Frequently Asked Question

• Infectious Diseases
  Research that strengthens regional capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious diseases, with emphasis on innovation, preparedness, and equitable access to prevention and care. 
• Climate Change in Health
  Research that deepens understanding of how climate and environmental changes affect health and identifies strategies to build resilience and adapt to emerging risks. 
• Mental Health
  Research that advances mental health and well-being across communities, focusing on inclusion, early intervention, and reducing stigma and barriers to care.  
• Health Systems and Access to Care
  Research that improves health system performance and ensures equitable, quality, and people-centered care for all populations in the region. 

Read more.

SEA DREAM funds research that responds to the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda (APHDA) 2021-2025 Health Priorities (HP), across four thematic areas: (1) Infectious Diseases; (2) Impact of Climate Change on Health; (3) Mental Health; and (4) Strengthening Health Systems and Access to Care. Relevant ASEAN Health Priorities include:  

• HP 5: Promoting mental health   
• HP 8: Prevention and control of communicable diseases, emerging infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, and zoonotic diseases   
• HP 9: Regional preparedness and response to public health emergencies   
• HP 11: Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)   
• HP 12: Environmental health, Health Impact Assessment (HIA), and health impact of climate change   
• HP 13: Disaster health management   
• HP 15: Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (RMNCH)   
• HP 16: Universal Health Coverage (UHC), including health financing and health service delivery   
• HP 17: Migrant’s health   
• HP  20: Digital health and health information system

These priorities will be updated in line with the forthcoming ASEAN Health Development Agenda 2026–2030. 

Proposals must be primarily research-focused rather than centered on product development. While engineering and applied approaches are welcome, the project should clearly demonstrate a strong research component, including defined research questions, methodology, and scientific contribution. Applicants are encouraged to emphasize research and innovation rather than product development or commercialisation. 

A not-for-profit organisation, or public or private university registered as a legal entity in Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao PDR; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Timor-Leste; or Vietnam may apply as Lead Organisation of a research consortium.

Consortium Member may be a public or private university, not-for-profit organisation, or a commercial organisation conducting clearly non-profit research activities. The consortium must include at least one organisation legally registered in a Southeast Asian Lower Middle-Income Country (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam). Organisations registered outside these countries may also participate as Consortium Members and may be eligible to receive funds.

Co-Applying Organisations are the organisations who will receive funds through the Lead Organisation in a hub-and-spoke model and play a substantial role in delivering the proposed activities alongside the Lead Organisation.​

Organisations may submit up to two applications per thematic area as the Lead Organisation. An organisation may be awarded up to two DREAM 4 Health grants as a Lead Organisation, provided the awards are held in different faculties or schools and address different thematic areas. For non-academic/non-university organisations these conditions can be met by demonstrating that the two proposed projects will be managed and implemented by distinct research units while addressing different thematic areas.

Yes. Organisations can participate as Consortium Members in multiple Consortia within the same funding round, including serving as the Lead Organisation for one Consortium while also being a Consortium Member in others.

Yes. Commercial organisations, involved within not-for-profit divisions or clearly marked as not-for-profit generating activities, can be part of a consortium. With the exception of private universities, for-profit organisations cannot serve as the Lead Organisation, but may participate as a Consortium member.

A Consortium must include a minimum of three organisations, each from a different Southeast Asian country.

Recommended total size of one Consortium is between three to five organisations, including the Lead Organisation.

Note: In exceptional cases a Consortium may have more than five members where it is beneficial to the overall proposed activities. This must be justified within the application form. 

The consortium is structured to ensure effective leadership, collaboration, and coordination across participating institutions. The team composition includes the following key roles: 

A. Lead Organisation

• Principal Investigator (PI)  
• Deputy Principal Investigator (Deputy PI) 

B. Co-Applying Organisations

• Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PI) 

C. Collaborators (if essential)

Co-Applying Organisation will have intellectual input into, and part ownership of, the research. Collaborators are individuals named in the body of the application who may, for example, assist with specific elements of the research or provide access to resources, reagents or samples, but who would not normally be involved in the day-to-day running of the work.

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

Individuals can be named Principal Investigator in only one application within this funding round, but may be named Co-Principal Investigator in several applications.

The Deputy Principal Investigator (D-PI) is an individual who is also based at the Lead Organisation. The D-PI will support the Principal Investigator with the overall leadership of the Consortium and management of the grant. They should have the necessary skills and experience to manage the Consortium if required.  They should be established researchers with experience of leading and managing large research grants, partnerships and/or training and development programmes.

A Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) is a named individual representing the Co-Applying Organisations, or the Lead Organisation in addition to the PI and D-PI. The Co-PIs will work in partnership with the Principal Investigator and D-PI, contributing specific expertise, resources, or capabilities that complement the overall objectives of the Consortium.

An early-career researcher will have recently completed a PhD, or an 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 principal investigator and may be beginning to develop their own research ideas and directions.  

In DREAM 4 Health Call for Proposals 2026, the Lead Organisation cannot appoint an early-career researcher as the Principal Investigator (PI) of the project, as this role requires a high level of research experience. However, an early-career researcher may be a member of the project team to support research activities in both Lead Organisation and Co-Applying Organisations, or may act as a Co-PI. We encourage early career researcher Co-PIs to be embedded in formal mentorship arrangements with an experienced researcher at their organisation.

