Open topic (bring your own idea)

Calls with no fixed research topic, such as investigator-led grants, career awards, fellowships, prizes and broad agency announcements. If your idea does not fit a themed call, start here.

Who funds this idea

67 calls from 40 funders currently fund work on this idea. Most calls: European Commission (Horizon Europe) (8), NIH (7), NSF (4), American Crystallographic Association (3), UKRI research councils (3), Office of Naval Research (2), and 34 other funders.

14 calls for this idea welcome industry or international partners

Open now (48)

ONR FY27 NOFO for Young Investigator Program

Office of Naval Research · United States

Deadline: 30 Oct 2026 (8 days)

Award: Typically $750,000 over 3 years (up to $250,000 per 12 months)

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryearly-careerestablished / PIearly-career / new PI

Cottrell Scholar Award 2027

Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) · United States & Canada

Deadline: 04 Nov 2026 (13 days)

Award: $120,000

Checked 15 Oct 2026

chemistryearly-careerearly-career / new PI

EIC Accelerator 2026 - Short proposal

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Deadline: 04 Nov 2026 (13 days)

Award: Grant component below EUR 2.5 million; EUR 1–10 million equity investment

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PIindustry / SMEsmall business (SBIR/STTR, EIC Accelerator)

NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I, Phase II and Fast-Track (America's Seed Fund, NSF 26-510)

U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) – TIP · United States

Deadline: 04 Nov 2026 (13 days)

Award: Phase I up to $305,000; Phase II up to $1,250,000; Fast-Track up to $1,555,000

Checked 15 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsindustry / SMEsmall business (SBIR/STTR, EIC Accelerator)

CCRP Initiative: Promoting a Basic Understanding of Chemical Threats to Skin (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institutes of Health (NIAMS, NIAID, NIDA) · United States

Deadline: 05 Nov 2026 (14 days)

Award: Up to $300,000 per year direct costs, for up to 5 years (Grants.gov lists about 5 expected awards)

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrypharma processestablished / PI

Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II

National Institute of Food and Agriculture · United States

Deadline: 17 Nov 2026 (26 days)

Award: Up to $650,000

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PIindustry / SMEsmall business (SBIR/STTR, EIC Accelerator)

MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Deadline: 24 Nov 2026 (33 days)

Total budget (all awards): Total call budget EUR 628.0 million; award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsstudentestablished / PI

NWO Open Competition Domain Science – M 2026/2027

NWO (Dutch Research Council) · Netherlands

Deadline: 24 Nov 2026 (33 days)

Award: ENW-M-1 up to EUR 400,000; M-1X up to EUR 800,000; M-2 up to EUR 800,000

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationchemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences 2027 – nominations

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation · International

Deadline: 03 Dec 2026 (42 days)

Award: $250,000 prize, a medal and a certificate (awarded to one individual)

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PIprize / nomination

Air Force Fiscal Year 2027 Young Investigator Program (YIP)

Air Force Office of Scientific Research · United States

Deadline: 04 Dec 2026 (43 days)

Award: Up to $150,000 per year for 3 years (up to $450,000 per award)

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryearly-careerestablished / PIearly-career / new PI

W. M. Keck Foundation Research Program

W. M. Keck Foundation · United States

Deadline: 07 Dec 2026 (46 days)

Award: Typically $1M–$1.3M over 3 years (no indirect costs)

Checked 16 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

Business Finland – Cooperation between research organisations and SMEs

Business Finland · Finland

Deadline: 18 Dec 2026 (57 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 15 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

NRL Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Basic and Applied Research

Naval Research Laboratory · United States

Deadline: 30 Dec 2026 (69 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PI

FFG Basisprogramm 2026 (company R&D projects, any topic)

FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency · Austria

Deadline: 31 Dec 2026 (70 days)

Award: Up to EUR 3,000,000 per project (grant + loan mix, usually 50% of costs; startups up to 70%)

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationpharma processchemistryestablished / PI

FY25 Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology

Office of Naval Research · United States

Deadline: 31 Dec 2026 (70 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PI

ERC Consolidator Grant

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Deadline: 12 Jan 2027 (82 days)

Award: Up to EUR 2 million for 5 years (plus up to EUR 1 million for justified extra costs)

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PI

RSC Tilden Prizes (and other RSC Research & Innovation prizes, 2027 cycle)

