How to complete your preliminary application form?

To apply for SEA DREAM funding, the Principal Investigator from the Lead Organisation must access, complete, and submit the Preliminary Application through the SEA DREAM Application Portal.

Applicants are required to complete each section in full, providing accurate, clear, and relevant information. The following guidance outlines each section of the form and explains the information required to support the assessment process.

All information submitted in the application form must be complete and accurate, as it will form the basis for eligibility screening and technical evaluation.

The preliminary application form is structured into eight (8) sections:

Application Summary

1. Title of Proposal​

2. Proposed Duration: up to 60 months

3. Proposed Start Date​

4. Amount Requested: up to 6.5m USD

5. Lead Organisation​ and Co-Applying Organisations

6. Personnel Information​

7. Research Thematic Area

Research Proposal​

Provide an overview of the research proposal, including the research activities and the consortium members involved. 

Maximum words: 250 

Describe your research area(s). These should include: ​

1. Background: Key theories, concepts, and historical developments.  ​

2. Problem Statement: Specific problems or knowledge gaps that the research activities intend to address ​

3. Aims and Objectives: Key objectives or questions the research activities seek to accomplish or answer. ​

4. Proposed thematic focus, approaches (methodology, innovative aspects) and research outputs. ​

Maximum words: 1000 
 

Consortium Activities​

Describe the proposed activities within your Consortium and how they will contribute to SEA DREAM Objectives. 

Maximum words: 1000 

1. Generating impactful research ​

2. Nurturing research leadership and talent​

3. Fostering regional collaboration ​

4. Strengthening research ecosystems ​

If you are requesting support for training modules or programmes such as PhDs, Masters, Fellowships, or Professional Development Schemes, please provide a summary, including the roles of any Co-Principal Investigators and their organisations. 

Maximum words: 300 
 

Key Milestones​

Provide a breakdown of expected key research and consortia activities milestones over the timeline of your grant. 

Examples may include: 

• Establishment of essential collaboration agreements

• Completion of specific research phases

• Publication and dissemination of research findings

• Research ecosystem contributions

• Start/completion of training modules and programmes​

Expected Delivery: Quarterly and/or yearly

Maximum length: one A4 page
 

Team Composition​

The application should include details of the Principal Investigator (PI), Deputy Principal Investigator(s), and Co-Principal Investigator(s), covering the following information:

1. Education/Training​
2. Career History​
3. Research Focus Area and Activities including roles and responsibilities within the consortium
   Maximum words: 200
4. Leadership and Management Experience 

This may include:

• Role, responsibilities and contribution to proposed activities

• Mentoring and supervision of students and colleagues

• Examples of strategic leadership within a team, organisation, or company

• Your involvement in establishing collaborations and managing partnerships.

Maximum words: 200

Applicants must attach a Letter of Support from the Lead Organisation for the Principal Investigator (PI) and Deputy Principal Investigator(s) through the portal. 

The application should also include details of other team members and collaborators, including:

1. Name

2. Institution

3. Position

4. Role in Activities 

Maximum words: 50
 

Budget​

Applicants must propose the total budget for full duration per cost category and per Consortium member. Provide the estimated total costs of the project.

Applicants must propose the total project budget for the full duration of the grant, disaggregated by cost category and by Consortium member. The budget should reflect the estimated total costs required to implement the proposed research and related activities.

The budget must be presented under the following cost categories:

1. Staff

2. Travel and Subsistence

3. Materials and Consumables

4. Equipment

5. Training and Development

6. Outreach and Dissemination

7. Direct Research Costs

8. Other Costs

9. Overhead

Budget Category	Lead Organisation	Consortium Member	Total
1. Staff
2. Travel & Subsistence
3. Materials & Consumables
4. Equipment
5. Training & Development
6. Outreach & Dissemination
7. Direct Research Costs
8. Other Costs
9. Overhead
Total

SEA DREAM encourages the equitable distribution of the budget among Consortium Partners, where appropriate, in relation to the proposed activities and the geographical and economic context in which the research and activities will be conducted.

All budget figures must be presented in United States Dollars (USD).

Applicants are encouraged to:

• Refer to the full list of Eligible Cost categories; and

• Follow the Budget Template Guidelines when preparing and submitting the budget.

Eligibility Information​

This section must be completed by all applicants (Principal Investigators) applying to the DREAM 4 Health Call for Proposals 2026 under the SEA DREAM Programme. Applicants are required to complete an Eligibility Self-Declaration as part of the Preliminary Application.

The Principal Investigator (Applicant) is responsible for conducting eligibility checks for all Consortium members and must certify that all information provided is accurate, complete, and up to date, without exception.

The Eligibility Information section includes the following components:

1. Project Information
    

   1. Project title

   2. Consortium members
       

2. Lead Organisation Information
    

   1. Organisation type

   2. Not-for-profit status

   3. Confirmation of non-profit purpose for for-profit entities

   4. Legal registration status and validity for the full project duration

   5. Legal authority to enter into agreements in its own name and account
       

3. Financial and operational management
    

   1. Authorisation to receive funding from foreign sources

   2. Capacity to receive funds in United States Dollars (USD)

   3. Capacity to disburse funds to foreign recipients

   4. Bank account held in the organisation’s legal name and reconciliation with its financial management system

Applicants must attach the organisation chart of the Lead Organisation.
 

4. Sanction Checks
    

   1. Engagement in activities in countries subject to international sanctions

   2. History of debarment by multilateral development banks or international organisations

   3. Inclusion of the organisation or key project personnel in international sanctions, watchlists, or reputational risk databases including details where applicable

Examples of international watchlists or reputational risk databases include, but are not limited to:

• World-Check

• Dow Jones Watchlist

Where applicable, applicants must provide supporting details in no more than 250 words.
 

5. Project-Specific Information
    

   1. Implementation of project activities in mainland China

Declaration of Information Correctness

Before submitting the application, the Principal Investigator (PI) must certify that all information provided in the application form is complete, accurate, and a true representation of the Consortium.

All information declared in the application form by the PI must be verified and formally endorsed by the Research Office of the Lead Organisation.

Note: 

Information provided in the Preliminary Application is not considered final (i.e. budget or team composition) but should give a clear indication of the proposed research, activities, and partnerships.

Preliminary Application is mandatory. Only applicants who submit a Preliminary Application may be invited to submit a Full Application.