Yes. Organisations from countries outside of Southeast Asia can be Consortium Members and receive funds but are not eligible to be the Lead Organisation.

Yes. A Consortium must include at least one organisation from a Southeast Asian Lower Middle-Income Country, as per World Bank definition, either as a Consortium Lead or Consortium Member:   

• Cambodia   
• Lao PDR 
• Myanmar  
• Philippines   
• Timor-Leste   
• Viet Nam

Yes. Applications submitted to SEA DREAM can focus on a single thematic area or address multiple themes. While it is encouraged to explore intersections among these themes where beneficial, it is not mandatory for an application to cover all thematic areas.

No. The applications must align with SEA DREAM’s thematic areas.

Lead Organisations are strongly encouraged to be capable of receiving grants in USD. However, if they are unable to do so, grantees may opt to convert the received grants from USD to their local currency upon transfer and bear the foreign exchange fluctuation risks.

The consortium members should agree internally to select the most suitable, eligible Lead Organisation.

Organisations headquartered outside Southeast Asia may be eligible to apply as a Lead Organisation if they have a legally registered entity with the authority to operate in at least one Southeast Asian country. For the purpose of this call, “legally registered” means the organisation is registered under the laws of the relevant country and is able to enter into agreements, sign contracts, and receive and manage funds locally in its own name. 

If the organisation does not have a legally registered entity in the region, it may still participate as a consortium member under a Lead Organisation that meets the eligibility criteria. 

A network that is not a legally registered entity cannot serve as the Lead Organisation. The Lead Organisation must be a single legal entity able to enter into a grant agreement with SEA DREAM, manage and disburse funds, and have systems in place to administer international grant funding. If these requirements are met, an eligible institution within the network may apply as the Lead Organisation on behalf of the consortium. 

A Deputy Principal Investigator (D-PI) may be eligible even if they are not directly based at the Lead Organisation, provided that appropriate arrangements are in place.  

The D-PI should be able to step in and lead the project on behalf of the Lead Organisation if the Principal Investigator (PI) is unable to continue. If their external base could limit their ability to assume administrative or managerial responsibilities (e.g., due to access or contractual restrictions), applicants are encouraged to mitigate this risk. This could include naming an additional Co-PI based at the Lead Organisation to support continuity or clearly outlining alternative arrangements that ensure effective project management.  

Applicants should also elaborate on the proposed arrangement in the required letters of support from the Lead Organisation for both the PI and Deputy PI. Where relevant, a supporting statement from the Deputy PI’s host institution should also be included to clarify the nature of the affiliation and commitment. 

International intergovernmental organisations cannot act as a consortia lead. They may act as a non-SEA consortium members.

In cases where regional/country offices are involved and have been established as their own legal entity (being able to enter into agreements in their own name and right) in an SEA country, they may count towards the eligibility criteria of 3 SEA consortium members. 

Yes, the proposed constellation would be eligible. Please do keep in mind that regional collaboration and research capacity building, equity, and a fair distribution of resources, roles, and responsibilities are core values we want to support through DREAM 4 Health.

Therefore, a constellation as suggested would very much benefit from a clear outline of how the partners from SEA countries will contribute to and lead significant aspects of the activities, how resources will be allocated to benefit everyone involved, and how capacity will be strengthened across members to strengthen the Southeast Asian research ecosystem. 

This refers to technically any country bar international sanctions. As we are focused on strengthening Southeast Asia's research ecosystem, involvement of organisations based in countries outside of Southeast Asia should consider the following:

• Does the involvement of the non-SEA partner add clear, proportionate, and non-substitutable value to achieving the consortium’s objectives, while building/maintaining leadership, ownership, and capacity anchored in Southeast Asia?  

Maximum funding duration is 60 months. It is recommended that the funding duration ranges between 48 to 60 months.

SEAMEO Secretariat is receiving funding for SEA DREAM by Wellcome and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) with potential additional funding from national health research funders and philanthropies.

Consortia members can request the budget that they need to implement their proposed activities. However, SEA DREAM places emphasis on equitable partnerships and therefore will evaluate applications based on appropriate and equitable resource distribution across consortium members.

The applicants should ask for the resources needed for their proposed activities, in alignment with the scale of impact and objectives that SEA DREAM aims to achieve. It is recommended that applications range between 5,500,000 and 6,500,000 USD. Applications that exceed this amount will be deprioritized.

No. Matching funds or in-kind contributions are not required. While they are highly appreciated to ensure bigger impact and support to research activities, they do not constitute an advantage in any application.

Yes, SEA DREAM requires applicants to budget using specific cost categories, and some categories include clear limits and restrictions. Below are the eligible budget categories and key spending rules.  

Applicants may request funding under the following budget categories: 

1. Staff Costs 
2. Travel and Subsistence 
3. Materials and Consumables 
4. Equipment 
5. Training and Development 
6. Direct Research Costs 
7. Outreach and Dissemination
8. Other Costs 
9. Overheads  

See: Eligible Costs Guideline

Yes. One of SEA DREAM’s objectives is to nurture research talent and leadership. Within your application, you must clearly demonstrate the direct relevance of postgraduate training to the proposed activities and consortia goals, reflecting your commitment to fostering sustainable research careers.

