ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has invited applications to participate in the 10th Phase of the Peridot Research Mobility grant programme.
Interested candidates can submit their applications through the online portal research.hec.gov.pk, starting from August 16th, 2023, until October 6th, 2023.
The PERIDOT programme, known as the Franco-Pakistani Hubert Curien Partnership (PHC) Programme, aims to foster collaborative research activities between Pakistani and French researchers. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) oversees the programme’s implementation in Pakistan, while France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Development (MAEDI) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESRI) jointly manage it in France.
The programme’s primary objective is to facilitate scientific and technological cooperation between higher education institutions and research laboratories in France and Pakistan, supporting the mobility of researchers from both countries. Launched in 2014, the programme has successfully completed nine phases until 2022, approving three partnerships during the last phase.
The selection process for PERIDOT awardees follows a merit-based, independent, and transparent evaluation, adhering to international standards. The mobility grant is focused on supporting research in priority areas such as Sustainable Energy, Environment, Climate Change, Agriculture, Food Security, Health, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Projects addressing social challenges related to environmental issues are highly encouraged.
Applicants must be regular faculty members (PhD or FCPS/MCPS/FRCS) of public or private Higher Education Institutions or hold contracts equivalent to the duration of the project. The major cost of the primary research project will be covered by participating universities in Pakistan and France.
The programme will support researchers’ mobility to and from Pakistan, with a specific emphasis on young researchers, particularly doctoral students, under the supervision of the Principal Investigator.
The host institution must ensure adequate facilities, including working space, to accommodate visiting fellows. The project’s maximum duration can be up to three years. Interested applicants are required to upload the previously developed Joint Application (submitted on the campus France portal) in the document section.
One principal investigator can submit a maximum of one research project for funding. The funding for mobility will be equally shared between HEC and the French counterpart. Core research project funding will be provided by the respective Pakistani and French Universities/Institutes.
HEC, French counterpart to provide funding for travel, living expenses
HEC and the French counterpart will only provide funding for travel and living expenses for researchers participating in projects involving visits to Pakistan and France.
The selection of PERIDOT awards will follow an open, rigorous, transparent, competitive, and merit-based process, with independent experts in France and Pakistan evaluating all proposals submitted in response to this Call for Proposals.
The programme’s core focus remains on supporting researchers’ mobility between Pakistan and France, especially for young researchers enrolled under the Principal Investigator’s supervision.
