National Research Program (NRP)

National Research Program (NRP)

Supports collaborations between Qatar universities and institutions addressing ministry priorities through applied research.

Eligibility · QA

The National Research Program (NRP) is a suite of applied research grant calls administered by Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI), formerly under the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) umbrella before QRDI's 2023–2024 consolidation. NRP commissions mission-oriented research that serves the operational priorities of Qatar's government ministries and national strategies, targeting three-year projects led by faculty and researchers at approved Qatari universities and research institutions. The program operates two primary mechanisms: National Research Grants, which address priorities defined by specific beneficiary ministries, and Bilateral Research Grants (NRP-BRG), which fund international research collaborations requiring a qualified overseas partner institution.

Thematic calls rotate by cycle and have included Food Security (FSC), Climate Change and Environment (CCEC), Pathways Toward Prosperity (PTP), Economic Sustainability (ESC), Modernizing Charitable Sector (MCSC), and Life-Long Education (LiLEC), among others. Eligible applicants are restricted to universities and research institutions registered and operating in Qatar; for-profit entities and individuals are excluded. NRP-BRG projects additionally require a qualified international partner institution. Award ceilings are call-specific and published in individual Request for Applications documents; applicants should verify current open calls and funding levels at connect.qrdi.org.qa.

Successful NRP proposals must demonstrate direct alignment with the commissioning ministry's stated priorities and show that research outcomes will translate into actionable policy or operational improvements for Qatar. Applications are submitted through the QGrants system following QRDI's standard multi-stage review process. At least 80% of the total annual project budget must be spent inside Qatar, consistent with QRDI-wide requirements for its domestic research portfolio.