Travel must be essential to the proposed activities and should apply to staff fully or partially funded by the grant, or to others contributing (e.g., collaborators) to the research to: 

• attend research meetings and conferences  
• visit collaborators and facilities  
• collect samples and undertake fieldwork  
• other travel directly related to conducting research or consortia activities

Travel and subsistence costs should be auditable, and organisations must be able to justify and account for all expenditure incurred. The mode of transport should be low carbon, even if it is more expensive (for example, travelling by train instead of flying). We do not cover business travel. 

Read more information on travel costs.

Organisations with an externally validated overhead rate may request contributions based on that validated rate. If an organisation cannot provide an externally validated rate, then they will be required to provide a breakdown of the costs requested.  

Overheads costs can include: 

• estates, for example building and premises.  
• utilities such as electricity, gas and water costs, and landline phone charges, based on an estimate proportionate to activities funded under the grant.  
• standard IT charges, based on an estimate proportionate to activities funded under the grant.  

If you are requesting funds for overheads, in your application you will need to provide a letter from your Chief Financial Officer or an equivalent senior financial officer providing information on how you have calculated these costs.   

Read more information on overheads.

Yes. You may request basic equipment that is essential for your research project. Eligible costs can include purchase, delivery, installation, maintenance, and training as well as VAT or import duty, if applicable. Specialized equipment may also be purchased if it is critical to the success of the proposed research and is not available at your organisation, at consortium members, or through other collaborative arrangements. If a complete piece of specialised equipment costs 150,000 USD or more and is purchased by or will be located in an organisation based in a High-Income Country, we expect a contribution of at least 25% of the total costs, including maintenance, from the procuring organisation or another source.  

Ownership of the purchased equipment will remain with the organisation that procured the equipment, or the consortium member it has been handed over to, which will be responsible for its use, maintenance, insurance, and eventual disposal.

Read more information on equipment costs.

No. Once the budget is submitted, no adjustments to the total budget amount can be made, if not stated differently in your award letter. However, budget can be moved between indicated budget lines to provide some flexibility.

Yes. Support for grant management or administrative staff can be included in the project’s budget proposal.

There are no additional funds at this stage for unforeseen circumstances. Applicants are not allowed to include contingency costs or inflation allowance in their proposed budget.

Generally, budget can move between cost categories, however all changes between cost categories requires approval through the regular reporting process. Certain cost categories, such as overheads, are ringfenced and cannot be increased.

Applicants must account for all applicable taxes across all regions involved in the project, including but not limited to tax implications related to the contracts and invoicing relationship between the consortia members and the Lead Organisation as well as between the funders and the Lead Organisation; tax liabilities should be factored into the budget planning and justification.

SEA DREAM expects to provide grant funds through quarterly disbursements made by reimbursement. In specific cases, where advance payment is requested, applicant(s) must provide a clear justification. SEA DREAM will review each request and determine whether advance payment can be approved.

For case-specific questions, please contact us at grants@sea-dream.org with email subject line 'SEA-DREAM Full Application [Application ID] – Section 11'.

Only in exceptional cases and at the full discretion of SEA DREAM approval. The application must provide clear justification for the proposed management and governance structure, ensuring that this arrangement is the most beneficial for implementing the consortia activity at no loss of value for money.

See: Applicant Full Guideline, Section 1.6, pp. 18–21

No. Each consortium member is expected to manage their own budget. Exceptions must be approved by SEA DREAM at their absolute discretion, and must be clearly justified and explicitly detailed in the Full Application, signifying clear agreement of the respective consortium member and ideally establishing clear measures to strengthen the budget management capacity of the respective member over the duration of the grant.

No. Any staff where salary costs are requested under the grant must hold a permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract, or the guarantee of one, with their respective organisation (Consortium Lead or Consortium Member) and must conduct their work within the given contract.

SEA DREAM funding cannot be utilised for salary costs on a ‘freelance’, ‘unpaid leave’ or any other non-contractual engagement.

Such engagement would require a service contract with the respective staff as a service provider, subject to procurement best practices.

See: Applicant Full Guideline, Section 1.6, pp. 18–21

The SEA DREAM funding call includes two separate two-stage application processes, as follows.  

1. Preliminary Application Submission 

Applicants are required to submit their Preliminary Application in the SEA DREAM Application Portal.  

See: How to complete your preliminary application form

2. Full Application Submission 

Successful applicants are required to submit a comprehensive full application along with the eligibility self-declaration for any changes. 

See: What to prepare for your Full Application

The Preliminary Application and Full Application must be completed and submitted through the SEA DREAM Application Portal. Only applications submitted via the SEA DREAM Application Portal will be accepted. 

See: 

• Developing your preliminary application
• Developing your full application
• Managing the Application Portal

Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari are supported browsers for accessing the application on laptops and desktops. Please ensure your browser is up to date for the best experience. While the application is accessible on mobile devices, we recommend using a laptop or desktop computer for optimal performance.

If you are unable to access the online application, please contact us by email at info@sea-dream.org for support. All applications must be submitted through the online application portal to be considered. We request all applicants to ensure that the lead applicant (Principal Investigator) initiating the application process has reliable internet access and access to a computer.

Once you submit your application, our application portal will automatically send a confirmation email. This system-generated message may sometimes be marked as spam. Be sure to check your junk or spam folder regularly.

