Research Matching Fund Program – First Cycle

Source: https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en/research-matching-fund-program Parent: https://www.hbku.edu.qa/en/research/sro/funding-opportunities

Introduction

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is pleased to announce the launch of the first cycle of the Research Matching Fund Program (RMFP) to foster long-term collaborations between HBKU colleges and institutes with industry and other external entities. The projects should align with HBKU's strategic goals and have the potential to extend the partnerships beyond initial funding. The applicant should identify an external partner willing to support the research project before applying. Applications are open on a rolling basis, and the call will remain open until 31st October 2025.

General Guidelines

The application process begins with submitting an application form, accompanied by a collaborator commitment or award letter, following prior discussions and agreement with a collaborator on the proposed project. Upon evaluation and approval by the OVPR, the applicant will be supported in executing the agreement to secure the collaborator’s cash funding. Once the collaborator’s contribution is received, HBKU’s matching funds will be released, and the project will be formally activated.

The application form includes the project description and covers the following key points:

• How does the proposed research align with HBKU's Strategic Plan?
• How does the project support initiating long-term partnerships with industry and external entities?
• What are the plans to extend the partnership beyond initial funding?
• What is the expected impact of this partnership (e.g., high-quality scholarly outcomes, patents, standards, and policies)?

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Budget

Securing an in-cash funding from an external partner is mandatory for this program. The application form must specify the cash contribution, any in-kind support provided by the external partner, and the amount requested from HBKU. It should also clearly detail the categories (personnel, consumables and materials, and equipment) in which the matching funds will be used.

The maximum allowable matching contribution from HBKU is up to 200,000 QAR over 12 months. The matching funds will be for a maximum duration of 24 months (i.e., a maximum of 400,000 QAR over 24 months) and will not exceed the cash contribution provided by the external partner. Matching funds will be disbursed in installments based on agreed-upon milestones and the availability of funds. While in-kind support from external partners is welcome and will be considered in the evaluation process, HBKU’s matching contribution will be based only on the cash amount provided.

For personnel budgeting, please refer to the following table:

The external support and matching funds will be deposited into an HBKU account and managed by the OVPR.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the RMFP, the applicants must:

• Be a permanent HBKU FTE researcher or faculty member (including Scientist, Senior Scientist, Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor) eligible to submit proposals as principal investigators.
• Deans and Executive Directors are not eligible to participate as research team members.
• Each LPI can submit only one application in this cycle, but he/she can participate as PI in other proposals.
• Not having a conflict of interest or actively participating with an external partner outside the university.

Evaluation Criteria and Funding Decisions

The evaluation committee will include representatives of the OVPR, Partnership Office, colleges, and research institutes. It will evaluate applications based on the following points system:

• Strategic alignment of the project with HBKU research goals.
• The amount of support the external partner provides (cash and in-kind).
• The potential to lay the foundation for a partnership beyond the initial funding period.
• The potential impact of the project (e.g., high-quality scholarly outcomes, patents, standards, policies).
• The committee’s evaluation will be based on the criteria outlined above and the level of commitment demonstrated by the external partner supporting the project.

For any questions, please reach out to hbku-vpr@hbku.edu.qa

Submission

Please complete the application form and submit it along with a collaborator commitment letter or an award letter to hbku-vpr@hbku.edu.qa