Request for Applications: Policy Research Grant Program (Kuwait)

Deadline: 15-Dec-2026

The Policy Research Grant Program supports researchers and research institutions in Kuwait to conduct policy-relevant studies addressing national development priorities and pressing socio-economic challenges. The program, established by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), aims to strengthen evidence-based policymaking by connecting academic research with the development, implementation, and evaluation of public policies. KFAS welcomes competitive proposals across a broad range of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) topics, while giving priority to research in six key areas: Health, STEAM Education, Energy, Environment, Food and Water Security, and Future Economies. Proposals addressing other STI-related issues may also be considered when they demonstrate clear relevance to Kuwait’s national priorities. The Policy Research Grants program was established to encourage research that can directly contribute to public policy and Kuwait’s national development agenda.

The program seeks to:

The program is particularly relevant to researchers whose work has the potential to produce findings that can be applied to real policy challenges in Kuwait. KFAS welcomes proposals covering a broad range of STI-related subjects. However, priority is given to research within six key domains. Research can address policy-relevant health challenges and generate evidence that may support improvements in health-related policies and decision-making. This domain covers research related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics education and its role in Kuwait’s development. Research addressing energy-related challenges and opportunities can contribute to evidence-based policy development in an important area of national development. Environmental research can examine challenges relevant to sustainability, environmental management, and policy development in Kuwait. This priority area supports research addressing challenges related to reliable food and water resources and the policies needed to strengthen security and sustainability. Research under this domain can examine emerging economic opportunities, challenges, technologies, and policy considerations relevant to Kuwait’s future economy. The six priority domains are not exclusive. KFAS also welcomes competitive proposals addressing other topics related to Science, Technology, and Innovation. Researchers working outside the six priority areas can therefore submit proposals when their research:

The program is intended for:

Applicants should demonstrate a clear connection between their proposed research and Kuwait’s national development priorities. A policy-relevant study should go beyond producing academic findings and demonstrate how its research could inform public decision-making.

A proposal should clearly explain:

There can be a gap between academic research and the practical needs of policymakers. The Policy Research Grants program is designed to help bridge this gap by supporting research that directly addresses national policy challenges.

The program can help researchers:

Researchers should begin by identifying a specific policy challenge relevant to Kuwait.

A strong proposal should explain:

The proposal should maintain a clear connection between the research activities and the policy problem being investigated. Applicants should keep the following points in mind:

Applicants should avoid:

A strong proposal should:

The Policy Research Grant Program supports researchers and research institutions in Kuwait to conduct studies that address national development priorities and provide evidence that can inform public policy. The program was established by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). Researchers and research institutions based in Kuwait that are engaged in policy-relevant research projects are eligible to apply.

Priority is given to six domains: Health, STEAM Education, Energy, Environment, Food and Water Security, and Future Economies.

Yes. KFAS also considers competitive proposals addressing other STI-related topics when they demonstrate relevance to national priorities. Policy-relevant research is research designed to generate evidence that can contribute to public policy development, implementation, or evaluation. Yes. The program aims to support studies addressing pressing socio-economic challenges facing Kuwait. Yes. Proposals can demonstrate potential to contribute to either policy formulation or policy evaluation. The program is designed to support Kuwait’s national development agenda, so proposals should clearly demonstrate how the research addresses a relevant national priority or socio-economic challenge. The main purpose is to bridge the gap between academic research and policymaking by supporting evidence-based studies that can contribute to Kuwait’s public policy and national development objectives. The Policy Research Grant Program provides an opportunity for Kuwait-based researchers and research institutions to conduct studies that connect academic knowledge with real-world policy challenges. By prioritizing Health, STEAM Education, Energy, Environment, Food and Water Security, and Future Economies while remaining open to other STI-related topics, the program encourages research that can generate practical evidence for Kuwait’s national development and policy decisions. For more information, visit KFAS.