The Preliminary Application is a mandatory step, and only those who submit it and are shortlisted will be invited to proceed to the Full Application stage.

The Full Application can differ from the Preliminary Application. While the Full Application should generally align with the Preliminary Application in terms of overall research focus, themes and objectives, some changes, for example related to consortium members, are expected and even encouraged as the project is developed further.

All proposals will be generally assessed across five evaluation domains with weighted scores: Generating Impactful Research (25%), Nurturing Leadership and Research Talent (20%), Fostering Regional Collaboration and Programme Governance (25%), Strengthening Research Ecosystems (20%), and Qualifications and Operational Feasibility (10%).

Read: Selection and Evaluation Criteria

For preliminary applications, see:  

• Preliminary Application Assessment
• Preliminary Application Assessment Questions

The Full Application will be reviewed by the selection and evaluation committee. The committee consists of regional and global experts with a range of scientific and technical expertise across a broad range of topics (e.g. identified priority health areas but also equity, inclusion, and ethics in research).

The committee conducts a detailed analysis of applications by leveraging peer reviews to provide in-depth technical feedback and conducting interviews with applicants to further explain their proposal. Applicants are not permitted to request specific reviewers; however, they may suggest individuals who should or should not be considered. They may also provide a list of experts who have scientific and technical expertise.

The interview will be conducted in-person. Only in cases where applicants are unable to attend in person, virtual interviews may be considered. SEA DREAM will arrange the logistics and cover all costs of travel and accommodation for in-person interviews.

SEA DREAM will invite the Principal Investigator from the Lead Organisation as well as one Co-Principal Investigator per consortium member to attend the evaluation interviews.

Unsuccessful Preliminary Applications will be provided with a justification. Unsuccessful Full Applications will be provided with brief feedback on their proposals and justification.

After the closing date, all submissions are final and you cannot make any changes to the application after you have submitted. Only in highly exceptional cases, if changes must be made on an application that has been submitted before the closing date, you can contact grants@sea-dream.org.

No. The application must be submitted in English.

No. Only applications submitted within the official application window will be considered.

The Principal Investigator (PI) will complete the application in the SEA DREAM Application Portal. The PI will then invite the responsible person in their Research Office (via an integrated function) to create an account linked to the application and review it for approval or rejection. Once the application is approved by the Research Office, the PI can submit the application to SEA DREAM. One Research Office account can review and approve multiple applications from different PIs. 

See: How Can Research Offices Review Applications?

In addition to Research Office approval prior to submission, each application must include a Letter of Support from the applying lead organisation. Through the Letter of Support (LoS) and the Research Office approval process, we expect organisations to acknowledge and prioritise which applications they choose to submit. 

Yes. SEA DREAM has templates to support applicants preparing their preliminary application including the application form and budget form for preliminary and full application (template). These materials are for internal checks and preparation only and must not be uploaded or submitted. All applications must be completed through the SEA DREAM Application Portal. 

See: 

• How to complete your preliminary application form?
• What to prepare for your full application?

SEA DREAM has developed a Matchmaking feature on our website, where organisations can create a profile and be included in a registry for potential collaboration and consortium-building. 

See: 

• Submit matchmaking form
• Browse matchmaking registry

PIs and Co-PIs will be invited to a panel interview. Following the panel evaluation, successful applicants undergo detailed due diligence checks before final award decisions. SEA DREAM may issue conditional/tentative awards followed by a review of the organisational and operational capacity of the lead organisation.                                                                              

There will be no further shortlisting. SEA DREAM are planning to invite the PIs and Co-PIs of all 40 applications to Bangkok, Thailand and provide each consortium with an opportunity to present the details of their proposal.

The lead institution should distribute funds to each Co-PI institution by their own plan unless otherwise agreed with SEA DREAM for unavoidable limitations.

SEA-DREAM will invite all PIs and one Co-PI per Consortium Member (max. 3) with flights and accommodation covered to attend in person, most likely in Bangkok, Thailand. Online participation is possible, if necessary, but in-person attendance is strongly preferred. 

SEA DREAM allows flexibility within the approved budget provided costs remain eligible and within defined categories. Reallocating funds across budget lines, except for Overheads and Sub-Awards is permitted with justification along regular reporting mechanisms, while not exceeding the total awarded amount.  

The interviews are tentatively scheduled for mid-October (12–16 October 2026). SEA-DREAM will reach out to applicants with detailed schedule information once an announcement by late July.  

Only applicants who submitted a Preliminary Application and were subsequently shortlisted are invited to submit a Full Application. This is an invite-only stage. 

Unsuccessful preliminary applicants may participate as Co-Principal Investigators or Collaborators within shortlisted applications, but they cannot submit a Full Application independently. 

The form contains 19 sections. Each section includes its own instructions, character limits, and upload requirements, where applicable. 

Please refer to our article What to Prepare for Your Full Application?, which provides detailed word count guidance for each section. 

All sections of the form and all uploaded documents must be in English. 

No. The Lead Organisation, PI as well as the Deputy PI must remain the same as indicated in the preliminary application. You may add more Co-PIs and collaborators to your proposal. SEA DREAM expects justification and will inquire should consortium members or Co-PIs named in the preliminary application have been removed in the full application.  

