The African Laser Centre, a flagship initiative championed by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, invites you to respond to a call for proposals for the 2026 African Laser Centre Research Collaboration Programme. Hosted and managed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the programme aims to foster research partnerships between South African researchers and their counterparts across Africa

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

All researchers in Africa engaged in laser and laser applications-based research, in any study field in the natural sciences, health sciences or engineering may apply.

• Full-time employees of research institutes may apply for grant funding. It is preferred that the Principal Investigator (PI) or main applicant be based at a South African research institution.
• Funding presently available to support ALC projects dictates that research collaborations need to involve at least one South African entity. Applications for research collaboration support between only South African entities will not be considered.
• The grant may not be used for training alone but should be based on a project with a strong research component.
• Applicants should hold at least a Master’s degree and have a reasonable research track record.
• Students MAY NOT apply directly for a grant, but student involvement in projects is strongly encouraged.

All applications must be forwarded by the 20th of October 2025 to Ms Nondumiso Radebe at radeben4@ukzn.ac.za COPYING Mrs Patricia Ngwenya at ngwenyap@ukzn.ac.za