Royal Society of Chemistry · UK and Ireland

Deadline: 13 Jan 2027 (83 days)

Award: GBP 5,000 + medal (Tilden)

Checked 16 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PIprize / nomination

Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research (students)

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society · International

Deadline: 15 Mar 2027 (144 days)

Award: $500–$5,000 (graduate members); up to $1,000 for non-members

Checked 15 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsstudent

ECM-36 bursaries (Prague, 23–28 Aug 2027)

European Crystallographic Association / ECM-36 organisers · International

Deadline: 31 Mar 2027 (160 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationstudentearly-career

ACA Fellows

American Crystallographic Association · International (ACA)

Deadline: 01 Apr 2027 (161 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationestablished / PIprize / nomination

ACA awards: Margaret C. Etter Early Career, Fankuchen Memorial, Kenneth N. Trueblood, Bau Neutron Diffraction (nominations for 2028 meeting)

American Crystallographic Association · International (ACA)

Deadline: 01 Apr 2027 (161 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationearly-careerestablished / PIearly-career / new PIprize / nomination

SNSF Project Funding (MINT)

Swiss National Science Foundation · Switzerland

Deadline: 01 Apr 2027 (161 days)

Award: Up to CHF 250,000 per applicant per year (min CHF 100,000 per project; ≤ CHF 3M for 3+ applicants); 1–4 years

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationchemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

NIH, CDC and FDA Small Business Innovation Research Grant (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · United States

Deadline: 05 Apr 2027 (165 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PIindustry / SMEsmall business (SBIR/STTR, EIC Accelerator)

FY2027 Department of War Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)

U.S. Department of War (AFOSR, ONR, Army) · United States

Deadline: 09 Apr 2027 (169 days)

Award: Award ceiling per Grants.gov listing: AFOSR up to $15,000,000; ONR up to $7,500,000; Army up to $7,500,000

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PI

Dreyfus Foundation Program for Transformative Research (2027)

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation · United States

Deadline: 27 Apr 2027 (187 days)

Award: $600,000 over 3 years ($200,000 a year; target eight grants); one project later receives an extra $1.5M award; no indirect costs

Checked 16 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

Seed Instrumentation Support (SIS) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed, PAR-27-021)

National Institutes of Health (ORIP, NIA, NIAID) · United States

Deadline: 01 Jul 2027 (252 days)

Award: $50,000 to $400,000 for one instrument (no limit on the instrument's total cost)

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialspharma processestablished / PIearly-careerinstrument / beamtime

Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)

U.S. National Science Foundation · United States

Deadline: 28 Jul 2027 (279 days)

Total budget (all awards): Total program funding $250,000,000; award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryearly-careerestablished / PIearly-career / new PI

Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide BAA

DARPA - Defense Sciences Office · United States

Deadline: 27 Aug 2027 (309 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PI

Engineering Research Initiation (ERI)

U.S. National Science Foundation · United States

Deadline: 16 Sep 2027 (329 days)

Total budget (all awards): Total program funding $11,000,000; award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryearly-careerestablished / PIearly-career / new PI

National Cooperative Drug/Device Discovery/Development Groups (NCDDG) for the Treatment of Mental Disorders (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · United States

Deadline: 25 Oct 2027 (368 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

pharma processestablished / PI

National Cooperative Drug/Device Discovery/Development Groups (NCDDG) for the Treatment of Mental Disorders (U19 Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · United States (non-US organisations also eligible)

Deadline: 25 Oct 2027 (368 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

pharma processestablished / PI

DEVCOM ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · United States

Deadline: 20 Nov 2027 (394 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PI

Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) (R35 - Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · United States

Deadline: 26 May 2028 (582 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryearly-careerestablished / PI

Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI)

National Institutes of Health · United States

Deadline: 06 Feb 2029 (838 days)

Award: Up to $275,000 direct costs per year, for up to 5 years

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryearly-careerestablished / PIearly-career / new PI

BACG travel grants / sponsorship

British Association for Crystal Growth · UK (BACG members)

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationstudentearly-career

BARDA Broad Agency Announcement (medical countermeasures, incl. manufacturing platforms)

HHS ASPR – Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) · United States

Deadline: Areas of interest listed; no closing date on the page – check the funder page

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

pharma processindustry / SME

BCA Industrial Group conference bursaries and carers top-up

British Crystallographic Association – Industrial Group · UK (BCA members)