It is allowed to change the thematic area. SEA DREAM also asked this Full application not only about primary and secondary thematic area, also the sub-thematic area for details. Thus, thematic areas are more of overview.  

SEA DREAM expects to provide grant funds through quarterly disbursements made by reimbursement. In specific cases, where advance payment is requested, applicant(s) must provide a clear justification. SEA DREAM will review each request and determine whether advance payment can be approved.

For case-specific questions, please contact us at grants@sea-dream.org with email subject line 'SEA-DREAM Full Application [Application ID] – Section 11'.

Only in exceptional cases and at the full discretion of SEA DREAM approval. The application must provide clear justification for the proposed management and governance structure, ensuring that this arrangement is the most beneficial for implementing the consortia activity at no loss of value for money.  

See: Applicant Full Guideline, Section 1.6, pp. 18–21 

A consortium must consist of a minimum of three (3) organisations from different Southeast Asian countries. If the consortium includes more than five (5) organisations, applications should provide clear justifications demonstrating how each member contributes to the research objectives and overall activities, and how larger partnerships will be managed and coordinated. 

The full application stage is invited‑only. Invited consortiums are automatically considered eligible and are required to complete all 19 sections of the full application form. PI and Co‑PIs are strongly advised to double‑check the information that has been transferred for accuracy and relevance under Section 1: Application Summary. If any information is no longer applicable, you may update it directly through the portal. 

The PI must hold a permanent, open-ended, or long-term rolling contract, or the guarantee of one, for the grant period. This includes contracts that require sourcing salary from external grant funding. 

No. The Principal Investigator must be employed by a Lead Organisation legally registered in Southeast Asia. Salary support for personnel (e.g., Deputy PIs; Co-PIs) based in high-income countries outside of Southeast Asia can be requested if they hold a permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract and must get their salary from external grant funding. 

Early- and mid-career Co-PIs are encouraged but should be embedded in a formal mentorship arrangement with a named, experienced researcher at their organisation. 

Each Co-Applying Organisation must be represented by at least one Co-Principal Investigator. 

Individual mobility is expected and should be part of your risk management approach. Should the Co-PI move to an organisation that is not part of the consortium or is not able to continue their contribution in their new role, the consortium is expected to proactively identify a replacement or conduct other risk mitigation measures to ensure the delivery of the proposed activities.  

For case-specific questions, please contact us at grants@sea-dream.org with email subject line 'SEA-DREAM Full Application [Application ID] – Section 2'.

No. Each consortium member is expected to manage their own budget. Exceptions must be approved by SEA DREAM at their absolute discretion, and must be clearly justified and explicitly detailed in the Full Application, signifying clear agreement of the respective consortium member and ideally establishing clear measures to strengthen the budget management capacity of the respective member over the duration of the grant. 

No. Any staff where salary costs are requested under the grant must hold a permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract, or the guarantee of one, with their respective organisation (Consortium Lead or Consortium Member) and must conduct their work within the given contract.  

SEA DREAM funding cannot be utilised for salary costs on a ‘freelance’, ‘unpaid leave’ or any other non-contractual engagement.  

Such engagement would require a service contract with the respective staff as a service provider, subject to procurement best practices.  

See: Applicant Full Guideline, Section 1.6, pp. 18–21

The Full Application portal opens on 14 May 2026 and closes on 10 July 2026, 23:59h GMT+7 / ICT. 

Yes. The Lead PI must first invite the Co-PI to the portal. Once invited, the Co-PI creates an account and can edit their section. Please note, the invitation link is active for 72 hours. If not opened in time, the PI must send a new invitation. If you cannot find the invitation link, kindly check your Junk/Spam folder. 

See: How to submit your full application?

Not by default. Should you require the removal of a Guest Editor, please contact us at grants@sea-dream.org with email subject line 'SEA-DREAM Full Application [Application ID] – Application Portal'.

No. The RO role is limited to reviewing and recording approval or rejection. RO users cannot edit the application itself. 

No. All applications must be submitted through the Application Portal. Alternative submission methods are permitted only in exceptional cases should the Application Portal not be accessible for technical reasons and require prior approval by the SEA DREAM grants team.

See: How to format your attachments?

The consortium is responsible for managing the replacement. The PI is required to inform SEA DREAM, within the regular reporting structure, on any staffing changes to salaried individuals named in the proposal.  

For case-specific questions, please contact us at grants@sea-dream.org with email subject line 'SEA-DREAM Full Application [Application ID] – Section 2'.

Yes, though this is not a specific SEA DREAM requirement. 

Yes. More than one Co-PI from the same country and institution is allowed; provided roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.  

See: Applicant Full Guideline, Section 2.1.1, pp. 23–27

Yes, if they are required to fulfil Co-PI roles and responsibilities. The governance and contribution structure must be clear.  

See: Applicant Full Guideline, Section 2.1.1, p. 23

A Co-PI is a named investigator representing a Consortium Member, with responsibility for the scientific and financial management of their organisation's contribution. A Collaborator supports the project (e.g. sharing facilities, providing expertise) but does not lead a component of the research. Collaborators can request costs for their expenses. 

No. The Principal Investigator must confirm within the application that the proposed collaborators have been contacted and are willing to participate. 

