Overview
The Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) Programme and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) plan to invite applications from universities and publicly funded research institutions in developing countries for the CCG–TWAS Catalyst Research Group Grants.
This initiative combines institutional research grants with fully funded Master’s Scholarships to strengthen local research, teaching, and policy engagement in energy–climate modelling. It supports the formation of multidisciplinary teams of academics, research assistants, and postgraduate students advancing applied research for sustainable energy transitions in the Global South.
What the Grant Offers
Each selected Research Group Leader will manage a combined research and training grant consisting of two components:
- Research Grant Component: supports the cost of one or more Research Assistants (RAs) with a minimum of an MSc degree and, where needed, conference and open-access publication fees, as well as hardware such as equipment, servers, and data storage.
- Master’s Training Component: funds tuition fee and living expenses for MSc students supervised by the same research group so that students can benefit from a broad research environment.
Projects should demonstrate the potential to strengthen institutional research, teaching, and supervision capacity in energy–climate modelling, engage postgraduate students through funded MSc research opportunities, and create practical links between research outputs and national or local policy processes.
Eligible Research Topics
Eligible research proposals should align with CCG’s Programmed Research Framework, which brings together interdisciplinary Research Communities and Cross-Cutting Themes to advance climate-compatible, inclusive, and evidence-based growth. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
Research Communities
- Energy Systems: Pathways for resilient, low-carbon, and inclusive energy transitions; expanding access; integration of renewables and storage; and policy frameworks for sustainable energy investment.
- Transport Systems: Sustainable, affordable, and inclusive transport planning; low-carbon mobility transitions; climate resilience in transport networks; and open data for transport and energy system modelling.
- Infrastructure Resilience: Understanding material supply chains, resource security, and the role of circularity in infrastructure planning; identifying risks and resilience interventions in response to climate and socio-economic shocks.
- Resource Efficiency: Material efficiency, circular economy strategies, and resource governance to support low-carbon transitions; sustainable management of critical minerals and natural resources.
- Economics, Enterprise and Finance: Inclusive and green growth strategies; innovation and entrepreneurship for low-carbon economies; investment mechanisms to mobilise climate finance; and financing gaps for clean energy transitions.
- Governance and Equity: Political economy of energy and transport transitions; equitable access, justice, and participation in planning processes; decentralised energy planning; and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI).
Cross-Cutting Themes
- System Planning and Policy: Integrated, data-driven planning for energy and transport systems, including national and sub-national policy design.
- Data-to-Deal Research: Strengthening analytical and institutional frameworks to turn data into investable, climate-compatible projects.
- Critical Minerals: Mapping, governance, and value addition of critical minerals for clean energy technologies.
- Green Hydrogen and Alternative Fuels: Assessing economic and policy opportunities for emerging fuels in low- and middle-income countries.
- Circular Economy: Resource efficiency, material reuse and recycling, and inclusive business models that create local value and reduce environmental impact.
Eligibility and Selection
- Applicants must be nationals of TWAS-eligible countries (see the TWAS country list) and be affiliated with a university or research institution in one of these countries.
- Each institution must apply as a research group composed of academics, research assistants, and postgraduate students working on energy–climate modelling or related fields.
- One member must be designated as the Research Group Leader, who will serve as the principal investigator and be responsible for the overall coordination and administration of the grant. The Group Leader must hold an active research and teaching role within the applying institution.
- Each application must include a comprehensive research plan outlining clear objective, deliverables, and expected outcomes; how the proposed work will inform or support national policy development; a justified budget detailing all requested resources (e.g. equipment, software licenses, research materials); and clearly defined roles and responsibilities for all team members.
- Desirable: Participation in CCG capacity-building initiatives.
- Desirable: Priority will be given to research groups that encourage master’s students to undertake policy-relevant thesis research, ideally linked with government departments and planning units.
- Desirable: Master’s programmes should follow recognised standards and, where possible, integrate CCG’s FlatPack materials and open-knowledge ecosystem certified by a FlatPack Coach LinkedIn Badge (more details coming soon).
- Desirable: Establishment – or plans to establish country Working Groups, i.e. national communities of practice that bring together academics, government officials, and practitioners to collaborate on energy – climate modelling and policy analysis, as it helps strengthen the research – policy interface and ensure long-term institutional impact.
Partnership and Support
The programme will be implemented jointly by CCG and TWAS under the Catalyst Facility Funding Framework, building on the established TWAS Research Group Grant model. TWAS will oversee administration, while CCG and partners will handle selection providing technical mentorship, training materials, and access to data tools. Together, the partners aim to empower research institutions in the Global South to produce policy-relevant evidence and cultivate the skills needed in-country to accelerate the just energy transition.
How to Apply: Full application details, eligibility guidelines, and templates will be published on the TWAS and CCG websites.