Competitive Research Programme

The National Research Foundation Competitive Research Programme (CRP) funding scheme seeks to foster the formation of multi-disciplinary teams to conduct cutting-edge research projects relevant to Singapore and society.

The CRP funds use-inspired basic research projects selected through a merit review process based on scientific excellence. The theme of the proposed research project must be motivated by an important need or problem to be solved.

Past projects have made discoveries of potentially significant impact on industry and society. Click here to view these projects.

The next CRP Grant Call will resume in Mar 2025. Please check the Integrated Grant Management System (IGMS) regularly for updates on the launch dates of the CRP Categories.

CRP Categories

CRP

• Supports use-inspired basic research programmes relevant to Singapore in all areas of science and technology. Research ideas at the intersection of multiple disciplines, including biological sciences, are considered.

• Offers funding support for programmes of varying sizes between a period of 3 to 5 years.

• Calls-for-proposals are launched twice yearly.

• Two-stage review process:

Frontier CRP

[New – more details to be released in grant call documents]

• Supports smaller-scale research programmes to pursue innovative use-inspired research that can potentially enable paradigm shifts and/or breakthroughs in scientific knowledge.

• Proposals need not present existing preliminary data at the point of application, but should present a plausible scientific hypothesis.

• Funding cap of S$2M (including indirect costs) for 3 to 5 years.

• One-stage review process for Full Proposal. Evaluation Criteria: (i) originality and ground-breaking nature of the research; (ii) significance and potential impact of the research; (iii) scientific approach; (iv) technical competencies of the team.

• Awarded projects will undergo a stage-gated review at the 2-year mark.

Thematic CRP

[New – more details to be released in grant call documents]

• Supports use-inspired basic research programmes but with relevance to a defined thematic research area and mission.

For more info on the CRP categories, please refer to the FAQs for more details.

Eligibility Criteria

Principal Investigators (PIs) from institutions/organisations which fulfil the following criteria will be eligible to participate as Lead PI/Team PI:

• Registered as a Public Institute of Higher Learning (IHL), Public Healthcare institution, A*STAR Research Institute, CREATE research entities, or research institutes affiliated with the Autonomous Universities (AUs)/A*STAR;

• Has adequate research infrastructure to support research activities; and

• Has the ability to take up the responsibilities of a Host Institution.

Private sector and other entities can participate as collaborators.

Lead PI and Team PI(s) must fulfil the following requirements at the point of application and throughout the project duration:

• Hold a primary and/or joint appointment(s) at eligible institution(s)/organisations(s), with a minimum time commitment of 9 months (per calendar year) in Singapore; and

• Be an accomplished PI with a track record of leadership ability in coordinating research program(s) and providing mentorship to research teams(s), as well as having productive research outcomes.

Visit the Integrated Grant Management System (IGMS) website to find out more about the next CRP grant call.