Definition of Key Terms

Definitions of Key Terms

• SEAMEO: The Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) is an intergovernmental organisation, governed by the Ministers of Education of the eleven Southeast Asian countries, which was formed on 30 November 1965. SEAMEO is mandated to improve the quality of life of people in Southeast Asia through advancing education, science, and culture. SEAMEO operates through the SEAMEO Secretariat, 25 Regional Centres, and one Regional Network on Tropical Medicine.
   
• Wellcome Trust: The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation established in 1936, working towards a healthier future for everyone. Wellcome Trust aims to enable transformative shifts in understanding life, health and wellbeing, by bringing together expertise from across science, innovation and society to find equitable solutions in climate and health, infectious disease, and mental health.
   
• UK FCDO: The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the ministry of foreign affairs and a ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom, responsible for leading the country's diplomatic, development, and consular work worldwide.
   

• Consortium: A formal collaborative structure comprised of at least three organisations, including the Lead Organisation and Co-applying (Consortium Member) Organisations who will jointly undertake the research and activities proposed in their application, using their resources, networks, and expertise to uplift all members (e.g. through mentorship, sharing of knowledge, facilities and equipment, and strengthening of research culture). 
   

• Not-for-profit: Not-for-profit organisations in the context of the SEA DREAM Programme refer to entities that operate for purposes other than generating profit for owners or shareholders, instead pursuing public-interest or social missions. Eligible organisations include, but are not limited to, academic and research institutions, government and public sector entities, and non-governmental and civil society organisations. 
   

• Lead Organisation: The organisation responsible for administering the grant, including managing funds, disbursing funding to Consortium Members, and ensuring that all proposed activities are implemented in accordance with SEA DREAM grant conditions. It holds overall legal and financial accountability for the project and must ensure compliance with SEA DREAM grant requirements across all Consortium Members. The Lead Organisation is required to appoint a Principal Investigator (PI) and a Deputy Principal Investigator (D-PI), and may also appoint additional Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs). 
   

• Co-applying Organisations: Co-applying Organisations, or Consortium Members, will receive funds through a hub-and-spoke model administered by the Lead Organisation and play a substantial role in delivering the proposed activities alongside the Lead Organisation. Each Co-applying Organisation is required to appoint at least one Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI). Co-applying Organisations are responsible for supporting their appointed Co-PIs in delivering agreed project activities, fulfilling technical and reporting requirements related to their contributions, and complying with the terms set out in their respective individual Consortium Agreements. 
   

• Established researcher: An established researcher is an individual with a sustained record of high-quality research and the experience required to lead and drive a research programme. They have demonstrated expertise in securing and managing research activities, as well as a proven track record of supervising, mentoring, and training other researchers.
   

• Principal Investigator: The Principal Investigator (PI) is the individual who leads the Consortium and is based at the Lead Organisation. The PI should be an established researcher with demonstrated experience in leading and managing research projects and partnerships, and should actively promote a diverse, inclusive and supportive environment within the project team and across their organisation.   
   

• Deputy Principal Investigator: The Deputy Principal Investigator (D-PI) is an individual based at the Lead Organisation who supports the Principal Investigator in the overall leadership of the Consortium and management of the grant. The D-PI should have the skills and experience to assume management of the Consortium and be an established researcher with experience of leading and managing large research grants, partnerships and/or training and development programmes.
   

• Co-Principal Investigator: A Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) is a named individual representing a Consortium Member or the Lead Organisation, in addition to the PI and D-PI. Each Co-Applying Organisation must appoint at least one Co-PI. Co-PIs work in partnership with the PI and D-PI, contributing significant and essential expertise, resources, or capabilities that support and complement the overall objectives of the Consortium. 
   

• Collaborators: Collaborators are individuals or organisations that support the delivery of the project but do not lead a specific component of the research or proposed activities. They may contribute by sharing facilities, providing access to resources, or offering expertise, subject-specific knowledge, or guidance. Collaborators are not paid for their contributions, although reasonable expenses related to their involvement may be requested. 
   

