project); – Bangladesh (17 projects); – India (120 projects); – Nepal (7 projects); – Pakistan (3 projects); – Sri Lanka (29 projects). No projects were carried out in Bhutan and the Maldives.

MISTRA (Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research)
MISTRA supports strategic environmental research with a long-term perspective, aiming to solve major environmental problems. The main part of Mistra's funding is focused on broad-based interdisciplinary programmes. An endowment of more than SEK 3.3 billion, as of Jan. 1, 2004, makes it possible to allocate an annual sum of some SEK 250 million to funding of research. This makes Mistra the largest source of funding for environmental research in Sweden. Some of the programmes given MISTRA grants are connected to research on South Asian isssues, e g:

The Greenchem programme (Speciality Chemicals from Renewable Resources), involving researchers from The Department of Biotechnology, The Division for Environmental and Energy Systems Studies, and The Research Policy Institute at Lund University; and parts of the Water management research programme, VASTRA, involving researchers from the Department of Water and Environmental Studies, Linköping University.

The Olof Palme Memorial Fund for International Understanding and Common Security
Offers scholarships and grants to young people for international exchange, and for studies of peace and disarmament.

Sida, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
Sida offers several types of grants, exchange programmes and scholarships, which can be related to South Asian studies, through its Department for Research Cooperation (SAREC). Go to the information page regarding Support to Researchers! 
SAREC also supports research organisations, universities and research institutes in partner countries as well as regional research networks and international research programmes, besides providing support for development research in Sweden.
Some of the programmes:

Sida's Developing Country Research Council (u-landsforskningsrådet) supports Swedish developing country research. • Grants to support Swedish development research are provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, through its Developing Country Research Council (u-landsforskningsrådet). These so-called uforsk grants belong to the most important ways of financing Swedish research projects related to developing countries, including South Asia. The aim is to establish and maintain a knowledge base of relevance to aid and development issues, plus capacity for developing country research in Sweden. Deadline for applications for the period 2010–2012 was Thursday 2 April 2009 (except in the case of applications for networks on development issues, where the deadline was 24 August 2009).
More information.

Researchers working at universities/colleges or other research institutions in Sweden may apply for grants. Swedish citizens working at the Nordic Institute for Asian Studies (NIAS) in Copenhagen may also apply.
 
Among the new stipulations set up by Sida for the period 2010–12 are requirements that the proposed research projects should have a clear relevance for Sweden’s policy for global development (PGD, decided upon by the Swedish government in 2008, more information); and have a land focus in accordance with the Swedish government’s priorities – which in the South Asia case means primarily Bangladesh and Afghanistan and in a selective mode also India.
 
In accordance with the PGD, Sida has been instructed to make priority to projects dealing with poverty reduction. Focus has been put on three preferential thematic areas, namely: – Democracy and human rights; – Gender equality and women’s role in development; and – Environment and climate change.
 
As an additional preferential focus area in the 2009 applications, the Swedish government has decided to contribute to set up a long-term action plan for the global fight against contagious diseases, and support research within this field with specific funds.
 
Further, Sida wants to encourage increased collaboration between researchers at different Swedish universities, opening up the possibility for groups of researchers to apply for grants up to SEK 3 M over a three-years period. The maximum amount for planning grants has been increased to SEK 100 000.
 
Finally, the term ”research networks” that groups of researchers can apply for will be changed into ”networks on development issues”, where the focus is more oriented towards meetings and an exchange of knowledge between researchers and practitioners/decision makers. Still, the main applicant should be connected to a Swedish university. The maximum annual amount to apply for regarding these networks will be SEK 500 000.
More information on the changes in the Uforsk programme (as a pdf-file, in Swedish only).

Joint Formas – Sida/SAREC funded program for research on sustainable development in developing countries. The research council Formas and Sida/SAREC together has funded a two-year program with the aim to promote participation of scientists from Sweden in sustainability research in developing countries. The overall intention is to contribute to global sustainable development in the spirit of the UN Conference in Johannesburg 2002. The program started on 1 July 2007 and have the volume 10 million SEK per year, with Formas and Sida/SAREC contributing equal shares. The main applicant should have a PhD and should be employed at a Swedish university or research institute. The project should have a co-applicant (also PhD), employed by the host organisation, who will actively participate in the research. More information.

