Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified applicants for the Supporting African Science and Tertiary Education (SASTE) Grant 2025 which is open to high potentials from Sub Sahara Africa working in…[full details below]
The Supporting African Science and Tertiary Education (SASTE) Grant 2027 is designed to support promising researchers and professionals from sub-Saharan Africa who are working in important scientific and development-related fields. The opportunity is open to high-potential applicants whose work falls within areas such as agriculture, water management, forestry, renewable energy, nutritional science, human medicine, and veterinary medicine. If you are developing research that addresses practical challenges affecting communities in Africa, the SASTE Grant can provide an opportunity to strengthen your academic and research career through international collaboration.
The programme is supported by Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation, with funding from the Austrian Government and the European Commission. Successful applicants are expected to participate in long-term research activities involving both a university or research institution in sub-Saharan Africa and a partner university or research institution in Austria. This structure gives researchers the opportunity to work across institutions, develop international academic connections, and contribute to research that can have practical value in their home countries and beyond.
Applicants interested in the SASTE Grant 2027 should ensure that their proposed research and academic background meet the programme’s requirements before beginning the application process. Particular attention should be given to the eligible research areas, institutional requirements, collaboration arrangements, supporting documents, funding conditions, and application deadline. Researchers who meet the criteria should prepare a clear research proposal and demonstrate how the proposed collaboration can contribute to scientific knowledge, skills development, and long-term research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa.
SASTE Grant 2025 | DETAILS
The SASTE Grant supports high achieving individuals from the Sub Saharan Africa carrying out research in Agriculture, Forestry, Water Management, Renewable Energies, Nutritional Science, as well as Human and Veterinary Medicine. However individuals with strong involvement of Technical Sciences and IT in research projects of the above mentioned fields are also encouraged to apply.
Supporting African Science and Tertiary Education (SASTE) Grant | Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the SASTE Grant 2025, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must be post-doctoral scientists working in one of the fields listed above and must be below ages 42 and 45 years respectively for men and women.
- Applicants hold a research position in Africa (which ensures the continuation of the work at the home institution after the research stay in Austria) and have research experience in the field of the proposed research.
- PhD earned from outside Austria is desirable but not obligatory. If PhD earned and application for research stay concern the same university or department in Austria, great importance will be attached to the novel aspect of the research project.
- Six (6) months prior to the planned stay, the applicant has not studied or worked in Austria.
- Possess a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 7 years of post-doctoral work experience within a university or higher research organization located in Sub-Sahara Africa.
- Have a contract with the home institution for at least 2 more years after the research stay (Confirmation by the home institution is needed, e.g. contract details).
- Confirmation by the Austrian hosting institution and the supervisor to accept the applicant as well as to provide the necessary resources for the research (office space, facilities, time, etc.).
- Possess excellent language skills in English or German.
What is Funded?
- Grant duration may range between 12 to 24 months, depending on the complexity of the project.
- An extension of the grant is not possible.
- Monthly stipend of 1500 Euro is provided.
- Additional support for housing of up to 600 Euro/month.
- Travel budget of up to 3000 Euro/year for scientific visits of the home intuition and scientific conferences.
- Costs for the hosting institution in Austria of up to 2500 Euro/year according to work and budget plan as part of the application.
- Confirmation of the necessary in-kind contributions by the home intuition (e.g. support for field work, technical equipment etc.).
- Additional funding related to the proposed research is beneficial, but is subject to disclosure.
Application Procedures
How-to-Apply: Interested applicants for the SASTE Grant to research in Austria are to send the following documents by email to:
Univ. Prof. Dr. DDr.h.c Hubert Hasenauer
President of the Austrian – Africa Uni-Net
Institute of Silviculture,
Peter Jordan Strasse 82, 1190 Wien, Austria
Email: hubert.hasenauer@boku.ac.at
Required Documents:
- Research Proposal
- Motivation letter
- Detailed Curriculum vitae
- Employment confirmation for a contract for a minimum of 2 more years after return from Austria.
- Recommendation letter
- Confirmation of in-kind contributions by the home institution.
- Recommendation letter from the head of the unit at the hosting institution.
- Disclosure of additional funding related to the proposed research.
- Other documents needed for the admission into the hosting institution and for the application of a temporary residence permit.
Application Deadline: November 2025