RFAs: Strengthening NSA’s Knowledge, Research and Innovation Partnerships Program (Vietnam)

Deadline: 30-Oct-2026

The Strengthening NSA’s Knowledge, Research and Innovation Partnerships program is inviting civil society organisations, research institutions, academia, and private sector actors to collaborate on projects supporting Vietnam’s green and digital transitions. The European Commission initiative promotes applied research, innovation, knowledge sharing, and partnerships that contribute to sustainable development and inclusive governance.

About the Program

The program is part of the European Commission’s efforts to strengthen the role of non-state actors (NSAs) in governance and development processes in Vietnam. It builds on the existing framework of EU–Vietnam cooperation and the Global Gateway strategy, while reflecting the EU’s commitment to civil society participation, sustainable development, and inclusive governance. The initiative also aligns with Vietnam’s national priorities for green growth and digital transformation. Program Objectives The program aims to strengthen knowledge, research, and innovation partnerships among different stakeholders working on Vietnam’s development priorities.

It supports collaboration between:

- Civil society organisations. - Universities and academic institutions. - Research institutes. - Professional associations. - Social enterprises. - Business and private sector actors. - Other relevant stakeholders. The program encourages partnerships that can generate practical knowledge, test innovative solutions, and contribute to policy and development processes. Priority Areas Projects should contribute to the green and digital transitions in Vietnam, with particular attention to: - Renewable energy. - Energy efficiency. - Digital transition. - Climate-smart infrastructure. - Sustainable transport infrastructure. - Climate-related research and solutions. - Digital inclusion and skills. These priorities are intended to support both EU and Vietnamese development plans. What Does the Program Support? The initiative supports activities that strengthen research, innovation, knowledge generation, and collaboration.

Eligible activities may include:

- Facilitating consortia for socio-economic studies. - Supporting structured collaboration on digital mapping. - Conducting applied research. - Commissioning research-driven studies on skills, climate, and digital inclusion. - Developing participatory research methodologies. - Designing and testing innovative pilot initiatives. - Establishing innovation laboratories and incubators. - Developing joint learning platforms. - Creating and disseminating open-access knowledge products. - Promoting knowledge-sharing platforms. - Organising policy dialogues. - Strengthening monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) capacities. - Supporting collaboration with EU expertise. Research and Innovation Partnerships The program places strong emphasis on collaboration between different types of organisations. Partnerships can bring together academic researchers, civil society organisations, businesses, professional associations, social enterprises, and other stakeholders to address practical development challenges. Projects may combine research and data collection with pilot initiatives, innovation activities, knowledge dissemination, and policy engagement. Applied Research and Data Applicants are encouraged to develop research activities that can generate practical evidence for Vietnam’s green and digital transitions.

Possible areas include:

- Skills development. - Climate-related challenges. - Digital inclusion. - Socio-economic development. - Digital mapping. - Climate-smart infrastructure. - Renewable energy and energy efficiency. - Digital transformation. Research findings can be shared through open-access knowledge products and collaborative platforms to increase their wider use. Innovation Labs and Pilot Initiatives The program supports the development and testing of innovative approaches. Applicants may establish innovation labs or incubators and use them to develop, test, and refine solutions addressing green and digital transition challenges. Pilot initiatives can help demonstrate how research and innovation can be translated into practical solutions and scalable approaches. Knowledge Sharing and Policy Dialogue Knowledge-sharing is an important component of the program. Supported projects can establish platforms for: - Sharing research findings. - Joint learning. - Stakeholder collaboration. - Disseminating data and evidence. - Exchanging technical knowledge. - Connecting researchers with practitioners. - Supporting policy discussions. Projects can also organise policy dialogues to help connect research and innovation outcomes with development and governance processes. Capacity Development The initiative encourages capacity development, particularly in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). Projects can strengthen the ability of participating organisations to monitor results, evaluate activities, learn from implementation, and use evidence to improve future interventions. Collaboration with relevant EU expertise is also encouraged. Funding Available The grant amount requested by an applicant must be between:

- Minimum grant: €750,000.

- Maximum grant: €1,000,000.

EU co-financing can cover between 50% and 90% of total eligible costs. The overall indicative budget for the call is €4,470,000.

Part of the funding is subject to the availability of 2027 appropriations

Applicants should therefore ensure that their proposed budgets meet the required co-financing conditions. Project Duration The initial planned duration of an action must be between 36 and 48 months. Projects should therefore be designed as substantial multi-year initiatives capable of developing partnerships, conducting research, implementing activities, and generating sustainable outcomes. Who Can Apply? Eligible applicants must be non-profit civil society organisations legally established in: - A Member State of the European Union; or - Vie