Thematic research. SAREC supports Swedish research on vital Global issues. They include ”Financial Systems in the Third World”, Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law”, Education for Poverty Alleviation”, ”Research on IT in developing countries”, ”Biological multitude focused on its importance for poor people’s survival”, and ”Climate Change”.
Support to HIV/AIDS research. Since 1989, Sida has supported research on HIV/AIDS and related sexually transmittable diseases relevant for the situation in developing countries. Sweden and Sida are intensifying the fight against the pandemic by increasing the support and by maintaining HIV/AIDS as a strategic issue in all development cooperation. In 2006, three South Asia related projects were among the 22 being funded. More information.

The Indo-Swedish Facility for Environmental Initiatives and Innovations (”the Facility”). Was set up by Sida in December 2006, with an aim to encourage knowledge sharing and co-operation on development of new technical solutions between India and Sweden, and to evolve best practices in the environmental field. The Facility offers funds to apply for, and is open to Swedish and Indian public institutions, the private sector, civil society and research and academic institutions. On the Swedish side it is administered by an officer at the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi. From 2007 the Facility is fully operational. More information, including guidelines and full background material.

Swedish School of Advanced Asia-Pacific Studies (SSAAPS)
Every year SSAAPS offers travel grants and funding for workshops and International guest researchers coming to Swedish universities. NOTE: SSAAPS grants are given only for research connected to East and South East Asia, not for South Asia related research!

STINT (Stiftelsen för internationalisering av högre utbildning och forskning)
The Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education – supports the internationalisation of Swedish research and higher education, and encourages participation in its programmes. They offer:

– Institutional Grants for Younger Researchers. A new programme introduced in 2008, with a purpose to expand the opportunities for especially promising young researchers to collaborate with prominent foreign research groups. The programme is aimed at young researchers who early on in their career wish to build up international cooperation with foreign colleagues in a similar position. The intention with this programme is to help to create more attractive Swedish research environments and allow for younger researchers to develop lasting international networks. The main applicant must be a researcher who is currently active at a Swedish university or institution of higher education and who has completed their PhD not more than seven years before the closing date for applications. Applicants are eligible for collaboration with researchers in any country and any area of research. Each application may cover one Swedish and one or two foreign partners, one of which must be the Main foreign partner. Grants can range up to SEK 400 000 per year for up to three years. Applications should cover the whole of the project period. The STINT grant should be used for the exchange between the cooperating partners. Money granted may only be used to cover the costs of the foreign partners while staying at the Swedish institution and, conversely, those of the Swedish partner while staying at the foreign institution. The costs of seminars, workshps, courses and other activities in the cooperation project may be met out of the STINT grant. STINT will not support applications where the main aim is to support the foreign partner.
Deadline for applications for 2010 is Friday 16 October 2009. Decisions will be given by the STINT board in the beginning of 2010. More information.

– Institutional Grants for long-term collaboration between Swedish and foreign research groups. This programme was initiated in 1996. So far the STINT Foundation has funded 250 IGP projects, close to one hundred are still active. The IGP includes all areas of higher education and research. The programme is open for cooperation with all countries. Gives opportunities for broad and long-term co-operation between Swedish and foreign institutions or academic groups in one or several countries. The scope of co-operation should, as far as possible, include research as well as higher education. Deadline for applications starting the academic year 2010/2011 is 15 December 2009. Decisions will be taken in April 2010. More information.
On 12 April 2007, STINT decided to award Institutional Grants to 17 new projects, out of which two involves collaboration with South Asian research groups. Dr. Devdatt Dubhashi at the Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, was awarded SEK 800 000 to establish research collaboration with Prof. Krithi Ramamritham at the Dept. of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mumbai; and Dr. Gunilla Krantz, Dept. of Social Medicine, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, was awarded SEK 600 000 to establish research collaboration with Dr. Tazeen Saeed Ali, School of Nursing, Aga Khan University, Pakistan. See the full list of STINT Institutional Grants 2007 (as a pdf-file)

– STINT Networking Grants for the Humanities and Social Sciences. Scholarships to encourage Swedish researchers in the humanities and social sciences to develop their international contacts. The grants are to be used for meetings with colleagues from other countries with the aim of developing joint research projects with an international profile, summer schools or courses for researchers, again with an international profile. A condition of the grant is that several researchers from the different groups are involved and that the planning is clearly focused. Applications for the networking grants can be made at any point in the year. The maximum amount granted is SEK 100 000 and covers a two-year period at most. More information.

