MTC Young Investigator Research Grant

MTC YIRG

Supports independent curiosity-driven research partnerships developing practical technology innovation across Singapore.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity Young Investigator Research Grant (MTC YIRG) 2026 is a competitive award administered by A*STAR to support independent, curiosity-driven research in physical sciences and engineering aligned with Singapore's Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity sector. The 2026 call opened on 5 May 2026 and closes on 23 June 2026 at 11:59 pm Singapore Standard Time. Awards are up to S$325,000 per project, inclusive of a 30% indirect cost allowance, and fund research activities for up to three years. Applications are submitted through A*STAR's iGrants system and must be endorsed by the host institution's Research Director before submission.

Eligibility is restricted to PhD holders who received their degree no more than seven years before the application deadline, with a primary appointment of at least 75% FTE at a Singapore publicly funded research institute. Prior recipients of an NRF Fellowship, MOE Tier 2/3 grant, or equivalent MOH or NMRC funding are explicitly disqualified. Principal investigators may submit only one application per call cycle. Institution-level quotas apply: NUS, NTU, and A*STAR Research Entities are each capped at 15 slots, while other Institutes of Higher Learning and public-sector organisations are capped at 2 slots each.

To be competitive, applicants should frame proposals around genuine scientific questions in physical sciences or engineering with clear relevance to the MTC sector — advanced manufacturing processes, precision engineering, connectivity technologies, or materials for industrial applications are well-aligned themes. Candidates should confirm their PhD conferral date carefully against the seven-year window and secure institutional endorsement early, as Research Director sign-off is a hard submission gate. Application guidance, a proposal template, and a FAQ are available through A*STAR's grants portal.