Are you a researcher in Pakistan looking for funding to drive impactful scientific research? The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has officially opened the call for proposals for the National Research Program for Universities (NRPU) 2024-2025, providing competitive research grants for high-quality projects that contribute to academia, industry, and society.
📢 Deadline for submission: February 16, 2025
What is NRPU?
NRPU is HEC’s flagship research funding program, supporting both basic and applied research that demonstrates strategic relevance and innovation. The program is designed to foster scientific excellence and empower researchers with the freedom to explore new concepts and methodologies.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
✅ Principal Investigator (PI) Requirements:
- Must be a faculty member (PhD or FCPS/MCPS/FRCS) in a public or private Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Pakistan.
- Must be employed on a regular or contract basis (contract duration must be equal to or longer than the project timeline).
- Can hold only one NRPU grant at a time.
- PIs with significant project delays (over two years beyond the actual timeline) are ineligible.
✅ Project Team & Research Collaboration:
- Collaborative research teams are encouraged, including junior and senior faculty, male and female researchers, and industrial collaborators.
- University consortia and cross-disciplinary collaborations will be preferred.
- Private sector collaborations are welcome (no financial transactions will be made to private participants).
- Students involved in the academic research underlying the NRPU proposal can be part of the research team.
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted online via the HEC Research Portal (Apply Now).
Two-Stage Evaluation Process:
🔹 Stage 1: Proposal Outline Submission
- Open call for project proposal outlines is announced via national press and the HEC website.
- Proposals undergo a blind review by subject matter experts.
- Shortlisted proposals proceed to Stage 2.
🔹 Stage 2: Full Proposal Submission & Final Selection
- Shortlisted applicants submit a detailed research proposal through the online portal.
- Comprehensive evaluation by an expert panel based on weighted merit-based criteria.
- Final selection is made upon HEC administrative approval.
Why Apply for NRPU?
🌟 Competitive funding for innovative research. 🌟 Enhance research impact with real-world applications. 🌟 Foster industry collaboration and cross-institutional teamwork. 🌟 Contribute to national and global scientific advancements.
Need Assistance? Contact Us!
📍 Higher Education Commission (HEC), Sector H-9, Islamabad
📞 UAN: 051-111-119-432
📩 Email: nrpu@hec.gov.pk
💡 Technical Support: Submit a ticket at onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk, selecting NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR UNIVERSITY as the service.
🔗 Apply Now: HEC Research Portal