– Scholarships for Swedish doctoral candidates. Scholarships for doctoral studies at a foreign academic institution in the humanities and social sciences, including theology, religion and law. The scholarships provide opportunities for Swedish doctoral candidates to spend one term (a minimum of four months) at a foreign academic institution. To ensure that the students benefit from the visits, it is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that solid contacts are made with the foreign host institution. STINT encourages the involvement of the student’s Swedish department. STINT may include a travel grant for supervisors to visit the host department during the doctoral student’s stay. Applications for scholarships for the academic year 2010/2011 shall be submitted by 15 December 2009. More information.

– Short term stipends. Opportunities for faculty at Swedish universities to spend a maximum of three months at a foreign academic institution. The programme covers all areas of research and higher education. Doctoral candidates are not eligible to apply. The programme also provides opportunities to invite foreign faculty as visiting researchers or academic teachers at Swedish universities. Foreign faculty at Swedish institutions is an effective way to widen international networks. The time spent abroad (or engaging foreign faculty in Sweden) can be used for teaching as well as research or a combination of both. Short Term Stipends can not be used to sustain ongoing cooperation. Applications can be submitted at any time. They should reach the STINT Foundation no later than eight weeks before the start of the planned period abroad. More information.

– STINT Scholarship for Academic Excellence. New scholarship programme for foreign students at international master programmes in Sweden, inviting a number of foreign universities to nominate candidates to the programme. Currently no universities in South Asia are involved. More information.

Swedish Institute (Svenska institutet)
The SI offers grants for post-graduate studies and research in Sweden and abroad, as well as for International development cooperation in the cultural and public spheres (including expert exhanges with developing countries).

The Guest Scholarship Program is open for PhD students, post-doc researchers as well as master's level students from South Asia. On PhD and post-doctoral level the scholarship is open for all subjects. On master's level the eligible programs are listed on SI’s web page. The scholarship amounts to SEK 8 000 per month for students/PhD researchers and SEK 12 000 per month for post-doc researchers (holders of a PhD degree). The number of scholarships are however extremely limited, so the chances of receiving a scholarship from the Swedish Institute are rather small. More information.

The Travel Grants for Expert exhanges with developing countries is intended to promote both openness and democratic, economic and social advancement in developing countries through the transfer of knowledge and experience in the fields of democracy and human rights, gender equality and the role of women in development. Exchanges of experts are short projects of an opinion-making and policy-oriented nature, such as seminars, workshops, leader training, visit programs for senior decision-makers, experts, opinion-makers and other agents of change, and other activities leading to achievement of the program goals. SI will give precedence to projects with a communicative dimension that possess the potential for wider dissemination and which can help shape opinion and encourage dialogue on the issues raised.
Funding may not be sought for research projects, study trips, school exchanges, commercial contact, volunteer activities, exchanges for children or young people, reconnaissance trips or attendance at conferences/courses without central/national participation. Nor may funding be sought for humanitarian efforts.
The target group for exchanges of experts comprises decision-makers, experts, opinion-makers and other agents of change in the fields of democracy and human rights, gender equality and the role of women in development. Countries covered by the SI expert exchange programme are listed by the OECD in its DAC list of Official Development Assistance countries. In South Asia, this means the program prioritises applications regarding Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
More information.

Signing of the agreement in 2004. The chairman of Pakistan's Higher Education Commission, Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman (central position), along with Mr. Erland Ringborg, General Director of the Swedish Institute and Mr. Shahid Kamal, Ambassador of Pakistan to Sweden.

The Pakistan Overseas Scholarship Scheme is also administered by the Swedish Institute. It was created after a formal agreement on collaboration in research and research training between Pakistan and Sweden, that was signed on 1 November 2004. The programme is exclusively open to Pakistani nationals aiming to pursue Master and PhD studies in Sweden. Applications for the Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Masters and PhD for Pakistani nationals are made directly to the Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC). The aim of the program is to strengthen Pakistan’s national research capacity through educational cooperation between Pakistan and Sweden. More information.
Since 2008 no new grants have been available from the Pakistan Overseas Scholarship Scheme, but a large number of scholarship holders are carrying out their training at different Swedish universities.
 