Generation of Knowledge (approximately 5,000 characters combined) asks you to describe how you have contributed to advancing knowledge, including up to 10 significant research outputs. While Development of Others (2,000 characters) asks you to describe your past contributions to mentoring, supervision, strategic leadership, and establishing collaborations. 

Yes. Applicants may utilise the same LoS submitted during the preliminary application stage for the Full Application stage.

The letter should confirm the individual’s employment and availability, the institution’s support for the project, and a commitment to signing a consortium agreement if the application is successful.

One (1) letter is required per investigator.

SEA DREAM promotes resources to be allocated in a balanced, equitable, and sustainable practice across the consortium ensuring that every consortium member has a significant role, leads a major component of research and activities, and maintains ownership and agency over their contribution.  

While funds do not need to be equal across all members, over-concentration of funds in one institution is generally scrutinised unless strongly justified by programmatic needs or higher domestic implementation costs. 

Both. Section 3 asks for descriptions of collaboration frameworks at the consortium organisational level, which should also reflect how individuals involved in the proposal contribute to the partnership. 

Applicants should list other professionals, consultants, or researchers within consortium organisations under the consortium member's contribution section. Early- and mid-career researchers should also be named here with a description of their contribution and capacity-building benefits. 

SEA DREAM does not require Letters of Support from external collaborators. 

No, do not embed them within the text. Figures and additional information can be referenced and must be uploaded as a separate file, not exceeding 2 A4 pages under ‘Additional Information’ question within section 4. 

References should be cited in full, including the publication title, journal name, and all authors. For works with more than ten authors, “et al.” may be used, but your authorship (if applicable) must remain clearly indicated. References must be uploaded as a separate file, not exceeding two (2) A4 pages.  

See: How to format your full application attachments?

This is a conditional question, only if your research is built on or a continuation of a proceeding study. If applicable, please explain how this new research proposal differs from and advances the study within 1,700 characters maximum.  

AI tools may be used only for: 

• Language editing (e.g., grammar, clarity, readability). 
• Formatting assistance (e.g., organizing content, generating a table of contents). 

Please note: Any intentional concealment of AI usage may result in disqualification. 

See: Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

There is no explicit restriction on the number of figures, provided the content remains legible and clear within the two-page limit. 

You do not need to have received ethics approval before submitting but must describe your plans for obtaining ethics review and regulatory approvals. SEA DREAM reserves the right to request relevant approval documents. 

See: Research involving human participants policy

This sub‑section is only applicable if your proposal includes a clinical trial and you select “Yes”. You will be asked to provide, but not limited to, the following details: 

• Study design – Overall structure and methodology of the trial. 
• Primary and secondary outcome measures – What the trial aims to assess and how success will be measured. 
• Recruitment strategy – How participants will be identified, approached, and enrolled. 
• Power calculations – Statistical justification for sample size and study validity. 
• Supporting infrastructure – Personnel, centres, and/or facilities undertaking or supporting the trial. 

See: Full Application Guideline 

Refer: Research involving human participants policy

Principal Investigator must only complete this section if you select “Yes” in the drop‑down list on whether your research involves animals or animal tissue. The specific sub-section questions that appear will depend on which “Yes” option you answer that is applicable to your research proposal. Section 6 sub-section questions cover the following areas: 

• Non-human Primates: If your proposal involves animals and animal tissues, please provide details. 
• Cats, Dogs, and Equidae: If your proposal involves animals and animal tissues, please provide details.  
• Genetically Altered Animals: If your research involves genetically altered animals, please provide details.  

See: What to prepare for your Full Application?

Yes. If diagrams are needed to illustrate your management arrangements (e.g. finance, research support, or evaluation of staffing structures).  

Please use the file naming format specified in the form: 7_ResearchMgt_References.pdf. The file must be in Arial 11-point font, portrait orientation, and not exceed 2 MB. 

This is an optional field asking whether there are any intellectual property or legal issues that might affect your Consortium ability to conduct the proposed research or to use, share, or commercialise the research outputs. If such issues exist, describe them and explain how you will address them. 

See: Intellectual Property Policy

This section focuses on your research capacity‑building initiatives. You may include: 

• Individual training programmes: Master’s, PhD, Post‑Doctoral training, and fellowships. 
• Project‑specific skills: Training directly related to the research project’s methods, tools, or subject matter. 
• Career‑based professional development: Ongoing professional development opportunities relevant to researchers’ career growth. 
• Professional training for support staff: Skills and capacity development for administrative, technical, or research support staff. 

See: Continuing professional development policy

Generally, be as detailed as possible. Year 1 should include all major activities, clear milestones, and expected deliverables while year 2 onwards may present a higher level with estimated timelines and key milestones. 

See: How to complete your Gantt Chart? 

Under Section 11: Consortium Budget Overview, all costs must be in US Dollars ($USD). If converting from a local currency, state the exchange rate used and source it from OANDA or an equivalent provider. 

Yes. The budget template contains separate sheets for the Consortium Lead (Sheet 5) and up to six Consortium Members (Sheets 6–11, labelled CM-1 to CM-6).

Each organisation presents their budget within their own sheet, but within the same Excel template. The budget Excel template must then be uploaded into the application portal.  

Applicants are required to complete the provided budget template, upload it in the designated field, and provide a summary in the online portal.

Up to a maximum of 20% of the total project costs that directly support the funded activities can be claimed as overheads. Applicants should contact the grants@sea-dream.org for clarification should you have any further queries.  