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award: Up to GBP 1,200/yr pool (GBP 2,000 in IUCr years) for international conferences; carers top-up up to GBP 250

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationstudentearly-career

CCDC Engagement Grants (outreach) and CCDC poster prizes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre · International

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationstudentearly-careerestablished / PI

DFG Emmy Noether Programme (independent junior research groups)

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) · Germany (applicants from abroad welcome)

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award: Group leader position and group funding for 6 years

Checked 15 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsearly-careerearly-career / new PI

DFG Research Grants (Sachbeihilfe)

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) · Germany

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialscrystallizationestablished / PI

EPSRC new investigator award: applicant-led mode

UKRI – Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) · United Kingdom

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award: No upper limit on the grant value: EPSRC funds 80% of the full economic cost; typically 1–3 years

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryearly-careerestablished / PIearly-career / new PI

Enabling Technologies Consortium (ETC) RFI/RFPs and third-party project proposals

Enabling Technologies Consortium (16 pharma member companies) · International

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

pharma processcrystallizationestablished / PI

FWF Principal Investigator Projects

Austrian Science Fund (FWF) · Austria

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award: Project-specific personnel and non-personnel costs; max 48 months

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationchemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grants

The Leverhulme Trust · United Kingdom

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award: Up to £500,000 (6 months to 5 years)

Checked 15 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for NSWC Crane

NSWC CRANE - N00164 · United States

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PI

MRC: new investigator research grant: applicant-led

UKRI – Medical Research Council (MRC) · United Kingdom

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award: No upper limit on the grant value: MRC funds 80% of the full economic cost, up to 5 years

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryearly-careerestablished / PIearly-career / new PI

MRC: research grant: applicant-led

UKRI – Medical Research Council (MRC) · United Kingdom

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award: No upper limit on the grant value: MRC funds 80% of the full economic cost, up to 5 years

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PI

Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Air Force Office of Scientific Research · United States

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award: Up to $10,000,000

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PI

Opening soon (11)

DoD SBIR/STTR FY2027 BAA releases (DSIP)

U.S. Department of Defense (Department of War) – SBIR/STTR · United States

Opening soon: opens 28 Oct 2026

Deadline: 25 Nov 2026 (34 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 15 Oct 2026

materialschemistryindustry / SMEsmall business (SBIR/STTR, EIC Accelerator)

ACS Petroleum Research Fund – Doctoral New Investigator (DNI) Grants

American Chemical Society – Petroleum Research Fund · United States

Opening soon: opens 15 Feb 2027

Deadline: 12 Mar 2027 (141 days)

Award: $110,000 over 2 years

Checked 15 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsearly-careerearly-career / new PI

ACS Petroleum Research Fund – New Directions (ND) Grants

American Chemical Society – Petroleum Research Fund · International (countries where ACS PRF can administer grants)

Opening soon: opens 15 Feb 2027

Deadline: 12 Mar 2027 (141 days)

Award: $125,000 over 2 years (about 75 grants a year; no indirect costs)

Checked 16 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

MSCA COFUND 2027

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Opening soon: not yet open

Deadline: 06 Apr 2027 (166 days)

Total budget (all awards): Total call budget EUR 51.3 million (doctoral programmes); award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsstudent

MSCA Choose Europe for Science 2027

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Opening soon: not yet open

Deadline: 06 Apr 2027 (166 days)

Total budget (all awards): Total call budget EUR 51.3 million (postdoctoral programmes); award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsearly-career

MSCA Staff Exchanges 2027

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Opening soon: not yet open

Deadline: 15 Apr 2027 (175 days)

Total budget (all awards): Total call budget EUR 95.0 million; award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsearly-careerestablished / PIindustry / SME

ARC Discovery Projects 2028

Australian Research Council · Australia

Opening soon: opens 01 Feb 2027

Deadline: 10 May 2027 (200 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationchemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

ERC Synergy Grant (ERC-2027-SyG)

European Research Council (ERC) · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Opening soon: opens 17 Feb 2027

Deadline: 11 May 2027 (201 days)

Award: Up to EUR 10 million for 6 years (plus up to EUR 4 million extra for justified start-up, equipment or facility costs)

Checked 16 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

ERC Advanced Grant 2027

European Research Council (ERC) · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Opening soon: opens 27 May 2027