Finally, the Swedish Institute has administered a bilateral scholarship programme with India. Every year, the Indian government through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) used to offer 1–2 Swedish students the possibility to study dance at at an Indian academic institution. The scholarships covered tuition fees, and board and lodging costs, and were primarily given to university students below 35 years of age that wished to pursue 1–2 years of training in dance or music in India. The programme has however been cancelled.
More information.

Swedish Institute of International Affairs (Utrikespolitiska institutet)
Offers grants for research on International Studies with special relevance for security and foreign policy.

Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet)
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Swedish Research Council offers research grants to all the disciplines. In 2001 it replaced the separate research councils for science; medicine; etc, that existed previously. The total budget is 2 500 Million SEK a year. The Swedish Research Council provides support for basic research of the highest scientific quality in all fields of science. The goal, as formulated by the Swedish Government, is to establish Sweden as a leading research nation. There are three scientific councils within the Swedish Research Council: one for Humanities and the Social Sciences, one for Medicine and one for the Natural and Engineering Sciences. It also includes a Committee for Educational Science and a Committee for Research Infrastructures. The Swedish Research Council is one of the most important funders of Swedish South Asia related research.
 

South Asia related projects given Swedish Research Council grants – Project grants, November 2002 (for 2003-05) – Project grants, November 2003 (for 2004-06) – Project grants, November 2004 (for 2005-07) – Project grants, November 2005 (for 2006-08) – Project grants, October 2006 (for 2007-09) – Project grants, October 2007 (for 2008-10) – Project grants, November 2008 (for 2009-11) – Project grants, October 2009 (for 2010-12)

The Swedish Research Council is the single largest provider of public funds for Swedish basic research. Grants are allocated through a peer review process – a system to assess quality and establish priorities that involves many groups of leading researchers who assess the grant applications of their peers. The main categories of research grants are: • Project grant; • Staffing grants (mainly for research consultants and research assistants); • Stipends (postgraduate and European University Institute doctoral candidates); • Major/expensive equipment grants; • Conference and travel grants; and • Publication grants. From 2005 the Swedish Research Council has extended the grants programme for International post-docs to cover all sciences, including humanities, social sciences and educational science that previously were taken care of by STINT (see above). Decisions regarding the period 2010-12 will be taken in mid-October 2009.
Full information on grants currently announced, requirements, instructions etc.

Swedish Research Links
Introduced by Sida and the Swedish Research Council in 2002, Swedish Research Links aim to stimulate cooperation between researchers in Sweden and those in developing countries. It provides support both in the form of International Collaborative Research Grants (for three years), and for one-year International Planning Grants.

South Asia related projects given Swedish Research links grants – In 2002 (for 2003-05) – In 2003 (for 2004-06) – In 2004 (for 2005-07) – In 2005 (for 2006-08) – In 2006 (for 2007-09) – In 2007 (for 2008-10) – In 2008 (for 2009-11) – In 2009 (for 2010-12)

The Programme seeks to foster research ties between researchers in Sweden, on the one hand, and researchers in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA), South Africa, Botswana and Namibia on the other. The key condition for the Swedish Research Links Programme is that researchers from the countries involved must submit joint applications on projects of mutual interest.
 
The Swedish Research Links Programme is funded by Sida but administered by the Swedish Research Council, in collaboration with FAS, Formas, Vinnova and the Swedish Institute in Alexandria.
 
The Swedish Research Links programme for the period 2010–12 have been announced. Deadline for applications was 6 May 2009. Decisions are taken 30 november. More information.

