In 2016, National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) and British Academy (BA), Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) signed framework for collaboration on executing “The UK Fellowships and Grants” Phase 2. In accordance with the framework, scientists working in natural sciences, engineering, social sciences & humanities fields are eligible for the award of UK fellowship grants in order to conduct research in the UK and Vietnam from 01 to 06 months. Collaborations between NAFOSTED and BA, BAEng are made under collaboration framework of Newton Fund in Vietnam and NAFOSTED’s support program to enhance national S&T capability.

On NAFOSTED side, from 07 October to 08 November 2019, NAFOSTED shall launch the second call for application in 2019. NAFOSTED looks forward to receiving interest and application from scientists in all research fields, especially in Social Sciences and Humanities.

Details on submission guidance are as below:

1. Application

Scientists prepare and submit application to NAFOSTED in compliance with NAFOSTED’s applicable regulations for activities of enhancing the national science and technology capacity, including:

a. Application form for fellowship grant which is verified by current employers (organizations) (NCNLQG 06)^*. Please kindly note that all applications will only be evaluated after the deadline, therefore the fellowship starting date should be at least 03 months from the deadline (08 November 2019) but not the submission date;

b. 02 reference letters (NCNLQG 07)^*. Scientists writing reference letters must possess similar expertise, PhD and relevant research outcomes published in prestigious international journals in the last 5 years (from the application deadline);

c. Letters of collaboration written by foreign scientific and technological partners or mentee acceptance letters written by foreign scientists working in the same research field. The letters must clearly outline research locations, time and fellowship/research directions and obligations to pay incurring expenses;

d. Proposal of the short-term research that will be conducted at a foreign scientific and technological organization and approved by the foreign partner scientists (including objectives, impacts, need for fellowships, substance, methodology, research plan and possible outcomes). The proposal must highlight the impacts of fellowship grants towards science and technology exchanges and international integration in order to enhance the applicant’s professional competencies;

đ. Scientific CV of registers (NCNLQG 02);

e. Other documents to prove the applicant’s eligibility in accordance with regulations stated in Circular No. 09/2015/TT-BKHCN of 15th May 2015 regulating NAFOSTED-funded-activities for enhancing science and technology capabilities;

g. Budget estimate which clearly states all expenditure covered by foreign partners (if applicable) (NCNLQG 08).

(*) Applicants participating in NAFOSTED’s collaboration program can remove or edit items in these forms if the items are designed for ongoing research and not applicable for this application.

2. Criteria
– Merit of research proposal;

– Professional competence of the applicant and foreign partners in consideration of post-fellowship outcomes;

– Impacts of the fellowships on enhancing the applicant’s professional competence and promoting collaborations in scientific research.

Note: Applications sent to NAFOSTED must be titled “Application for NAFOSTED – The UK Academies collaboration programme”. Applications without the above title will be excluded from this call.

Applicants must submit printed applications to NAFOSTED at: NAFOSTED Office, No. 39, Tran Hung Dao street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi. Submission date of those submitted by post will be counted according to postmark.

Details on conditions, supported items and other information related to activities of enhancing the national science and technology capacity can be found here.

More information about The UK Academies:  http://www.britac.ac.uk,  http://www.raeng.org.uk

Contact point:

Ms. Hoang Thanh VAN, International Collaboration Officer

Email: vanht@most.gov.vn; Tel: 024. 39367750 (ext. 503)

* Vietnam-Newton Fund is a collaboration programme to promote science and innovation development between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of UK in 5-year term (2014-2019). “Research exchanges between Vietnamese and UK scientists” programme is also supported by Newton Fund.