The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) is opening applications for its Seeding Neuroscience Grants 2026, a funding programme designed to help researchers establish new national or regional neuroscience societies and thematic neuroscience networks across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
The grants support governance planning, strategic workshops, and the foundational activities needed to create sustainable neuroscience communities. Unlike conference funding, this programme specifically focuses on the formal establishment of new scientific societies or sub-societies, with funded activities taking place in 2027.
Applications will be accepted from 1 September to 30 September 2026.
About the IBRO Seeding Neuroscience Grants
IBRO created the Seeding Neuroscience Grants to strengthen neuroscience communities in regions where formal structures for collaboration, networking, and professional development are limited or emerging. The programme provides critical seed funding for groups of neuroscientists working together to establish recognized organizations that will promote research, education, and scientific exchange.
The initiative also supports the creation of thematic neuroscience networks or specialized sub-societies, such as computational neuroscience, glial biology, neuroinformatics, or other emerging disciplines that are not yet represented within existing national societies.
Grant Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) |
| Programme | Seeding Neuroscience Grants |
| Grant Type | Event Organization & Society Development |
| Eligible Regions | Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America |
| Activities | Governance Planning & Strategic Workshops |
| Activity Period | 2027 |
| Application Opens | 1 September 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 30 September 2026 |
The maximum grant amount varies according to the official call specifications released during the application period.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are welcomed from groups of scientists and organizations working toward establishing a formal neuroscience community.
Eligible applicants include:
- Emerging neuroscience societies that are not yet formally established.
- Groups actively planning the creation of a national or regional neuroscience society.
- Organizations developing new thematic neuroscience networks.
- Researchers in regions with limited opportunities for neuroscience collaboration.
- Scientific groups representing unmet neuroscience subfields or regional communities.
Applications may be submitted by either a consortium of neuroscientists or an organization representing the interests of the neuroscience community.
Eligible Activities
The programme supports inaugural activities that lay the foundation for creating sustainable scientific organizations.
Examples include:
- Governance planning meetings
- Strategic planning workshops
- Constitution and bylaws development
- Leadership and committee formation
- Membership development planning
- Regional stakeholder consultations
- Society establishment workshops
IBRO emphasizes that these activities should directly contribute to launching a formal neuroscience society or thematic network.
Activities That Are Not Eligible
The Seeding Neuroscience Grants do not fund:
- Standalone scientific conferences
- General academic meetings without governance objectives
- Events focused solely on scientific presentations
- Fully virtual activities
- Meetings that lack a clear plan to establish a formal organization
Projects must demonstrate actionable governance outcomes rather than simply organizing a scientific event.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should ensure that their proposal meets all programme requirements.
Key requirements include:
- Activities must take place during 2027.
- Events must be held in person or in a hybrid format.
- Proposals must align with IBRO’s diversity and inclusion values.
- The proposed organization must represent a genuinely emerging society or thematic network.
- A minimum of one letter of support from recognized neuroscience leaders or institutions is mandatory.
Applications submitted without the required support letter will be considered incomplete.
Special Consideration for Existing Societies
In countries where a national neuroscience society already exists, applicants may still qualify if they are establishing:
- A regional neuroscience chapter
- A formally recognized thematic sub-society
- A specialized neuroscience network addressing an unmet scientific field
Applicants should clearly demonstrate the added value and distinct purpose of the proposed organization relative to existing national structures.
How Applications Are Evaluated
IBRO assesses proposals based on several key criteria, including:
- The need for a new neuroscience society or network
- Quality of the governance and strategic planning activities
- Long-term sustainability of the proposed organization
- Regional scientific impact
- Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community building
Strong applications should present a clear roadmap for establishing a functional and sustainable neuroscience community beyond the initial funded activities.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the IBRO Grants Portal during the official application window.
Applicants should:
- Create an applicant account on the IBRO Grants Portal.
- Complete the online application form.
- Upload the required support letter.
- Submit all proposal materials between 1 and 30 September 2026.
IBRO recommends creating an account before the application period begins to allow sufficient time to prepare the proposal.
Why This Grant Matters
The IBRO Seeding Neuroscience Grants provide an important opportunity for researchers to strengthen neuroscience collaboration in regions where formal scientific communities are still developing. By supporting governance, leadership, and organizational planning rather than isolated events, the programme helps create lasting institutions that can advance neuroscience research, training, mentorship, and regional cooperation for years to come.
For neuroscientists seeking to build new national societies, regional chapters, or specialized research networks across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, this grant offers valuable seed funding to transform collaborative ideas into sustainable scientific organizations.