Stiftelsen Wenner-Grenska Samfundet
Foundation established in 1936, promoting research within social science, economics, natural science, and medicine. The board has decided that the foundation presently should stick to providing grants to research coordinators at Swedish departments, for them to invite foreign post-docs to Sweden as guest researchers and lecturers. This should be within one of the three preferential research fields, namely:

• Life science (especially studies on a molecular level)
• Social science (especially longitudinal and epidemiological studies)
• International Economics (especially macro-economic analysis)

Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems, VINNOVA
Government agency under the Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communication with a mission is to promote sustainable growth by financing RTD and developing effective innovation systems in the fields of:

• Environment
• Medicine and Health
• Natural Sciences and Technology
• Society and Culture

EU’s Asia-Link programme
The Asia-Link Programme is an initiative by the European Commission to promote regional and multilateral networking between higher education institutions in Europe and developing countries in Asia. The programme aims to promote the creation of new partnerships and new sustainable links between European and Asian higher education institutions, and to reinforce existing partnerships. Project partnerships should involve at least two European partners (from different countries) and at least two Asian partners. The Commission grant can cover 75% of the total eligible costs of the project, up to a ceiling of EUR 750 000. The Commission may however cover up to 90% of the total eligible costs for projects in which the Asian partners come only from least developed countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, East Timor, Laos, Maldives, Nepal).
Since 2002, the Programme has funded 155 partnerships that together involve over 700 higher education institutions from Asia and Europe. See the list of all 155 projects.
SASNET has made a separate list of the five projects (out of 30 funded projecs) that included South Asian partners and were approved in the year 2004. South Asia related projects funded in 2004.

• Life sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health
• Information society technologies
• Nanotechnologies and nano-sciences, knowledge-based functional materials, new production processes and devices
• Aeronautics and space
• Food quality and safety
• Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems
• Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society

The EU's Seventh framework programme for research and technological development (2007-2013) is designed as a key contribution to the EU's strategy for growth and jobs. The European Commission finally presented its official proposal for the FP7 on 6 April 2005. The FP7 will be organised into four specific programmes, corresponding to four major objectives of European research policy:

1. Co-operation (€32.3 bn): refers to gaining leadership in key scientific and technology areas by supporting co-operation between universities, industry, research centres and public authorities across the EU and with the rest of the world. Trans-national cooperation will remain the main instrument for carrying out research activities. This programme will consist of ten different thematic research areas:

• Information and Communication technologies (€9.1 bn)
• Health (€6 bn)
• Transport (including Aeronautics) (€4.1 bn)
• Nanoproduction (€3.5 bn)
• Energy (€2.3 bn)
• Food, agriculture and biotechnology (€1.9 bn)
• Environment (including climate change) (€1.8 bn)
• Security (NEW! compared to FP6) (€1.4 bn)
• Space (€1.3 bn)
• Socio-economic sciences and the humanities (€0.6 bn)

The programme also allows for joint, cross-thematic approaches to research subjects of common interest.
 
2. Ideas (€7.5 bn): refers to the establishment of an autonomous European Research Council (ERC ), which will support and stimulate basic research carried out by individual teams competing at European level. The ERC has already been established and it has published its draft work programme for 2007.
 
3. People (€4.7 bn): refers to the so called 'Marie Curie' actions, which strengthen training, the career prospects and mobility of European researchers. Special focus will be given to skills and career development, increasing mobility between university and industry, and strengthening links with national systems.
 
4. Capacities (€4.2 bn): refers to developing and fully exploiting the EU’s research capacities through large-scale research infrastructure, regional cooperation and innovating SMEs as well as increased international co-operation and bringing science and society closer together.

Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window (EMECW)
Since 2004, the European Commission (EC) has run the successful Erasmus Mundus Programme, a flagship programme aimed at promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education system and third country cooperation and partnerships (more information about the programme). In addition to this, the EC in 2007 introduced an additional mobility scheme titled Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window (EMECW), designed to foster co-operation between higher education institutions and the exchange of students, researchers and academic staff from EU Member States and targeted so-called Third-countries. It complements current and previous schemes such as Tempus, ALFA, AsiaLink, Alban, Edulink, Erasmus, and the general Erasmus Mundus, providing funds for the organisation and implementation of student – from undergraduate to post-doctorate level – and academic staff mobility flows.

In 2008, the scholarship expanded with new lots focusing on South Asia. The European Commission decided to implement a separate lot (nr 15) to promote academic collaboration between EU and India. The responsibility for this lot was given to a consorium of 20 partner universities in Europe and India, coordinated by Lund University, with flow of 320 fully funded students/researchers/academic staff. The programme has been launched during 2009. See the consortium web page.

Three other lots focusing on South Asia were launched in 2008. One of them has been coordinated by Mälardalen University in Västerås. More information about this so-called EURECA project.