Deadline: 26 Aug 2027 (308 days)

Award: Up to EUR 2.5 million for 5 years (plus up to EUR 1 million extra; lump sum pilot)

Checked 15 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Opening soon: not yet open

Deadline: 08 Sep 2027 (321 days)

Total budget (all awards): Total call budget EUR 388.6 million (EUR 330.3M European + EUR 58.3M Global Fellowships); award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsearly-careerearly-career / new PI

MSCA Doctoral Networks 2027

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Opening soon: not yet open

Deadline: 23 Nov 2027 (397 days)

Total budget (all awards): Total call budget EUR 646.0 million (incl. EUR 70.75M Choose Europe boost); award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsstudentestablished / PI

Recurring calls (8)

ACA Annual Meeting travel grants

American Crystallographic Association · International

Deadline: Recurring call (recurring (2027 deadline not posted)): check the funder page for the next date.

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationstudentearly-career

AIChE PD2M Forum Awards (Technical Innovation, Process Development, Manufacturing, Early Career Impact, Student)

AIChE – Pharmaceutical Discovery, Development & Manufacturing Forum · International

Deadline: Recurring call (recurring (annual)): check the funder page for the next date.

Award: USD 1,500 + plaque (Excellence/Early Career); USD 800 (Student Award) – per page (2023 text)

Checked 16 Oct 2026

pharma processcrystallizationstudentearly-careerestablished / PIearly-career / new PIprize / nomination

BACG Young Scientist Award

British Association for Crystal Growth · UK/ROI (or UK/ROI nationals abroad)

Deadline: Recurring call (recurring (annual, 31 May)): check the funder page for the next date.

Award: Monetary award (amount not stated on current page) + medal + conference costs

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationearly-careerstudentprize / nomination

CCDC Chemical Crystallography Prize for Younger Scientists

BCA Chemical Crystallography Group / CCDC · UK

Deadline: Recurring call (recurring (annual; 2026 round closed 13 Feb 2026)): check the funder page for the next date.

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationearly-careerprize / nomination

DGK Max-von-Laue-Preis

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kristallographie · Germany / DGK

Deadline: Recurring call (recurring (≥8 weeks before DGK annual meeting)): check the funder page for the next date.

Award: At least EUR 1,500 + certificate (per prize statute)

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationearly-careerprize / nomination

EFCE Excellence Award in Crystallization

European Federation of Chemical Engineering – Working Party on Crystallization · Europe (EFCE)

Deadline: Recurring call (closed – next call 2028): check the funder page for the next date.

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationpharma processstudentearly-careerprize / nomination

FDA Broad Agency Announcement for Advanced Research and Development of Regulatory Science (FY26: FDABAA-26-00123)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration · US (contracts; check BAA for foreign eligibility)

Deadline: Recurring call (closed for FY26 (response date 24 Feb 2026; notice inactive 30 Sep 2026); recurring annually): check the funder page for the next date.

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationpharma processchemistryestablished / PI

Research Ireland Investigators Programme (2027 call)

Research Ireland · Ireland

Deadline: Recurring call (upcoming (call launch December 2026)): check the funder page for the next date.

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

crystallizationchemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

Recently funded work on this idea

24 awards from NSF and NIH in our sample of the last 24 months match this idea. Latest examples:

Award (official page)	Institution	Amount	Start date
CAREER: 3D One-step Heterogeneous Manufacturing for Integrated Circuits (3D OHMIC) U.S. National Science Foundation · AM-Advanced Manufacturing	University of Connecticut	$549,994 (estimated total award)	01 Sep 2026
CAREER: Linking Macroscopic Fracture to the Microscopic Behavior in Soft Composites U.S. National Science Foundation · Mechanics of Materials and Str	Georgia Tech Research Corporation	$638,740 (estimated total award)	01 Aug 2026
CAREER: Advancing the Printability of Aluminum Alloys via In-situ Alloying and Hybrid Processing Strategies U.S. National Science Foundation · CAREER: FACULTY EARLY CAR DEV, AM-Advanced Manufacturing	Iowa State University	$550,000 (estimated total award)	01 Aug 2026
Conference: 2026 Biomineralization GRC and GRS U.S. National Science Foundation · BIOMATERIALS PROGRAM	Gordon Research Conferences	$5,000 (estimated total award)	15 Jul 2026