UCT seed awards are available for newly-rated researchers (2022/2023) and researchers that successfully maintain – or improve on – their current rating.
The purpose of this intervention is to encourage wider participation in the NRF rating process as well as to assure the eligibility of our researchers for future NRF funding programmes (including SARChI) that require applicants to be NRF rated.
The eligibility criteria for UCT seed awards are the following:
- Researchers who applied for, and achieved, a new NRF rating under the 2023 closing date will be eligible for a UCT seed award.
- Researchers who were invited to apply for re-evaluation of their current NRF rating under the 2023 closing date and who successfully maintained or improved on their current rating will be eligible for a UCT seed award.
The awards will be made in response to a brief application to the Research Office and must be used to further research. An e-application form will be made available in May 2024, with a deadline of 17 June, 2024.
Please contact Amanda Raman for more information.
NRF INCENTIVE FUNDING POLICY VS UCT CONTRIBUTION FOR 2022, 2023 and 2024
NEWLY RATED RESEARCHERS
Researchers who have never been rated before and who applied under the 2023 closing date (rating effective 1 January 2024)
|
Category |
UCT Seed Funding for 2022, 2023 and 2024 |
NRF Revised (new policy) Incentive |
NRF Period of incentive (new policy) |
Old Incentive Funding model up until 2017 |
|
A rating |
R100,000
|
R50,000 |
Once-off over the duration of the rating cycles |
R100,000 p.a. over 6 years |
|
B rating |
R50,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off over the duration of the rating cycles |
R80,000 p.a. over 6 years |
|
C rating |
R20,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off over the duration of the rating cycle |
R40,000 p.a. over 6 years |
|
Y rating |
R20,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off over the duration of the rating cycle |
R20,000 NRF & R20,000 from UCT |
|
P rating |
R50,000 |
R50,000 |
Annual grant for the duration of the NRF rating |
R40,000 NRF & R40,000 from UCT |
RE-RATED RESEARCHERS
Researchers with a valid or lapsed rating, who submitted a re-evaluation application under the 2023 call (rating effective 1 January 2024)
|
Category |
UCT Seed Funding for 2022, 2023 and 2024 |
NRF Revised (new policy) Incentive |
NRF Period of incentive (new policy) |
Old Incentive Funding model up until 2017 |
|
A |
R80,000 |
R30,000 |
once-off grant over duration of the rating cycle |
R100,000 p.a over 6 years |
|
B |
R50,000 |
R30,000 |
once-off grant over duration of the rating cycle |
R80,000 p.a over 6 years |
|
C |
R20,000 |
R30,000 |
once-off grant over duration of the rating cycle |
R40,000 p.a. over 6 years |
|
Y |
R20,000 |
R30,000 |
once-off grant over duration of the rating cycle |
R20,000 NRF & R20,000 institution |
|
P |
R50,000 |
R50,000 |
Annual VC Research Leadership Grants for the duration of the rating cycle |
R40,000 NRF & R40,000 institution |
IMPROVED RATING IN 2024
Above researchers who improved their rating between the main categories (i.e., Y to C/B; P to C/B/A; C to B and B to A) (rating effective 1 January 2024)
|
Category |
UCT Seed Funding for 2021, 2022 and 2023 |
NRF Revised Incentive |
NRF Period of incentive (new policy) |
Old Incentive Funding model up until 2017 |
|
A |
R100,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off grant over the duration of the rating cycle |
R100,000 p.a. over 6 years |
|
B |
R50,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off grant over the duration of the rating cycle |
R80,000 p.a. over 6 years |
|
C |
R20,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off grant over the duration of the rating cycle |
R40,000 p.a. over 6 years |