Author – Ritesh Ranjan: The ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Project Grant 2026 has opened an important opportunity for researchers from India and Taiwan to collaborate on meaningful bilateral research projects. The grant supports joint academic work between Indian and Taiwanese researchers and offers funding of up to Rs. 12,00,000 per project.
This initiative is jointly supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). It aims to strengthen academic cooperation, promote knowledge exchange, support international research mobility and encourage high-quality research outcomes between the two countries.
For researchers looking to build international partnerships, this grant is a valuable opportunity. It provides a structured two-year project period, financial support for approved activities and a platform to produce research that can create academic, policy and social impact.
About the ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Project Grant 2026
The ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Project Grant 2026 is a bilateral funding programme designed to support collaborative research between India and Taiwan. Under this scheme, researchers from both countries must jointly develop and submit a research proposal.
The project should involve active academic cooperation between an Indian Principal Investigator and a Taiwanese Principal Investigator. Both sides are expected to contribute to the research design, project execution, data collection, analysis, publications and other academic outputs.
The grant encourages projects that can generate new knowledge and build long-term research relationships. It is especially useful for researchers working in social science, public policy, education, development studies, sustainability, technology and interdisciplinary areas.
Grant Amount and Duration
Selected projects can receive a maximum grant of Rs. 12 lakh per project. The project duration will be two years, starting from 1 January 2027 and ending on 31 December 2028.
This two-year timeline gives research teams enough time to plan the project properly, conduct fieldwork or collaborative activities, exchange academic expertise and produce strong research outcomes.
For researchers interested in international collaboration, this duration offers both flexibility and depth. It allows teams to go beyond short-term academic exchange and work toward sustained research impact.
What the Grant Covers
The funding structure of the ICSSR–NSTC grant is designed to support active academic exchange between India and Taiwan.
The visiting party will cover the cost of international and domestic inter-city air travel. The receiving party will provide local hospitality support, which may include boarding, lodging and local ground transportation for visiting researchers.
The exact support will depend on the number of approved participants and the number of days approved under the project. This makes the grant suitable for research that requires travel, field visits, institutional meetings, workshops, academic discussions or collaborative data collection.
By supporting travel and hospitality, the programme helps researchers work closely with their international counterparts. This can improve the quality of research and create stronger institutional partnerships.
Important Dates
Applicants should carefully follow the official timeline for the ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Project Grant 2026.
The application window will remain open from 1 June 2026 to 3 August 2026. The peer review process is expected to be completed by 14 October 2026. The result announcement and approval are expected in December 2026.
The approved projects will be executed from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028.
Researchers should make sure that their proposals are complete and submitted before the deadline. Late applications or incorrectly submitted proposals will not be considered.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Project Grant 2026, there must be one eligible Principal Investigator from India and one eligible Principal Investigator from Taiwan.
The Indian Principal Investigator must meet the eligibility requirements prescribed by ICSSR. Similarly, the Taiwanese Principal Investigator must meet the requirements set by NSTC.
Both parties must submit the proposal according to the official call guidelines. A unilateral submission will not be accepted. This means that the Indian and Taiwanese researchers must coordinate properly before submitting their applications.
Applicants should also ensure that all required documents, formats and supporting materials are included. Incomplete applications may be rejected during the screening or review process.
Selection Process
The proposals will be independently peer-reviewed by both the Indian and Taiwanese sides. This means that the research proposal must be strong from both national and international perspectives.
Selection will depend on the academic quality of the proposal, relevance of the research topic, feasibility of the project, strength of collaboration and expected research outcomes.
A good proposal should clearly explain the research problem, objectives, methodology, timeline, expected outputs and the role of each partner. It should also show how the collaboration will benefit both countries and contribute to academic knowledge.
Since the grant is competitive, applicants should prepare their proposals carefully and follow every instruction mentioned in the official guidelines.
Intellectual Property and Publication Rules
Before beginning the project, both Principal Investigators must agree on the ownership and management of intellectual property rights and future research achievements.
This is an important requirement in international collaborative research. If the project leads to publications, reports, datasets, tools, policy outputs or other academic achievements, both sides should have clarity on ownership and usage rights.
If required, the researchers may also sign a formal project contract before starting the work.
All publications resulting from the joint project must clearly acknowledge the support received from ICSSR and NSTC. This acknowledgement is necessary to recognise the role of both funding agencies and strengthen institutional visibility.
Why This Grant Matters
India–Taiwan academic cooperation is becoming increasingly important as both countries expand their research and innovation networks. Joint research grants like the ICSSR–NSTC programme help researchers build international partnerships and work on issues of shared relevance.
For Indian researchers, this grant is not only a funding opportunity. It is also a chance to collaborate with Taiwanese scholars, access new academic perspectives and create globally relevant research.
The grant can support research in areas such as social sciences, public policy, governance, education, sustainability, technology, society and interdisciplinary development. It can also help early-career and established researchers expand their international academic profile.
For institutions, the programme can create long-term academic partnerships, joint publications and future research collaborations.
How to Apply
Interested researchers should visit the official ICSSR platform and refer to the detailed call guidelines and application format.
Applicants must prepare the research proposal in coordination with their Taiwanese partner. Both parties should ensure that the proposal is complete, accurate and submitted according to the prescribed process.
Since the deadline is 3 August 2026, applicants should not wait until the last date. Preparing an international joint proposal requires time, coordination and document verification.
Researchers are advised to review the eligibility conditions, funding rules, application format, required documents, review process and intellectual property requirements before submission.
Conclusion
The ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Project Grant 2026 is a major opportunity for Indian and Taiwanese researchers to collaborate on high-quality bilateral research projects. With funding support of up to Rs. 12 lakh, a two-year project duration and a focus on international academic exchange, the grant can help researchers build meaningful partnerships and produce impactful research outcomes.
Researchers interested in India–Taiwan collaboration should begin preparing their proposals early and ensure that all requirements are met before the 3 August 2026 deadline.
FAQs on ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Grant 2026
1. What is the ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Project Grant 2026?
The ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Project Grant 2026 is a bilateral research funding programme between India and Taiwan. It supports collaborative research projects between Indian researchers and Taiwanese researchers.
2. What is the maximum grant amount under this scheme?
The maximum grant amount available under the ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Project Grant 2026 is Rs. 12,00,000 per project.
3. What is the last date to apply for the ICSSR–NSTC Joint Research Grant 2026?
The last date to apply is 3 August 2026. Applicants must submit their proposals within the official application period.
4. What is the project duration?
The project duration is two years. Selected projects will run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028.
5. Can only an Indian researcher apply for this grant?
No. The proposal must be jointly submitted by eligible Indian and Taiwanese researchers. Unilateral submissions will not be accepted.