Understanding grant types and how to find suitable research grant opportunities

Research funding is one of the key drivers of innovation and nation development. There are numerous grant opportunities available for different research disciplines, but finding the right opportunity could be daunting. However, with proper guidance, determination and the right information skills, researchers can find, apply and secure research funding for their research projects.  

Understanding the different types of grants and funding opportunities, knowing the various sources of grants, the do's and don'ts should be well noted, thus enabling proper identification of suitable grants for early-career, mid-career or established researchers.

1. Types of grants and funding opportunities

The type of grant one should consider largely depends on the needs of the researcher, their timelines and the priorities of the funding body. It is, therefore, important to know one's needs and be familiar with the different types and sources of funding opportunities. For example, a researcher who needs a conference travel grant can look for targeted conference grants. However, some locally, nationally or internationally advertised grants also allow inclusion of a budget line for conference participation. This is usually stated in the funding guidelines. In addition to conference travel grants, other types of grants include

• Locally advertised competitive grants;
• Nationally advertised competitive grants;
• Internationally advertised competitive grants;
• Contract/consultancy grants;
• Research grants/equipment grants/travel grants or laboratory/visiting grants;
• Conference registration grants; and
• Professional society/association grants.

Grants could be small, medium or large, depending on the amount requested and also on the amount available from the funding source. A few examples of such grants are listed below:

• Small Research Projects and Equipment Fund;
• International Capacity Building Fund;
• New Lecturer Research Grant;
• Scientific Conference Abstract Scholarship;
• Global Ambassador Meeting Support Grant.

In the comments below this post, could you please mention the types of grants that you have secured and/or applied for? 

2. Sources of grants and funding opportunities

The sources of funding opportunities include:

• Governments (national government, state/province and local council) are saddled with the responsibility of providing research and development funding to help advance innovations. According to the United Nations, each country is expected to contribute at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Spending on Research and Development to drive innovation. Examples of government funding bodies are UK Research and Innovation, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Does the government in your country fund research. If so, what is (are) the name (names) of the funding agency (agencies)? What proportion of your country's GDP is budgeted to fund research and innovation?

• Research funds are made available to help solve societal, environmental and economic problems as part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of private organisations and enterprises. The application of research outcomes is not only beneficial for different communities or government bodies, but for private organisations too. This broad application of research outcomes has necessitated private/profit-oriented organisations such as industry bodies to provide research funding opportunities. Examples are Google Research Grants and Facebook Research Grants. Research funds from industry could be aimed at finding solutions to business-related problems and guide industry investment, or at responding to their strategic objectives. 

Please mention in the comments any company research grants that you know of.

• Not-for-profit organisations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the International Foundation for Science (IFS), the Nestle Foundation, Grand Challenges Senegal, the Science for Africa Foundation, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Applied Microbiology International.

Most of these grants are advertised on various platforms, such as government websites or specialised websites such as Research Professional. Research Professional is a comprehensive database listing funding opportunities across the globe. The database is also useful for finding tailored funding opportunities that best match one's specific needs. To access funding opportunities from Research Professional, researchers need to register using their personal or institutional email address. Another useful website to find funding opportunties is the AuthorAID funding website, which can be accessed for free.

3. Do's and don'ts of grant applications

To be successful in research funding applications, there are things to do and to avoid based on the relevant eligibility requirements. Things to do include applying early, reading the guidelines carefully (while some funding organisations allow applicants to contact them for clarification, others do not. It is, therefore, important to carefully read the guidelines), following the guidelines strictly, reviewing and editing one's proposal and preparing a well-justified budget while things to avoid include submitting applications late, not following the guidelines and plagiarising one's proposal text (or images). Some funding opportunities can be recurrent (for example, they may be available every year) while some are offered only once in a while. Recurring funding oportunities can be used to help you plan and avoid missing the deadline. However, the funding opportunity needs to be closely monitored; sometimes the funding organisation can be contacted to clarify whether the funding opportunity is recurrent. When a reoccurring funding opportunity is opened for applications, the guidelines must be read properly. This is  because some of earlier requirements might have changed, and the focus of the funding round might have changed as well, without prior notice to the applicants.

Based on your experience, could you mention one thing you would or would not do when applying for a grant? 

Conclusion

Around the world, various funding opportunities are made available for solving societal, environmental and economic problems through innovative research and development. However, the requirements for these funding opportunities differ. Understanding the different types and sources of funding can help researchers harness the available funding opportunities while avoiding things that can disqualify their applications from being funded.

How and where did you find your first grant opportunity? Please share your experience.

Dr. Olumide A. Odeyemi (University of Tasmania, Australia; Honorary Senior Research Fellow, HeTA Food Research Centre of Excellence, University of Birmingham, UK) is a multi-award-winning research scientist and research support specialist.