Start-up Research Grant for Fresh PhD holders (SRGP)


Start-Up Research Grant Program (SRGP) is designed to assist the fresh PhD holders to establish research facilities upon joining higher education institutions as faculty members. The program enables the newly appointed PhD faculty to setup basic research infrastructure to start research activities without delay. The program helps to engage both the faculty and students in research through provision of financial assistance and basic lab/experimental facilities.

Important Instructions

  • New Policy has been implemented from 1st December 2015. No new application received on old format will be entertained.
  • Principal Investigator has only one chance to apply for the SRGP & incomplete application will not be entertained.
  • Faculty Members eligible to apply under SRGP are:
  • Fresh PhD degree holder joining on IPFP, TTS, BPS or long term regular contract (minimum for a period of one year) while visiting faculty is not eligible to apply under SRGP.
  • Joining Public Sector University/Institution or Private Sector University /Institution eligible for Public Funding (list is available on website).
  • A fresh PhD degree holder means a doctor having PhD degree completed within two years from the date of application for SRGP.

Experienced faculty members/researcher or Faculty of Private Institutions are not eligible for Government funding as well as visiting or short term faculty are not eligible for SRGP.

How to apply

  1. The applicant will fill the application on the prescribed form listed below. Once completed, the applicant must send it to the Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) of his/her university. If such an office does not exist, the applicant must submit the form to the university's Director Research.
  2. The research proposal must have clearly defined objectives and methodology. The time frame of the research activity must not exceed one year.
  3. The applicant must note that he/she has only one chance to submit the Start-up Research Grant.
  4. The application form must be filled in very carefully and be complete in all respects.
  5. The applicant must attach the following documents with the application:
    • CVs of Principal Investigator (PI) and Co- Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
    • A copy of the PhD degree of PI (English translation if original is in other language)
    • A copy of the appointment letter of PI
    • A copy of the CNIC of the PI
    • Quotation for permanent equipment of worth more than Rs. 100,000 or above.
    • List of expandable supplies with complete detail of chemicals.
    1. Incomplete applications will be rejected and the applicant will not have a chance to resubmit.
    2. After submission, HEC will communicate the decision on the application.
    3. Successful applicant will have to submit a Deed Agreement on Non Judicial Stamp Paper 
    4. Funds will be released upon submission of Deed Agreement.
    5. ​Kindly ensure the HOD comments and stock register entries with mid term and final reports. No report will be entertained without HOD comments and stock register entries.
    6. The cases approved before 31st Dec,2015 must submit a mid term report as per the format available on website.​
    7. All the cases approved after 1st Jan,2016 must submit the final report only, ensuring the stock register entries of the purchases made and HOD comments
    8. Only 1 original copy of research application, mid term report and final report is required for process. No need to send 3 copies of the said documents.​
  • Applicant must have completed his/her PhD degree within two years from the SRGP application date.
  • Applicant must been a faculty member of a Public or Private University/DAI eligible for public funding as per HEC accreditation list.
  • Applicant must have joined the University/Institute as Assistant Professor on Tenure Track System (TTS), Interim Placement of Fresh PhD (IPFP), Basic Pay Scale (BPS) or long term regular contract (minimum one year period)
  • A faculty member on IPFP or contract needs to apply for Start-up Research Grant within 3 months of his/her joining as while the faculty member joining on TTS or BPS may submit his/her application within 6 months.
  • A faculty member on IPFP who could not submit an application for Start-up Research Grant may apply for this upon joining as Assistant Professor on TTS, BPS or regular contract.
  • Start-up Research Grant will be provided to the applicant only once.
  • A faculty member whose application for SRGP has been rejected once cannot apply again.
  • HEC scholarship defaulters (foreign and indigenous) are not eligible for this grant.

Contact detail:

Ms. Uzma Naz
Assistant Director, Research & Development
Higher Education Commission of Pakistan,
H-9, Islamabad.
Tel: 051-90401938
Email:  unaz@hec.gov.pk  
Website: http://hec.gov.pk