Ready to Apply?

These resources will help guide you through the application process

What are the requirements?

Each Collaborative Research Action (CRA) has specific requirements, deadlines, and eligible countries. Be sure to carefully review the full description of the CRA you are interested in. However, many CRAs share the following core eligibility criteria:

Transdisciplinary Approach: Proposals must integrate natural and social sciences and actively engage societal partners (e.g., civil society, local governments, community organizations) to address global challenges.

Three-part Team Composition: Each proposal must include three types of actors—natural scientists, social scientists, and at least one societal partner directly impacted by the project outcomes.

International Collaboration: Proposals must involve participants from at least three different countries, all of which must be listed as eligible for the specific CRA. Participants from other countries may be included if they provide their own funding or in-kind support.

One Proposal per Team: Only one submission is allowed per team per CRA.

Project Duration: Projects may 3 or more years depending on a case by case basis.

Additional Requirements: Some CRAs may include budget limits or further specific conditions.

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What is the application process?

1. Call for Applications

Calls are published on the Belmont Forum website. Depending on the CRA, the process may involve one or two stages:

  • One-stage: Full Proposal Submission.
  • Two-stage: Project Registration followed by Full Proposal Submission.

Each stage has its own deadline.

2. Project Registration Phase

Consortia express their intent to apply via the Belmont Forum Grant Operations (BFgo) platform by the stated deadline. Registration forms and detailed guidance are available on the Belmont Forum website and through BFgo. Only successful consortia are invited to submit full proposals.

3. Full Proposal Submission Phase

Invited applicants submit complete proposals through the BFgo platform (or the designated portal), following the instructions and using the correct forms (both provided in BFgo) by the final deadline.

4. Eligibility Review

All submissions undergo a review to confirm they meet the basic eligibility criteria, including:

  • Transdisciplinary methodology
  • International collaboration (minimum three eligible countries)
  • Alignment with CRA themes

Some CRAs may have additional eligibility checks.

5. Expert Evaluation

Eligible proposals are reviewed by an independent panel of experts based on the following criteria:

  • Intellectual merit and scientific quality
  • Relevance to call objectives (including societal impact and user engagement)
  • Qualifications of the project team
  • Quality of co-production and stakeholder involvement
  • Project management and resource planning
  • Data and Digital Object Management Plan (DDOMP)
  • Other requirements as specified in the CRA text

Further details are available within each individual call.

6. Funding Decision

Decisions are made and communicated to applicants. All decisions are final and not subject to appeal. Funded projects receive direct support from the relevant agencies.

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What is the BFgo Platform?

The Belmont Forum Grant Operations (BFgo) platform is the centralized portal for managing all aspects of the application process.

BFgo

The application portal provides:

  • Detailed instructions and proposal templates
  • Links to CRA-specific call documents and eligibility information
  • Secure submission for both project registrations and full proposals

Multilingual Submission

The Belmont Forum is piloting a new multilingual submission module that allows applicants to submit proposals in languages other than English. Check the specific call text to see if your CRA is part of this pilot!

Platform Support

BFgo also includes guidance on navigating the system effectively.