Regional Funding Program 

Member Engagement Activities

The WAITRO Regional Funding Program for Member Engagement Activities managed by the WAITRO Secretariat is designed to strengthen collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint action among active WAITRO members.

The program supports member-led regional activities that enhance engagement, foster innovation, and promote sustainable development. By empowering members to design and implement activities tailored to their regional contexts, the program reinforces WAITRO’s mission of facilitating global cooperation in industrial research and technology transfer while taking regional diversity into account.

The program covers all five WAITRO regions and encourages initiatives that build strong, connected, and active regional networks within the Global Innovation Family.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants

  • Active WAITRO Members (Members in Good Standing in 2026).
  • Applications must be submitted by the Contact Persons (CPs) of the member organizations (If you are not sure who your organization’s CP is, please email us for assistance).

Activities

The program supports a wide range of member engagement formats, including but not limited to:

  • Regional conferences, workshops, and symposiums,
  • Training programs and Regional Capacity Development Initiatives (RCDIs),
  • Virtual collaboration platforms and tools.

Activities should clearly demonstrate how they strengthen regional cooperation and contribute to WAITRO’s mission.

How to Apply

To ensure a streamlined and efficient review process, the WAITRO Regional Funding Program follows a two-round application procedure. This approach allows applicants to first present their core concept before developing a full proposal.

Step 1: First-Round Application

In the first round, applicants are requested to submit a short concept note via WAITRO’s Submission Portal covering the following elements:

  • Activity Overview
  • Objectives and Expected Outcome
  • Contribution to WAITRO’s Development and Global Impact
  • Expected benefits for WAITRO Member Organizations

Based on the assessment of these submissions, shortlisted applicants will be invited to proceed to the second round.

Step 2: Second-Round Application

Shortlisted applicants will be asked to submit a full application with detailed information, including:

Required information:

  • Detailed activity plan and implementation timeline
  • Participant engagement strategy
  • Budget breakdown with justification
  • Sustainability plan beyond the funding period (if applicable)
  • Communication plan, including Social media outreach
  • WAITRO website coverage Local or regional media engagement (if applicable)
  • Risk mitigation plan (if applicable)

Application Timeline (First Cycle of 2026)

First-Round Submission Deadline: 28 February

Notification of Shortlisted Applicants: Around 6 March

Second Round Submission Deadline: 31 March

Funding Priorities

Priority will be given to proposals that:

  • Clearly demonstrate member engagement objectives and measurable outcomes
  • Promote cross-border collaboration within a region
  • Address regional challenges in industrial research and technology transfer
  • Include matching contributions (cash or in-kind) from participating members
  • Show potential for long-term impact beyond the funding period
  • Involve cross-regional collaboration (strongly encouraged)

Annual Budget

  • Total annual budget: USD 50,000
  • Funding is allocated through a competitive pool
  • Support levels are determined primarily by the number of participants and the scope of activities

Further Details

Reimbursement Schedule

100% of approved funding is reimbursed after the event

Reimbursement is based on:

  • Submission of an official invoice
  • Financial accounts related to the activity

Financial Management

Fund recipients must:

  • Maintain separate accounting records for the funded activity
  • Comply with WAITRO’s financial policies and procedures
  • Declare any additional sponsorship or external funding received for the activity

Reporting Requirements

  • Within 30 days after project completion, recipients must submit a final report including:
  • A comprehensive activity report outlining outcomes and impact
  • A news article (approx. 1,000 words)
  • 3–5 high-resolution photos suitable for publication
  • Complete financial accounting
  • Key lessons learned and recommendations for future activities

To maximize global impact and visibility:

  • Organizers must maintain close coordination with the WAITRO communications team before, during, and after the event
  • A “WAITRO Story” or News Article must be provided for publication on the WAITRO website
  • Successful models may be adapted or scaled by other regions, including through sponsorship opportunities
  • Highlights of funded activities will be featured in WAITRO publications and events
  • Exceptional projects may receive additional support for scaling up

Through the Regional Funding Program, WAITRO aims to achieve:

  1. Increased frequency and quality of regional member interactions

  2. Enhanced capacity of regional offices to serve their members

  3. Stronger collaborative networks within and across regions

  4. Increased joint research and innovation initiatives

  5. Improved knowledge sharing across WAITRO’s global network

  6. Greater visibility and value proposition for WAITRO membership

Apply Now

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact  Ms. Ran Duan at Secretariat@waitro.org

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    Ran Duan

    Director

    WAITRO Office China

Active WAITRO Members (2026)

Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Egypt | Baku State University, Azerbaijan | Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), Botswana | Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), Trinidad & Tobago | Centro Tecnológico de Antioquia (CTA), Colombia | Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Colombia | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR Ghana), Ghana | Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR India), India | Danish Technological Institute (DTI), Denmark | Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Belgium | Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI), Taiwan | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Fraunhofer), Germany | Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Sri Lanka | International School of Finance Technology (ISFT), Uzbekistan | Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Türkiye | IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL), Sweden | Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI), China | Jimma University, Ethiopia | Leitat Technological Center (Leitat), Spain | National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia | Nanjing Tech University, China | North-West University, South Africa | Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC), Chile | Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), Zimbabwe | SIRIM Berhad, Malaysia | Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), Thailand | Uganda Christian University (UCU), Uganda | Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Uganda | Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIDAVI), Brazil | University of Namibia, Namibia | Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR Ghana), Ghana

If you are interested in obtaining membership in good standing, please contact us.