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Conference Applications
Call Name Conference Applications
Closing Dates For both local and international conferences, applications must be submitted a minimum of 6 months prior to the conference.
For example, conferences taking place during or after July must apply by the previous December and conferences taking place prior to July must apply by the previous July.

Conference Applications

26, Jul 2023

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) seeks applications for funding to host national and international conferences, including summits and symposia. The theme of the conference should be aligned to the vision and mission of the SAMRC. Training events, such as summer schools, with a focus on health research will also be considered.

Funding caps

The maximum amount that may be requested is R200 000 for international conferences and R100 000 for national conferences. International conferences are those that will include a substantial number of attendees (in addition to speakers) from outside South Africa.

Eligibility

South African Higher Education Institutions (HEI), science councils or other non-profit organisations whose core business is conducting medical/health research, and health-related associations are eligible to apply for funding.

The proposed conference must have medical/health research as its central theme and be hosted at a venue in South Africa.

Applications should not exceed (five) 5 pages (Arial 10 pt font, single spaced), including the cover page.

Applications must contain the following information:

  1. A cover page duly completed and signed off (use template).
  2. Details of the conference/summit/symposium/:
    1. Date(s) for the meeting
    2. Conference programme and speakers
    3. Proposed participants
    4. Proposed number of attendees, broken down by local and international attendees.
    5. Expected conference outcomes.
  3. Narrative on how this conference will support the MRC’s mission and significance to South Africa.
  4. Budget (use template).
    1. List all potential and confirmed sources of funding including the proposed SAMRC funding that you wish to apply for. Mention any applications submitted to other organisations to fund this conference and the status of those applications (denied, pending, or funded). If pending or funded, indicate the Rand amount requested. Participant conference fees must be included as revenue.
    2. Document all planned expenditures by budget categories (e.g., personnel, supplies, travel, marketing/promotional, speaker fees, meals, facility rental, etc.).
  5. Applicants with at least 51% black-owned or 51% black women-owned entities will be considered for the funding (B-BBEE Certificate or Affidavit must be submitted). The approved entities must be willing to sign the SAMRC Enterprise and Supplier Development Agreement.

Please note that the SAMRC funds may not be used to pay for equipment, capital expenses, computers, gifts, prizes, cash awards, entertainment, alcohol, lobbying activities, and proposal development.

All applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:

  1. Responsiveness to the RFA (timely submission, eligibility, completeness etc.)
  2. Relevance to SAMRC’s mission
  3. Level of direct impact on health research and/or health.
  4. Available/current conference information (e.g., agenda, topics, speakers, marketing and organisational plans, budget, etc.)

Application Deadlines

Deadline Dates:

All applications must be submitted to: conference.funding@mrc.ac.za by the deadline, which is generally 31 July and 31 December of each year.

 

Application Documents
Application template
Budget (use template).
SAMRC Enterprise and Supplier Development Agreement.

For both local and international conferences, applications must be submitted a minimum of 6 months prior to the conference. For example, conferences taking place during or after July must apply by the previous December and conferences taking place prior to July must apply by the previous July.

 

Successful applicants may request funding two (2) months prior to the date by which the funds are needed.  It should be noted that payment can take up to 30 working days from receipt of invoice.
Applicants with at least 51% black-owned or 51% black women-owned entities will be considered for the funding (B-BBEE Certificate or Affidavit must be submitted). The approved entities must be willing to sign the SAMRC Enterprise and Supplier Development Agreement.
 
As a condition of award, the SAMRC shall be acknowledged as a conference sponsor and branded appropriately subject to approval by the SAMRC.  Furthermore, the SAMRC reserves the right to propose other conditions which will be contained in the letter of award.

 

The recipient institution must provide the SAMRC with a report describing the outcomes of the conference. The report is due within three (3) months of the end date of the conference and should include details such as:

  1. The number of conference attendees
  2. A financial report showing all sources and amounts of project funding along with expenditure detail for the SAMRC funds
  3. Copies of all conference promotional materials
  4. Details on how the SAMRC was acknowledged as a sponsor
  5. Any additional information that helps document the success of the conference and its value to the SAMRC’s mission.
Head: Corporate & Marketing Communications
Tendani Tsedu, APR
  • tendani.tsedu@mrc.ac.za
Business Liaison
Ms Natasha Crouch
  • natasha.crouch@mrc.ac.za