Apply Now: IBRO Speaker Support Program

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The IBRO International Brain Research Organization Speaker Support Program provides financial support to organizers of smaller neuroscience events to increase the participation of speakers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Eligible 2027 symposia, workshops, and short courses can receive up to US$5,000, depending on the event region, to support participation by one or more eligible speakers. The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) launched the Speaker Support Program to promote greater diversity and representation among speakers at smaller neuroscience events worldwide. The program is designed to help event organizers address financial and other barriers that can prevent researchers from underrepresented groups from participating in scientific events. Support can be used to facilitate the participation of speakers from diverse backgrounds at eligible neuroscience meetings, helping organizers create more inclusive scientific programs. The program provides targeted financial assistance to organizers of smaller neuroscience events. The funding is intended to facilitate participation by speakers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.

Eligible events may include:

Organizers may request support for more than one speaker, provided that the total amount requested remains within the applicable regional funding limit. The maximum amount depends on the region where the neuroscience event takes place. Applicants requesting support for multiple speakers must ensure that the combined request does not exceed the maximum amount available for their region. A central objective of the program is to improve diversity and representation in neuroscience events. Financial barriers can affect whether researchers from underrepresented backgrounds are able to participate in scientific meetings. Speaker Support funding is intended to help event organizers reduce these barriers and broaden participation. By facilitating participation from a wider range of researchers, the program can contribute to more inclusive scientific discussion, knowledge exchange, and professional networking within the neuroscience community. The program is open to organizers of eligible smaller neuroscience events.

The event must:

The applicant is the event organizer, rather than an individual speaker applying for personal support. No. IBRO membership is not required to apply for Speaker Support. This allows organizers of eligible neuroscience events to seek support even if they are not IBRO members. The program is intended for smaller neuroscience events, including formats such as: Events must take place in person or use a hybrid format. No. Virtual-only events are not eligible for the Speaker Support Program. Eligible events must have an in-person component or be organized in a hybrid format. Yes. Organizers can request funding for more than one speaker. However, the total amount requested for all supported speakers must remain within the maximum regional grant amount. For example, an eligible event in the Asia-Pacific region could request up to US$5,000 in total, whether the support is allocated to one speaker or multiple speakers. The program focuses on speakers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds in neuroscience. Applicants should demonstrate how the requested support will help increase representation and participation within their event’s scientific program. The goal is not simply to increase the number of speakers, but to help address barriers that may limit participation by groups that are underrepresented in neuroscience. Virtual-only neuroscience events are not eligible. In addition, organizers who have received an IBRO Equitable Meeting Award in the same year are not eligible to receive support through this program. Applicants should therefore consider whether they have received this award before submitting a Speaker Support application. The Speaker Support Program and the IBRO Equitable Meeting Award are separate support mechanisms. Organizers who receive an IBRO Equitable Meeting Award during the same year cannot also receive funding through the Speaker Support Program. This restriction should be considered when planning funding applications for a 2027 event. Applicants should clearly explain the purpose of the event and how Speaker Support funding will improve diversity and representation.

A strong application should demonstrate:

The application should establish a clear connection between the requested funding and the program’s objective of improving inclusion in neuroscience events. Scientific events provide opportunities for researchers to present findings, exchange ideas, develop collaborations, and build professional networks. Greater representation among speakers can broaden the perspectives included in scientific discussions and provide opportunities for researchers from underrepresented groups to participate more fully in the neuroscience community. The IBRO Speaker Support Program addresses this goal by providing targeted financial assistance to event organizers. The IBRO Speaker Support Program provides funding to organizers of smaller neuroscience events to facilitate participation by speakers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. The maximum depends on the event location. Events in Asia-Pacific and Pan-Europe can request up to US$5,000, Latin American events up to US$4,500, and events in Africa and US/Canada up to US$3,000. Yes. Organizers may request support for more than one speaker, provided that the total request does not exceed the maximum amount available for the event’s region. Organizers of eligible smaller neuroscience events scheduled for 2027 can apply. No. Applicants do not need to be IBRO members. No. Virtual-only events are not eligible. The event must be held in person or in a hybrid format. Eligible smaller events can include symposia, workshops, short courses, and similar neuroscience-focused scientific events. The program aim