Objectives

The scheme will:

• Support innovative and scientifically robust research in vegetation science across Asia.

• Enhance opportunities for PhD/MSc students and early-career researchers to conduct fieldwork and data-driven studies within Asia.

• Strengthen scientific collaboration and build research capacity in underfunded regions.

• Increase the visibility and contributions of Asian vegetation scientists within IAVS.

Area of activities

The grants will mainly support projects based on first-hand field data collection from Asian ecosystems, with priority given to:

• Field surveys and vegetation plot sampling

• Laboratory or analytical work using fresh material collected from the field.

Funding Structure

• Total budget: 3000 EUR.

• Individual grants: 500–1000 EUR.

• Expected number of funded projects: 3–6, depending on application quality.

Final grant amounts will be determined based on feasibility, quality, and budget

justification.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Conduct research within Asia, with clear relevance to vegetation science or plant ecology. The extent of Asia should follow the United Nations (Here)

• Be a member of both IAVS and the Asian Regional Section. Applicants can join IAVS here (and the Asian Regional Section at the same time) or if already an IAVS member can join the Asian Regional Section(How to join Asian RS: here)

• Be early-career researchers (MSc students, PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, or within 5 years of PhD).

• List all support they have received from the IAVS in the last 2 years (2024 & 2025) and describe any other IAVS grants that they intend to apply for in 2026.

• Applicants must declare all IAVS support received in the last two years (2024–2025) and any project-based IAVS grants they intend to apply for in 2026. If an applicant already holds an active IAVS project grant, any approved funding underthe Asian project scheme will be limited to 50% of the approved budget. GSC travel grants for attending IAVS and working groups symposium/conferences are exempt from this rule.

• Store the data collected in open repositories in the following year (if the data is intended to be used in a publication, then the data must be uploaded together with the resulting paper)

Not supported: international travel, conference fees, salary costs, or publication fees.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated on:

• Scientific merit and feasibility.

• Relevance to vegetation science or plant ecology.

• Clarity of objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.

• Appropriateness and justification of the budget.

• Potential contribution to capacity building in underfunded or understudied regions.

• Expected benefits, such as new data collection or support for student training.

Selection and Awarding Process

Proposals will be evaluated by the Asian Regional Section Grant Committee, with a member of IAVS Governing Board representative overseeing the process.

All reviewers will declare conflicts of interest and exclude themselves where necessary. Each application will be scored from 1 (low) to 6 (high) by each member of the Committee for each of the following items:

1. Scientific merit, feasibility and budget appropriateness (70% weight towards final score)

2. Motivation statement (15% weight towards final score)

3. CV quality (15% weight towards final score)

Scores recorded by different members will be averaged and weighted according to above items and the Committee—together with the IAVS representative—will rank and select final awardees.

Promotion and Timeframe

● Call for proposals: within 2 weeks of IAVS approval.

● Application period: 10 weeks. The call will be advertised through IAVS bulletin,

social media account and Asian RS social media networks, Asian page in IAVS as

well as group emails to all members.

● Evaluation period: 2 weeks after the deadline.

● Notification of awardees: immediately after review.

● Project duration: all funds must be used within 12 months.

Grant Allocation

Each successful applicant will receive the fund at the beginning.

Application Procedure

Applicants must share the following to an online application form announced during releasing the call.

1. A project proposal including:

   • Introduction, and aims (max. 300 words)

   • Methodology (max. 300 words)

   • Timeline (max. 100 words)

   • Detailed budget justification (including fieldwork costs, local travel, and any required equipment not available at the applicant’s institution) (max. 200 words)

2. A current CV including a short summary of the history of IAVS activities (max. 2 pages)

3. Motivation statement (max. 300 words)

4. Letter of Support from supervisor/employer in case you are a PhD/MSc student (max.one page)

Reporting Requirements

Awardees must:

• Submit a 1–2 page final report summarising activities, outcomes, and expenditure.

• Agree to publication of their report in the IAVS Bulletin.

• Acknowledge the IAVS–Asian RS Small Project Grant Scheme in all outputs resulting from the funded work.

Failure to submit a final report may result in ineligibility for future Asian RS or IAVS funding. If the project is not completed and the final report is not submitted, the awarded funds must be refunded by the awardee.