In June 2009, the European Commission decided about EMECW projects for the year 2009-10. The Lund University coordinated project (see above) was again selected, but now as one of four projects within the India Lot No. 13, whereas two other lots were selected for other countries in South Asia. Full information about the six India/South Asia related EMECW projects 2009-10, and the three remaining 2008-9 projects that are still working.

NIAS, Nordic Institute for Asian Studies
Copenhagen. Through the so called NIAS SUPRA programme (Support Programme for Asian Studies) NIAS offers the following types of scholarships: Nordic Contact Scholarships; Öresund Scholarships; Nordic Guest Fellowships; Nordic Travel Grants; and Guest Fellowships for Scholars from Asia. Applications for all scholarships are assessed three times per year. More information on NIAS’ scholarships

The Nordic Academy for Advanced Study

Asian Development Bank (ADB)
in Manilla, the Philippines, offers an Internship and Research Fellowship Program. This is a research-project-oriented learning program with topics varying widely from year to year depending on ADB’s business needs. Past internship projects ranged from energy conservation in the People’s Republic of China and capacity development in South Asia to small and medium enterprise development in Azerbaijan. The Program gives students and academic faculty members the opportunity to work in an ADB project, contributing to its success and sharing knowledge with its officers. The purposes of ADB's Internship and Research Fellowship Programs are to offer the opportunity to work in a major international development organization with a multicultural environment; to gain a deeper understanding of development finance and the impact of ADB; to expand knowledge by learning from experienced professionals and apply it to educational and practical experience; and to present research outputs in a public forum at ADB. More information about ADB’s Internship and Research Fellowship Program.
 
Internship students must be enrolled in a Masteral- or Ph.D. level program at a registered academic institution (see a list of these) in an ADB membership country both prior to and after the internship. Regarding the research fellowships, applicants must be active staff or researchers at one of these registered academic institutions. In both cases they must focus their studies and research in a field directly related to ADB's diverse work (e.g., social infrastructure, agriculture and natural resources, energy, finance, industry, transport, communications, and economics). South Asia related internship project topics for 2007 included ”Among Industrial Performance and Infrastructure Constraints”, examining four to five key industries in India, to discover how poor infrastructure affects their standing, if at all, in the context of global competition. Another project deals with ”Decentralized Management of Public Sector Service Providers with Reference to Irrigation and Water Resources”, a study of decentralization of irrigation and water providers in the public sector, including recommendations for advancements that would have application in Pakistan, Central Asia and other ADB developing member countries.
More information about the coming 2009 project items.

Social Science Research Council (SSRC), United States
The SSRC promotes international scholarly collaboration on South Asian regional studies.

South Asia Regional Fellowship Programme
The Centre for Studies in Social Sciences (CSSSC) in Kolkata, India acts as a partner organisation for SSRC's South Asia Regional Fellowship Program. This is a multi year fellowship opportunity for college and university teachers based in South Asia. Every year, a theme of regional significance is chosen and fellowships are awarded through a competitive process. Applicant eligibility is restricted to those permanently residing and teaching in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. There are no citizenship restrictions. Eligible applicants must hold a Ph.D. in the social sciences, humanities, or related fields. As many as 20 fellowships may be awarded to college teachers and university faculty teaching in the social sciences and humanities across South Asia annually. Up to fifteen fellowships are reserved for junior scholars (less than Professor rank), and no more than five for senior scholars (Professor rank and above). The primary intent of the fellowship is to write up completed research. The program is supported by a grant from Ford Foundation.

The Ford Foundation's International Fellowships Program (IFP)
The IFP funds graduate studies for students from certain countries in the Third World. In South Asia this applies only to India.

UNDP's (United Nations Development Programme) Regional Centre in Colombo (RCC)
The RCC offers Human Development Academic Fellowships for for citizens of the Asia-Pacific countries. The aim of the fellowships is to analyse issues from the human development perspective, with a focus on fostering creative thinking and innovative research on the subject among young people. The research must focus on a well-defined aspect of human development, could be theoretical, applied, policy-oriented or a combination and must amount to a substantive contribution to human development thinking relevant for the region. The Fellowship is intended for young PhD students who are at an advanced dissertation stage working on a topic related to human development – theoretical, applied or policy oriented. More information about the UNDP Academic Fellowships for Asia and Pacific.