Dearth of research literature/equipment is a major impediment to the productivity of many creative and talented faculty members/researchers in all disciplines in universities/degree awarding institutions. In most cases, researchers need substantial financial support for research projects to allow them in their research pursuits. To avoid this brain drain, the HEC has initiated a research grant program under which creative researchers are awarded research grants.
To meet the current challenges of researchers working in local universities/DAIs of Pakistan and to promote the R&D with facilitation, HEC is running the National Research Program for Universities (NRPU) as per researcher's needs/requirements.
How to apply
The applicants will submit their research proposals online through HEC web portal http://eportal.hec.gov.pk on or before October 31, 2017.
How to submit Online System Generated Hard Copy & Soft Copy and Mandatory document to Director respective Director ORIC.
- While submitting online application, E-portal system will automatically guide the applicant.
- E-portal system will auto-update to applicant at "NRPU Project Proposal Application" button that now down load application form and project proposal template fill it up, check it similarity index, handover both (application form + project proposal form after checking its similarity index on Turnitin) to the Director ORIC along with all original mandatory documents, i.e. resume of PI, Co-PI, Turnitin report, quotations, appointment letter, industrial support letter, BCC, etc.
- Now get copy of signed pages (of VC & Others) from Director, ORIC of your respective university, and upload in the system at "NRPU Project Proposal Application" before submission.
- After submission, you will get "Soft Copies in a Compressed Zip Folder", and now read your project # printed on application form after submission and hand over same Zip Folder to Director ORIC as well.
- Hence PI will hand over all "Soft Zip Folder and Application Form and Project Proposal Form and All Mandatory Document" to Director ORIC of respective University.
- The Principal Investigator (PI) has to submit one complete set of original hard copy of the proposal duly singed from all relevant authorities of the university along with soft copy of duly filled Application Form 2017 (a specimen to help out the researcher/PI: this is not acceptable as hard copy) to the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC)/Research Office/Office of the Registrar of respective university to make it available -via surface mail/Special Messenger– along with complete record of all the proposals to Director (R&D) on or before 31-10-2017 .
- The PI has to be a full-time regular faculty member (BPS or TTS) or on contact not less than project life of any public sector university/DAIs or private sector university/DAIs eligible for public funding ( list of 29 private sector universities/DAIs is given in Eligibility Criteria section).
- Period of execution of the Research project should not be exceeding three years
- Maximum funding under NRPU may be up to 20 million, however, permissible limit for funding is linked with cumulative Impact Factor of the PI, as mentioned in NRPU Application Form 2017 (a specimen to help out the researcher/PI: this is not acceptable as hard copy).
- PI can execute or submit only two (2) research projects simultaneously under any of HEC funded research grant programs either under NRPU or UITSP or TDF or TRGP or Pak-US etc. (either ongoing, submitted, under review, etc).
- Any application will not be considered if
- Incomplete filled application form
- Submitted proposal under NRPU is meant for establishment of laboratory or for only development.
- Receive on old Application Forms (Application Form 2017: a specimen to help out the researcher/PI: this is not acceptable as hard copy)
- Either PI does not submit original hard copy of proposal to the respective ORIC Office/Research Office/Registrar Office or ORIC/Research offices does not submit original hard copies to R&D Division of HEC on or before the closing date, 31-10-2017.
- PI is executing any NRPU project whose completion is delayed by three (03) years.
- PI is currently executing or has submitted two or more NRPU projects simultaneously for consideration.
- PI has been black listed by HEC.
- Original hard copy of application is directly submitted to HEC, bypassing ORIC/Research Office/Office of the Registrar of the respective university.
- Application forms are not signed/countersigned/endorsed by head of institution, vice chancellor/Rector/Director of DAIs.
- CV of PI or Co-PI are not attached.
- Quotations of required equipment, worth over Rs. 0.1 Million are not attached.
- Report generated by Turnitin is not attached.
- A clearance certificate from Institutional Bioethics Committee (IBC) of the university/DAI concerned (if required) is not attached.
- Industrial support letter (if required) is not attached.
- Copy of appointment letter is not attached.
- Proposal(s) has already submitted under "Thematic Research Grants Programme 2017-18" for funding.
Eligibility Criteria
- Proposal submitted under NRPU must not be meant for establishment of laboratory or for only development purpose.
- The PI has to be a full-time regular faculty member (BPS or TTS) or on contact not less than project life of any public sector university/DAIs or private sector university/DAIs eligible for public funding ( list of 29 private sector universities/DAIs is given below:).
- He/she must have an advance academic degree (PhD or M.Phil/MS: at least 18 year of inline schooling) & relevant experienceworking as academician/researcher but not as administrator.
- Lecturer; Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor and Meritorious Professor (all on BPS or TTS) or if they are on contract, contact period (duration of contact) must be equal to or more that project life (duration of project).
- Period of execution of the Research project should not be exceeding three (03) years
- Maximum funding under NRPU may be up to Rs. 20 million. However, permissible limit for funding is linked with a cumulative Impact Factor of the PI, as mentioned in the NRPU Application Form 2017 (A specimen to help out the researcher/PI: It is not acceptable as hard copy).
- PI can execute or submit only two (2) research projects simultaneously under any of HEC funded research grant programs either under NRPU or UITSP or TDF or TRGP or Pak-US etc. (either ongoing, submitted, under review, etc).
- If a university teacher is working as PI or Co-PI in more than one project, he/she may get only one month's Initial Basic Pay under any one of his/her project as honorarium.
- Any application will not be considered if
- Incomplete filled application form
- Submitted proposal under NRPU is meant for establishment of laboratory or for only development.
- Filed on outdated Application Forms
- Either PI does not submit original hard copy of proposal to the respective ORIC Office/Research Office/Registrar Office or ORIC/Research offices does not submit original hard copies to R&D Division of HEC on or before the closing date, 31-10-2017.
- PI is executing any NRPU project whose completion is delayed by three (03) years.
- PI is currently executing or has submitted two or more NRPU projects simultaneously for consideration.
- PI has been blacklisted by HEC.
- Applications are directly submitted to HEC, bypassing ORIC/Research Office/Office of the Registrar of the respective university.
- Application forms are not signed/countersigned/endorsed by head of institution, vice chancellor/Rector/Director of DAIs.
- CV of PI or Co-PI are not attached.
- Quotations of required equipment, worth over Rs. 0.1 Million are not attached.
- Report generated by Turnitin is not attached.
- A clearance certificate from Institutional Bioethics Committee (IBC) of the university/DAI concerned (if required) is not attached.
- Industrial support letter (if required) is not attached.
- Copy of appointment letter is not attached.
- Proposal(s) has already submitted under "Thematic Research Grants Programme 2017-18" for funding.