JOHOR BAHRU, 18 August 2026 – The Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), organised Sharing Session Series 3: International Research Grants in conjunction with Research Month@FS 2026, providing researchers with practical guidance on identifying and securing international research funding opportunities.
Conducted online via Google Meet, the programme featured Ts. ChM. Dr. Mohamad Shazwan Shah Bin Jamil and Dr. Juan Bin Matmin from the Faculty of Science. Drawing on their own experiences, the speakers highlighted different pathways through which researchers can access international grants, fellowships and research-support programmes.
Exploring Global Faculty Fellowship Opportunities
Ts. ChM. Dr. Mohamad Shazwan shared his experience with the Global Faculty Fellowship Mini Visit, a programme that provides funding for faculty members to visit the I-X Centre for AI in Science at Imperial College London. The programme focuses on the application of artificial intelligence in scientific research and supports visits ranging from two to six weeks. It is funded by Schmidt Sciences.
He explained that applicants do not necessarily need to be experts in artificial intelligence. Instead, they should demonstrate an appreciation of how AI can be integrated into their current research and show a genuine willingness to acquire new skills. Applicants are also required to obtain support from an academic host at Imperial College London.
One of the important messages from the sharing was the need to begin preparation early. The application process involves identifying a suitable host, developing an appropriate research topic and preparing the application before submission. Applicants were encouraged to use clear and simple language, explain their current research concisely, describe how AI can advance that work, and clearly justify the choice of host and the expected benefits of the visit.
The presentation also demonstrated how an international fellowship can extend beyond funding support to create opportunities for new research networks, exposure to advanced research environments and the development of new approaches that can subsequently be integrated into research activities at UTM.
Matching the Proposal to the International Funder
Dr. Juan Bin Matmin complemented the session with experiences involving international research funding from Japan, particularly the International Polyurethane Technology Foundation (IPTF) and the Nippon Sheet Glass Foundation (NSGF).
In his IPTF sharing, Dr. Juan explained that the International Polyurethane Technology Foundation is a Japan-based nonprofit organisation supporting scientific research related to polyurethane chemistry and its applications. Proposals are assessed based on factors including scientific novelty, relevance to polyurethane, methodology, the applicant’s track record and potential impact.
A major lesson was that applicants should not merely adapt an existing research idea to fit a funding call. Instead, the central research concept should be closely aligned with the mission of the funder. For an IPTF application, for example, polyurethane should be fundamental to the proposed research rather than appearing only as a peripheral component.
Dr. Juan also highlighted the importance of developing SMART objectives, with specific and measurable targets that are achievable within the project period. A strong methodology should present a logical progression from synthesis and characterisation to evaluation, while also demonstrating appropriate controls, statistical analysis, available facilities and contingency plans.
The presentation emphasised that proposal quality is influenced not only by the science but also by how clearly that science is communicated. Applicants were advised to respect page and word limits, use concise visual elements, organise methodologies according to functional stages, prepare realistic budgets and highlight previous achievements that are directly relevant to the proposed project.
Strategic collaboration was another important element. The presentation illustrated how a project team can combine core scientific expertise, biological validation and international collaboration to strengthen the overall proposal. The key principle was to build a team that closes genuine methodological gaps rather than adding collaborators merely for visibility.
Learning from Repeated International Grant Applications
Using his experience with the Nippon Sheet Glass Foundation, Dr. Juan also demonstrated that persistence is an important part of international grant applications. His presentation documented applications made across 2020, 2021 and 2022, covering research topics involving silver nanoparticles, antimicrobial materials and nanosheet films.
The NSGF experience reinforced the value of the SMART approach in proposal preparation. Applicants should formulate specific project titles, establish measurable objectives, provide realistic preliminary findings, demonstrate logical and relevant expected outcomes, prepare a justified budget and ensure that the proposed work can be completed within the permitted timeframe.
Particular emphasis was placed on presenting preliminary findings that demonstrate feasibility. Figures, images and tangible research evidence can help reviewers see that the proposed study has a strong foundation and a reasonable probability of success. At the same time, the proposed impact should remain realistic and directly connected to the research rather than relying on exaggerated claims.
Building Stronger International Grant Applications
Across the three examples presented during the session, several common principles emerged. Researchers need to understand the funder’s mission, identify a research topic that genuinely fits the call, build an appropriate team or host relationship, develop measurable objectives and clearly communicate why the proposed work matters.
The session also demonstrated that international funding opportunities can take different forms. Some support research projects, while others provide mobility or fellowship opportunities that enable researchers to acquire new skills, develop networks and establish the foundations for future collaborations.
Through Sharing Session Series 3, Research Month@FS 2026 provided Faculty of Science researchers with practical examples of how international opportunities can be approached strategically—from identifying the right call and developing the proposal to demonstrating feasibility, building collaborations and learning from previous application experiences.
The Faculty of Science continues to encourage its researchers to expand their global networks and pursue international funding opportunities that can strengthen research quality, collaboration and long-term academic impact.
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