Restricted call: NRF Singapore AI for Science Catalytic call
Closing date

The National Research Foundation (NRF), Singapore has launched an AI for Science (AI4S) Catalytic call (see call details attached), which will provide funding of up to 2 million SGD for 2 to 3-year projects.  The AI4S Funding Scheme seeks to support collaborative teams of scientific domain and AI researchers, to pursue cutting-edge basic science in Singapore which will significantly advance the development of AI methods and tools for scientific research and leverage these AI solutions to make a transformative step-change in scientific discovery.

This is a call evaluated in two stages. However, applicants are required to submit both the Stage 1 (Video & Slides) and Stage 2 (Full Proposal) materials together, during the grant call’s submission window, to facilitate a shorter review cycle. Applications are to be submitted via the Integrated Grant Management System (IGMS) (https://www.researchgrant.gov.sg).

The proposed AI4S Challenge research programme must clearly articulate potential for impact in one or more thematic area(s) of relevance to Singapore’s strategic priorities, including but not limited to:
•    Advanced Manufacturing
•    Aviation and Maritime Technologies
•    Health and Biomedical Sciences
•    Energy and Climate Resilience
•    Digital Trust
•    Education
•    Financial Services

There are a number of unique requirements/features of this call:

  • The project must be co-led by two PIs and at least one will be a PI based at one of the Singapore public Institutes of Higher Learning (including autonomous universities) or an A*STAR Research Institute.
  • Either the Singapore institution or a CREATE (Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise) entity will be the host for financial and administrative purposes: for the University of Cambridge, the relevant CREATE entity is the Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research in Singapore (CARES).
  • Further international collaborators may be included as needed but, where included, the team should reflect a balanced composition of Singapore-based and international PIs.
  • Cambridge Co-Lead/Team PI(s) are expected to have reasonable time commitment (guideline of at least 20% and 10% of  respectively) for conducting research activities within Singapore, and contributing to the aims of the project. This time commitment can be fulfilled by conducting research activity in Singapore, and remotely.
  • PLEASE NOTE (change in previous call terms):  The salary of international PI(s) is not supportable under the AI4S Catalytic Grant. Residency of international PI(s) in Singapore may be budgeted for in the proposal and is supportable by the grant. Eligible items for residency include travel, accommodation, and cost of living allowance (to cover meals, transport, incidentals).
  • Reference to Singapore priorities in AI is strongly recommended.

 (internal deadline: 3rd September 2025) 

 

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