Second Executive Programme of Science and Technology Cooperation (Italy – Singapore)

About the Grant

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) are opening a call for proposals for the Second Executive Programme of Science and Technology Cooperation for the years 2027 - 2029.

Proposals must be submitted within one of the following priority research areas:

  • Advanced Technologies (Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Quantum Technology, Space Technologies)
  • Health/Medical (Aging, Translational Medicine and Neuroscience) 

Quantum of award is up to S$450,000 per project (inclusive of 30% indirect costs) over a period of 36 months.

Please refer to the Grant Call Guidelines document for more information. 

Eligibility Criteria

This Call for Proposals is a joint submission that involves at least one Singapore-based and one Italy-based public sector research performer, with possible partnerships with one Singapore-based and/or one Italy-based industry collaborator highly encouraged. Eligible Singapore-based public sector research performers include the Institutes of Higher Learning (e.g. universities and polytechnics), A*STAR Research Institutes, and non-defense-related public sector agencies (e.g., Ministries, Statutory Boards). 

Where industry collaborator(s) is/are involved, companies will be assessed on their contribution towards the quantitative and qualitative merits of the proposed project. The two companies (where applicable) participating in the proposal must be separate entities. One of the companies should not be the Singapore/Italy office of the other participating company (i.e., Singapore company is the branch company or subsidiary of the Italy company and vice versa). 

Each eligible institute must follow the application quota below: 

  • no more than 10 applications each from NUS, NTU and A*STAR
  • no more than 2 application each from all other institutes, research/healthcare groups

Applications must be endorsed by the Host Institution’s Research Director or equivalent prior to submission.

Grant Call Timeline

The indicative timeline of the grant call activities is as follows:

Event Date
Application opening period 07 Oct 2026 – 13 Nov 2026
Assessment of applications and evaluation Nov 2026 – Feb 2027
Announcement of Outcomes Mar 2027
Project Start Date 1 Apr 2027 

Application Procedure

Singapore-based applicants are required to submit their applications electronically via iGrants by 13 Nov 2026, 23:59hrs SGT. The Italy-based public sector research performer must also concurrently submit the joint proposal to MAECI. Proposals received by A*STAR and not submitted to MAECI (and vice versa) will automatically be considered ineligible.

Only COMPLETE proposals will be accepted for review, evaluation and assessment for awards. Please see the attached templates and guidelines for more information.

Application Materials

For Enquiries

A*STAR (Singapore)
E-Mail: oga_bilats@a-star.edu.sg

Office XI - Directorate General for Growth and Export Promotion
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI)
E-mail:  dgce11.bandi2@esteri.it