Strategic Research Grant Call 2026
The Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) is inviting applications for the Strategic Research Grant Call 2026. This initiative aims to drive impactful research and innovation in line with the PCDS 2030 and Sarawak’s long-term transformation agenda.
The call focuses on advancing Sarawak’s priority sectors, building local research capacity, and fostering collaborations with national and regional partners to accelerate Sarawak’s aspiration of becoming a high-income and sustainable economy by 2030.
Applications are open to researchers, research institutes, and agencies based in Sarawak, with strong encouragement for partnerships involving industries, universities, and stakeholders from across Malaysia and beyond. The Principal Investigator (PI) must be based in Sarawak.
Call Opens: 1 November 2025
Deadline: 31 January 2026
Review: Competitive peer-review focusing on scientific merit, industry relevance, and policy alignment with PCDS 2030.
KEY THEMATIC AREAS
1. Sustainable Mining and Petrochemical Innovation – advancing green chemical production, digitalisation, and process integration to enhance Sarawak’s energy and petrochemical sectors.
2. Aerospace Manufacturing and Advanced Engineering – positioning Sarawak as a regional hub for aerospace manufacturing and advanced materials innovation.
3. Semiconductor and Electronics Technologies – driving semiconductor innovation, smart manufacturing, and global R&D partnerships.
4. Bioindustry and Biomedical Sciences – strengthening bioeconomy research, natural product discovery, and biomedical technology development.
5. Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency – promoting waste-to-resource innovation, eco-design, and green manufacturing to support Sarawak’s sustainability and low-carbon transition.
Multidisciplinary and collaborative projects are highly encouraged.
- Proposals should align with Sarawak PCDS2030 and the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint.
- Projects must address at least 2-3 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and demonstrate a commitment to contributing to both local and global sustainability efforts.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
- Proposals must demonstrate alignment with at least one of the five thematic focus areas.
- Multidisciplinary and cross-institutional collaborations are strongly encouraged.
- Matching contributions from industry or other partners will be viewed favourably.
- Projects must show alignment with PCDS 2030, the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint, and address at least 2–3 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Proposals should clearly articulate policy relevance, problem statement, objectives, methodology, outcomes, budget, and project timeline.
- Researchers or a group of researchers awarded with this grant are required to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and/or circulars currently in force.
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
- Proposals must demonstrate clear alignment with at least one (1) of the five (5) thematic focus areas, the PCDS 2030, and the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint.
- Projects must address at least two (2) to three (3) United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute meaningfully to Sarawak’s local and global sustainability agenda.
- Each proposal must clearly articulate how the research supports or complements existing Sarawak Government policy initiatives and development programmes.
- Multidisciplinary and cross-institutional collaborations are strongly encouraged, particularly those involving partnerships between academia, industry, and government agencies.
- Matching contributions from industry or other partners (financial) will be viewed favourably.
PROPOSAL FORMAT
Proposals should include key details such as investigator information, a problem statement, objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, financial budget and a project timeline.
EXPECTED RESEARCH OUTPUTS
All recipients of the SRDC Strategic Research Grant 2026 are required to produce measurable and verifiable outputs within the approved project duration. The outputs must demonstrate scientific excellence, innovation, relevance, and direct contribution to Sarawak’s development objectives under the PCDS 2030. The expected outputs include the following:
1. INNOVATION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP).
Each project must generate at least one (1) new intellectual property (IP) as a direct outcome of the research. This may include a patent, utility innovation, industrial design, or copyright, where applicable. Projects are strongly encouraged to pursue high-value, protectable innovations with clear potential for commercialisation, technology transfer, or industry adoption to maximise Sarawak’s innovation impact.
2. PROTOTYPE OR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Development of a prototype, proof of concept, or process innovation (for applied research).
3. HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
Supervision or training of at least one (1) postgraduate student (Master’s or PhD) linked to the project, with priority to Sarawakians. Evidence of research training, skill transfer, or mentorship activities must be documented.
4. SCIENTIFIC, SCHOLARLY, AND SOCIETAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Each project must produce at least two (2) indexed publications in Scopus or Web of Science (WoS) journals, including a minimum of one (1) high-impact (Q1 or Q2) publication to demonstrate research excellence and enhance international visibility.
COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
- Researchers and institutions awarded under this scheme must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and circulars currently in force.
- All projects must adhere to the Malaysia Code of Responsible Conduct in Research (MCRCR) and uphold the highest standards of ethics, governance, and accountability.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
Please visit our website for more information on application procedures and eligibility criteria. Application for STRATEGIC RESEARCH GRANT CALL 2026 should be submitted online via https://rpmon.sarawakrdc.org.my.
Strategic Grant Application Guidelines 2026
We look forward to receiving your innovative proposals.