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Call for research and innovation 2026
Details
Location:Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Funding agency:
Grantmaking entity: ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation
Grantmaking entity type:Multilateral organization
Description
The ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) is thrilled to announce the Call for Research and Innovation 2026!
This is a unique opportunity for passionate researchers, innovators, and organisations across the ASEAN Member States to contribute to a healthier, more inclusive, and productive future for older persons in the region. The Call for Research and Innovation aims to foster actionable knowledge, scalable innovations, and collaborative research that directly address emerging ageing challenges across ASEAN.
Timeline
- Proposal Submission: 30 June 2025 - 15 August 2025
- Notification of Accepted Proposals: 1 September 2025 - 30 September 2025
- Project Implementation Period: 1 October 2025 - 31 October 2025
Who Can Apply
Principal Investigators (PIs) or lead applicants must be based in one of the ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam). Eligible entities include:
- Academic and research institutions
- Government agencies and public policy institutions
- NGOs, civil society, and community-based organizations
- Private sector innovators or social enterprises
- Individual researchers and practitioners with demonstrated expertise
Collaborative and cross-country proposals (ASEAN or non-ASEAN countries) are highly encouraged!
Overview & Purpose
Why Participate?
This call is designed to
- Research & Innovation
- Policy Evidence
- Regional Collaboration
- Inclusive Approaches
Scope of the Call
We encourage proposals that align with ACAI’s Five-Year Strategic Plan and contribute to one or more of the following critical areas
- Active and healthy ageing
- Financing, demographics, and ageing-related data
- Age-friendly environment, climate adaptation, and community development
- Long-term care and integrated care for older persons (ICOPE)
- Age-related policy, advocacy, and legal rights
- Innovation and Technologies
- Social Protection for older persons
- Social engagement, community participation, and intergenerational programs
- Rights-based approaches and gender-sensitive policies
- Regional engagement and cross-country collaboration
- Financial innovation, business models, and employment for older persons
Both research and innovation-based proposals are strongly encouraged, ranging from small pilots to scalable solutions addressing the diverse needs of older persons in ASEAN Member States.
Funding & Support
Selected proposals may receive:
- Small Grants: Up to $50,000
- for pilot or exploratory projects (1-year duration).
- Scale-up Grants: Up to $150,000
- for regional or multi-country implementation (maximum 3-year duration).
- Non-Financial Support
- This includes invaluable technical guidance, access to vital ASEAN networks, and policy advocacy platforms.
Grant sizes will be determined based on the project scope, quality, and potential impact.
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By Locations
Funding agency:
EC
Status:
awarded
Location:
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine / West Bank & Gaza, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
Funding agency:
EC
Status:
awarded
Location:
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
By Sectors
There are no similar grants by sectors
grant Background
About the Funding Agency
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The Road Map for the ASEAN Community sets out commitments which member States must strive to achieve by 2015. The ASEAN Secretariat seeks to facilitate the implementation of these commitments.
Our goal is to enhance regional peace, stability and security, facilitate economic integration, and improve wellbeing and livelihoods for the peoples of ASEAN by building the ASEAN Community around three pillars: political-security community, economic community, socio-cultural community.
About the Sectors
Community Development & NGOs
Focuses on initiatives that support community empowerment, civic engagement, and the work of non-governmental and civil society organizations at local, national, and international levels.
Key areas:
- Community development and social inclusion initiatives
- Civil society and NGO programmes
- Civic engagement and citizen participation
Environment & Climate
Focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, promoting sustainable resource management, enhancing climate resilience, and mitigating the impacts of climate change through conservation, adaptation, and low-carbon initiatives.
Key areas:
- Environmental protection and conservation
- Natural resource and ecosystem management
- Climate change and environmental resilience
Locations
Brunei
Brunei maintains high-quality infrastructure funded largely by hydrocarbon revenues, including modern utilities, transport systems and public services. Economic diversification strategies seek to expand downstream energy industries, logistics and digital services. Public investment continues to play a dominant role in infrastructure development. Reducing reliance on oil and strengthening private sector dynamism remain central policy goals.
Nr. of tenders: 4331
Nr. of grants: 1362
Nr. of donors: 303
Nr. of jobs: 12
Nr. of tenders: 4331
Nr. of grants: 1362
Nr. of donors: 303
Nr. of jobs: 12
Cambodia
Cambodia has expanded roads, ports, power generation and special economic zones to support manufacturing growth and regional trade integration. Foreign direct investment has played a significant role in financing infrastructure and industrial development. Improved connectivity has strengthened export competitiveness. Ongoing reforms in governance, skills development and financial management are essential to sustain momentum.
Nr. of tenders: 16336
Nr. of grants: 3074
Nr. of donors: 532
Nr. of jobs: 43
Nr. of tenders: 16336
Nr. of grants: 3074
Nr. of donors: 532
Nr. of jobs: 43
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