QRDI/QNRF Funding Opportunities

Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI)/Qatar National Research Fund Grants (QNRF)

The QRDI/QNRF stands as Qatar’s principal national research funding entity. Renowned for its commitment to nurturing human capital, QRDI/QNRF awards grants designed to enrich Qatar’s societal fabric while making significant contributions on a global scale, thus elevating Qatar’s prominence within the international research arena.

For a concise overview of currently available QRDI grant opportunities such as the Academic Research Grant (ARG), the National Research Program (NRP) and the Research Talent Program (RTP), please refer to the information provided below.

Further details can be viewed on the QRDI website.

Talent and Capability Building Talent Grants
1.1. Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) UREP aims to foster research culture and develop research capacity by promoting “Learning by Doing” and “hands-on” research activities as effective methods for undergraduate education. Students will gain experience in research with faculty members, research staff, and other students through their one-year involvement in the UREP grant. Moreover, UREP offers students and mentors opportunities to build their research experience and portfolios, especially in the QRDI national areas at the link. After participating in a UREP project, students can become potentially strong candidates for other QRDI funding programs in the future, and mentors can build their research programs while simultaneously supporting student development and personal growth. Eligibility Criteria: Eligibility of applicant (PRM) – Must be affiliated with a submitting institution in Qatar – Must hold a research-oriented doctorate or any of the approved terminal degrees as defined by the list of terminal degrees. – If the PRM does not hold a terminal degree, they must collaborate with an RM or industry mentor who do. – PRMs and RMs may participate in up to two UREP projects per cycle and three overall. Eligibility of Students – Must be enrolled as full-time students in an undergraduate degree program in an educational institution or university in Qatar. – Must remain residents in Qatar throughout the project. – Student-to-Mentor ratio not to exceed 3:1 Priority Areas Broadly aligned with any of the national priority areas Budget and Duration One-year award for a total of QAR 18,000 (4,931 USD) per student (maximum 6 students) as follows: QAR 5,500 per student. QAR 3,500 (per student) for the mentors. QAR 8,500 per student for equipment, materials, consumables, travel, and miscellaneous expenses. QAR 500 per student for applicable indirect costs. Application Timeline Start of online proposal submission and vetting processes: November 17, 2025 Deadline for online proposal submission: January 12, 2026 Deadline for RO vetting: January 19, 2026 Ineligible proposal notification: February 26, 2026 Announcement of awards: May 31, 2026 Evaluation Criteria: Proposals are peer-reviewed by a minimum of three international experts in the field of the proposal. The reviewers are solicited by QRDI to evaluate each proposal against the criteria listed below. The reviewers will evaluate the proposals and provide narrative feedback to applicants. Any proposal that scored “Poor” overall or in any individual criterion, will not be considered for funding. The evaluation criteria are as follows: 1. Excellence 1.1. Scientific Merit 1.2. Objective Clarity and Feasibility 1.3. Relevance 2. Track Record 2.1. Research Team Qualification 2.2. Student Mentoring Plan

Talent and Capability Building
Talent Grants

1.1. Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP)
UREP aims to foster research culture and develop research capacity by promoting “Learning by Doing” and “hands-on” research activities as effective methods for undergraduate education. Students will gain experience in research with faculty members, research staff, and other students through their one-year involvement in the UREP grant. Moreover, UREP offers students and mentors opportunities to build their research experience and portfolios, especially in the QRDI national areas at the link. After participating in a UREP project, students can become potentially strong candidates for other QRDI funding programs in the future, and mentors can build their research programs while simultaneously supporting student development and personal growth.

Eligibility Criteria:

Eligibility of applicant (PRM)
– Must be affiliated with a submitting institution in Qatar
– Must hold a research-oriented doctorate or any of the approved terminal degrees as defined by the list of terminal degrees.
– If the PRM does not hold a terminal degree, they must collaborate with an RM or industry mentor who do.
– PRMs and RMs may participate in up to two UREP projects per cycle and three overall.

Eligibility of Students
– Must be enrolled as full-time students in an undergraduate degree program in an educational institution or university in Qatar.
– Must remain residents in Qatar throughout the project.
– Student-to-Mentor ratio not to exceed 3:1

Priority Areas
Broadly aligned with any of the national priority areas

Budget and Duration

One-year award for a total of QAR 18,000 (4,931 USD) per student (maximum 6 students) as follows:
QAR 5,500 per student.
QAR 3,500 (per student) for the mentors.
QAR 8,500 per student for equipment, materials, consumables, travel, and miscellaneous expenses.
QAR 500 per student for applicable indirect costs.

Application Timeline
Start of online proposal submission and vetting processes: November 17, 2025
Deadline for online proposal submission: January 12, 2026
Deadline for RO vetting: January 19, 2026
Ineligible proposal notification: February 26, 2026
Announcement of awards: May 31, 2026

Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals are peer-reviewed by a minimum of three international experts in the field of the proposal. The reviewers are solicited by QRDI to evaluate each proposal against the criteria listed below. The reviewers will evaluate the proposals and provide narrative feedback to applicants. Any proposal that scored “Poor” overall or in any individual criterion, will not be considered for funding. The evaluation criteria are as follows:

1. Excellence
1.1. Scientific Merit
1.2. Objective Clarity and Feasibility
1.3. Relevance
2. Track Record
2.1. Research Team Qualification
2.2. Student Mentoring Plan

For further inquiries regarding program guidelines and project submissions, please contact the Office of Research Compliance at guqgrants@georgetown.edu.