Science for Peace and Security

How to apply?

SPS only accepts applications in line with the SPS grant mechanisms, and in response to calls for proposals advertised on this website. Before starting a new SPS application, potential applicants should ensure that they meet eligibility criteria and requirements for the management of a potential SPS grant.

Specific requirements for the development of new applications are outlined in each call for proposals and their respective grant management handbooks and application templates. As these documents are regularly updated, potential applicants should make use exclusively of the most recent versions, which are made available at the time of publication of new calls for proposals. Previous versions are available for information here.

General eligibility criteria

Applications for funding must be developed jointly by a NATO country Co-Director (NPD) and a Partner country Co-Director (PPD). To be deemed eligible for funding, proposals submitted to the SPS Programme must:

• contribute towards NATO’s Strategic Objectives and have a clear link to security;
• address at least one of the SPS Key Priorities;
• be led by a co-director who is a national of, resident and employed in a NATO member country, and a co-director who is a national of, resident and employed in a partner nation;
• be developed and implemented by co-directors affiliated with a government, academic, or other non-profit institutions. For-profit private companies are not eligible for SPS funding;
• include realistic plans and budgets;
• be developed and managed in alignment with rules and regulations outlined in the SPS handbooks, which are regularly updated and made available at the time of publication of new calls for proposals.

Please refer to the SPS calls for proposals and related documents for more detailed information on eligibility. Find below an overview of NATO and eligible partner nations:

NATO countries: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, the Republic of North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Türkiye, United Kingdom, United States.

Eligible NATO partners: Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Egypt, Finland (the Invitee), Georgia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Malta, Mauritania, the Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Serbia, Sweden (the Invitee), Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan.

Available SPS calls for proposals

The Programme may publish calls in two formats:

• Open Calls encourage applications addressing any of the SPS Key Priorities.
• Special Calls invite applications addressing specific priorities and themes of particular relevance at the time of publication.

Each SPS call welcomes applications in line with all of the SPS grant mechanisms, unless otherwise specified. Details on how to submit new applications are explained in each call for proposals.

For queries prior to the submission of an application, potential applicants may contact SPS at sps.info@hq.nato.int. The Programme endeavours to support potential applicants in the submission of sound proposals fitting within the scope of the Programme’s activities.

NOTE:

• As each application undergoes a thorough review process, a decision on funding can take up to nine months following an application deadline. It is important to take this into consideration when proposing dates for an activity.
• For SPS Multi-Year Projects applications: If your project would require more than EUR 350,000, please first send to sps.info@hq.nato.int a one-page abstract of your proposal, with an estimated budget, in order to evaluate whether such a project would fit in the overall portfolio of SPS before a full application is developed.
• Only complete applications submitted by the call deadline may be considered for support. Late applications will need to be updated and resubmitted by the following applicable deadline.
• Beneficiaries of SPS grants may only hold one grant at a time.