• Award Letter: An award letter is a formal written notification issued by SEA DREAM to a selected consortium confirming that its grant funding application has been approved. The Award Letter may include additional conditions that the Lead Organisation must fulfil before receiving the full grant. 
   

• Early-career researcher: An early-career researcher will have recently completed a PhD or equivalent higher research degree, or have equivalent research training. An early-career researcher may be managing their own research project under the direction of a PI and are typically in the early stages of developing independent research ideas and directions.  
   

• Eligible Costs: Eligible Costs are expenses that SEA DREAM will fund to support approved grant activities, provided they are reasonable, necessary, auditable, and directly related to the delivery of the proposed activities, in accordance with SEA DREAM’s grant conditions and Cost Eligibility Guide. 
   

• Five Selection and Evaluation Domains: The five thematic domains used by SEA DREAM to assess and score funding applications, each with assigned weightings and criteria, covering research impact, leadership and talent development, regional collaboration and governance, research ecosystem strengthening, and qualifications and operational feasibility.
   

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): A collection of common questions and official answers provided by SEA DREAM to help prospective applicants and grantees understand the programme’s eligibility, application process, funding scope, evaluation, and post-award requirements. This resource offers clear guidance on topics such as consortium composition, budget and costs, application procedures, and programme policies. 
   

• GEDI (Gender Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity): GEDI is an ASEAN framework to promote fair treatment, full participation, and equitable representation of all individuals, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. 
   

• Grant Agreement: The Grant Agreement is a legally binding contract between the SEAMEO Secretariat and the Lead Organisation, comprising the Award Letter, grant details, and grant conditions that the Lead Organisation must comply with. This also requires the Lead Organisation to ensure that all Consortium members comply with the grant conditions. 
   

• Grant Conditions: Grant Conditions are the requirements that Consortium members must comply with throughout the grant duration.   
   

• Research culture and environment: Strengthening the research culture and environment should focus on upholding inclusive, ethical, and equitable values in the conduct of research, and on achieving long-term systemic change beyond the grant period, such as enhancing researcher ownership, fostering inclusive and ethical research environment, and building agency and capability of researchers in Southeast Asia to address regional health and development priorities. 
   

• SEA DREAM Policies: Mandatory policies that set the legal, ethical, and professional standards for all SEA DREAM-funded activities, covering areas such as research integrity, equity and inclusion, participant protection, and financial accountability, with which all grantees must comply throughout the funding period. 
   

• Training and development: As part of the proposed activities, training and development should aim to strengthen holistic research skills and capacity at the individual, institutional, and ecosystem levels, including technical and scientific knowledge, research management, grantsmanship, and engagement with policymaking. Mentorship relationships between research leaders and emerging talent should be formed, emphasising active learning and guidance. 
   

• ASEAN countries: ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN member countries are Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam. As of September 2025, Timor-Leste is of ASEAN Observer status. 
   

• Southeast Asian (SEA) Countries: For the purposes of this programme, Southeast Asian Countries refer to the following countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), and Vietnam. 
   

• World Bank Country Classification: A system used by the World Bank to classify countries into income groups based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, updated annually. For the purposes of this programme¹, the 2025 World Bank Country Classification applies². 
   

• Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): For the purposes of this programme, LMICs refer to countries classified by the World Bank as lower-middle-income. In Southeast Asia, these include Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Timor-Leste (East Timor), and Vietnam. 
   

• Upper-Middle-Income Countries: For the purposes of this programme, upper-middle-income countries refer to those classified by the World Bank as upper-middle-income. In Southeast Asia, these include Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
   

• High-Income Countries: For the purposes of this programme, high-income countries refer to those classified by the World Bank as high-income. In Southeast Asia, these include Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. 

¹ SEA DREAM will apply the 2025 World Bank Country Classification throughout the SEA DREAM 2026 Funding Call.
²  Income group thresholds are based on the World Bank’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita classifications for 2025: low-income (USD 1,145 or less), lower-middle-income (USD 1,146–4,515), upper-middle-income (USD 4,516–14,005), and high-income (USD 14,006 or more). Classifications are updated annually using data from the previous calendar year.