2026/27 Academic Year Call for Proposals

2026/27 Academic Year Call for Proposals

News

The Directorate of Graduate Studies, Research and Innovations (DGSRI) at Busitema University has officially announced the call for proposals for the 2026/2027 Academic Year Busitema University Research and Innovation Fund (BURIF).

Under the theme "Advancing Research Excellence, Innovation, Commercialization, and Human Capital Development," the strategic initiative provides competitive grants aimed at scaling high-impact academic research, empowering researchers, and converting scientific solutions into real-world commercial products.

The 2026/27 BURIF Call prioritizes investments that deliver measurable societal impact, support postgraduate human capital, and advance Uganda’s science, technology, and national development goals," noted the Directorate.

Funding Windows & Resource Allocation

The 2026/27 funding cycle distributes competitive grants across five major programmatic windows:

  • Manufacturing, Prototyping, Translation & Commercialization (35%): Grants dedicated to advancing proven prototypes, laboratory-validated innovations, user testing, and pilot production into commercial markets.
  • Basic Research (22%): Investigator-led fundamental research to advance novelty across key priority fields.
  • Critical Research Infrastructure (22%): Funding for shared laboratory equipment, scientific platforms, calibration, and upgrading research facilities.
  • Centers of Excellence & Thematic Groups (10%): Strengthening multidisciplinary hubs to foster high-impact research, PhD student mentorship, and external grant acquisition.
  • Research Dissemination & Publication Clinics (6%): Faculty-led writing retreats, editorial support, and conference dissemination to convert research into peer-reviewed publications and patents.
Targeted Research Agenda Priority Areas

Applicants are required to align their proposal submissions with one or more of Busitema University's strategic research priority areas:

  1. Transformative Education for sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and job creation.
  2. One Health.
  3. Wealth Creation through agriculture and animal production.
  4. Appropriate Technologies & Clean Energy.
  5. Environmental Sustainability & Climate Risk Management.
  6. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
  7. Cross-Cutting Issues (Gender, Youth, Disability Inclusion, and Digital Transformation).
Key Dates & How to Apply
  • Call Opens: August 4, 2026
  • Submission Deadline: August 21, 2026

Eligible full-time university faculty and researchers must submit their full proposals, work plans, and budgets online via the official Graduate Research Management System (GRMS) portal:

👉 Application Portal: https://grms.busitema.ac.ug

For technical support or inquiries, please contact the Directorate of Graduate Studies, Research and Innovations (DGSRI) through official university channels. Download the detailed advert here