Refer: Full Applicant Guideline, 1.6.1 Overview of Eligible and Ineligible costs, page 21 
See: Eligibility Cost Guideline 

Yes. Staff costs, including basic salary and employer. You can ask for a contribution to your staff’s salary and employer’s contribution if they hold a permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract and must get their salary from external grant funding. If you are requesting salary contribution for Principal Investigators, Deputy-Principal Investigators, or Co-Principal Investigators, their employing organisation must:  

• Confirm that the respective staff have to get their salary from external grant funding to participate in the research. 
  Guarantee to provide salary support, including any salary costs not covered by Wellcome, if they cannot get it from other sources for the period of time they are working on the grant.  
  Any locally appropriate statutory obligations and pension scheme costs can be claimed.  

Salary costs cannot be claimed in the following circumstances:  

• Staff who are fully funded by a higher education institute 
• Research institute or a healthcare organisation based in High Income Countries (per World Bank definition) outside of Southeast Asia. 

Refer: Full Applicant Guideline, 1.6.1 Overview of Eligible and Ineligible costs, page 18
See: Eligibility Cost Guideline, page 4-5 

Yes. Pension scheme costs are listed as eligible under staff costs in the Full Applicant Guideline. 

Refer: Full Applicant Guideline, 1.6.1 Overview of Eligible and Ineligible costs, page 18
See: Eligibility Cost Guideline

Yes. All applicable taxes (e.g. VAT, withholding tax, service tax) must be clearly identified and incorporated into the budget line of items where they are incurred, not separately or consider overhead and/or other direct costs.  

Failure to include applicable tax costs in the submitted budget shall be deemed the sole responsibility of the applicant, and the SEA DREAM shall bear no obligation to reimburse or cover such tax costs. 

Refer: Full Applicant Guideline, 1.6.2 Tax Treatment, page 21
See: Eligibility Cost Guideline 

Please contact grants@sea-dream.org with subject line 'SEA-DREAM Full Application [Application ID]– Section 11', our team will assist in modifying the template. 

Collaborators are to support project delivery but should not be the lead regarding any specific research components. They are not paid for their input, though costs to cover related expenses may be included in your budget proposal. 

See: Cost Eligibility Guideline  

Refer: Full Application Guideline, Section 1.6 “Funding and Budget” (pp. 18–21)

Yes.  Collaborator costs should be included in the budget of the lead organisation or the respective consortium member who will cover their expenses, for example for their grant-related travel. The respective costs should be included in the respective budget category.

Eligible collaborator expenses may include short-term technical support or time-bound research assistance. Personnel costs at collaborator institutions should be small relative to the total budget, tied to specific tasks, and not represent the establishment of a research team. 

A Letter of Justification for Use of Overheads is required by all consortium organisations requesting overhead funds. Each institution must submit one (1) letter from your Finance Director providing information on how you have calculated these costs.

See: Cost Eligibility Guideline

Applicants may reallocate between categories provided the overall approved budget total remains consistent. 

Both may be adjusted if changes are well justified and aligned with proposed activities. Any significant increase or decrease must be clearly explained and will be assessed by the review panel. 

SEA DREAM will only transfer grant funds to an official bank account of the Lead Organisation held in that organisations name. Use of an offshore account may only be considered in exceptional cases, such as where the organisation faces significant non-self inflicted banking restrictions, transfer barriers, or material financial loss when using its domestic account. The request must be clearly justified, subject to appropriate risk mitigation and approved by SEA DREAM in advance at SEA DREAM's full discretion.

For case-specific questions, please contact grants@sea-dream.org.

The total proposed budget must be inclusive of all anticipated and applicable taxes required by the applicant's national laws. Organizations have the flexibility to categorize these taxes either under overheads or under other costs. However, if taxes are included as "Other Costs," applicants cannot apply any additional overheads on those specific amounts.  

For further clarification, please contact grants@sea-dream.org with subject line 'SEA-DREAM Full Application [Application ID] – Section 11'.  

See: Cost Eligibility Guideline 

Refer: Full Application Guideline, Section 1.6 “Funding and Budget” (pp. 18–21)

Applicants should highlight potential risks or dependencies that may affect the requested budget over the duration of the grant, such as changing material costs or variables in research design. Providing these details clarifies the assumptions used to develop your estimates and helps the program anticipate potential variations in future expenses. 

All funding sources for the staff member's salary should be provided. This ensures transparency and allows SEA DREAM to assess potential overlaps.  

See: Applicant Full Guideline, Section 1.6, pp. 18–21

No, it is not mandatory to complete budget classification in Column D. 

Only in exceptional cases and at the full discretion of SEA DREAM approval. The application must provide clear justification for the proposed management and governance structure, ensuring that this arrangement is the most beneficial for implementing the consortia activity at no loss of value for money.  

For further clarification, please contact grants@sea-dream.org with subject line 'SEA-DREAM Full Application [Application ID] – Section 11.'

If involved purely as a service provider, costs can be covered under a consultancy fee, following procurement best practices.  

Collaborator costs should be included in the budget of the lead organisation or the respective consortium member who will cover their expenses, for example for their grant-related travel. The respective costs should be included in the respective budget category 

Eligible collaborator expenses may include short-term technical support or time-bound research assistance. Personnel costs at collaborator institutions should be small relative to the total budget, tied to specific tasks, and not represent the establishment of a research team.  

For further clarification, please contact grants@sea-dream.org with subject line 'SEA-DREAM Full Application [Application ID] – Section 11.'

Yes.

SEA DREAM will cover VAT and import duties if your consortium meets the following:   

• No regular exemptions on equipment used for medical research apply. 

• Your employing organization is based in a Lower- or Upper-Middle Income Country, and you can show that VAT and import duty costs cannot be recovered by your employing organization. 

See: Cost Eligibility Guideline

Applicants are recommended to calculate consortium salary contributions using a reasonable and clearly documented exchange rate, such as the organisation’s standard finance rate, a recent average exchange rate, or another verifiable published rate. Please ensure the same method applied consistently across the budget. The lead organisation carries exchange rate risks. 

All applicants applying under the SEA DREAM Programme must submit their complete applications through the SEA DREAM Portal by the July deadline. Do not use the standard S-SEAF submission portal if you want to tap into the S-SEAF opportunities provided to SEA DREAM. 

Yes. To ensure alignment with the overall consortium goals, your host institution (whether in Singapore for inbound fellows, or in Southeast Asia for outbound fellows) must be a formal member of your proposed SEA DREAM consortium, either as a Consortium Lead, Consortium Member, or as a named Collaborating Institution (Full Application Form Section 3). 

No. Because the S-SEAF fellowships for SEA DREAM are designed to support the programme, the approval of your fellowship is contingent upon the successful funding of your consortium's SEA DREAM proposal. However, researchers who were unsuccessful under SEA DREAM may apply for S-SEAF independently in future cycles. NRF and A*STAR may reach out to applicants at their full discretion.  

Yes. S-SEAF funding is outside the SEA-DREAM programme and is therefore independent. S-SEAF costing does not need to align with the SEA DREAM budget. 

No. Including the S-SEAF fellowship scheme will not provide an advantage in the SEA DREAM proposal evaluation. S-SEAF is managed independently and does not influence scoring. 

These columns are intended for use only by successful awardees at a later stage of the programme. Applicants should complete only the sections specified in the guideline checklist. 

Yes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to align their Theory of Change and Logical Framework with the four SEA-DREAM programme objectives.  

Yes. Applicants are to captures your planned engagement with the public, communities, and policymakers, describing how these groups will inform or benefit from the research. 

See: Applicant Full Guideline, Section 2.3.3.5 Stakeholder Engagement, pp.41–42

Yes, provided it includes equivalent detail: Risk description, Likelihood, Impact, Preventive actions, Contingency plans, and Monitoring arrangements. 

See: How to develop your risk management plan?

All proposals must identify potential safeguarding risks, outline strategies for prevention and mitigation, and provide a safeguarding risk assessment.  

No, this section is not optional. Proposals are expected to demonstrate how environmental sustainability will be considered and integrated throughout research and activities. This should cover practices across all consortium partners during the funding period. 

No, this section is optional. You may propose reviewers who you think are best suited to conduct a scientific review of your proposal. Reviewers must not be employed in the same organisation as the Lead Organisation or Consortium Members, and they must have no conflict of interest. 

Please refer to the Conflict of Interest Policy, which outlines both real and perceived conflicts of interest, as well as the different types that may arise. 

Information from your preliminary application will be carried over. You only need to resubmit information if there have been changes to the information provided in the preliminary application. This Section 18 covers: 

• Eligibility information  
• Project information 
• Lead organisation information 
• Financial and operational management  
• Sanctions check 
• Whether project activities will be conducted in Mainland China.  

See: What to prepare for your Full Application?

As part of the Full Application Form submission, the Research Office is required to verify the accuracy of the submission and confirms organisational compliance with 
SEA DREAM’s eligibility and grant conditions. The Research Office will receive a request to approve or reject the submission.

See: How can Research Offices review applications?

The Principal Investigator (PI) certifies that: 

• They are authorised to submit the application on behalf of the Lead and Co‑Applying Organisations. 
• All information provided is true, complete, and accurate. 

The selection is made by the consortium members.

You can make changes to consortium members between preliminary application and full application. If your consortium constellation changes in between the two application steps, a justification is expected within the full application, as well as updates on the  eligibility self-declaration form.   

Within each application window (preliminary and full application), no changes can be made to already submitted applications. Only in exceptional cases, if crucial changes must be made within the application window, you may send an email to grants@sea-dream.org. After the application window closing date, all submissions are final, and no changes will be accepted.

SEA DREAM aims to support and build equitable partnerships that leverage regional expertise and enable the sharing of resources to achieve common goals. The programme will support cross-border collaboration—both through its overall design and through targeted consortia funding—to strengthen research linkages and generate impact at scale. By connecting leading and emerging research institutions, SEA DREAM aims to facilitate joint agenda-setting, resource-sharing, and learning. Through these efforts, SEA DREAM aims to foster a collaborative and innovative regional research environment.

• Individual Level: 
  Develop researchers through training, mentorship, fellowships and soft skills development.
   
• Institutional Level: 
  Create supportive environments by establishing research offices, providing internal funding, enhancing infrastructure, promoting knowledge sharing, and offering clear career pathways.

Research institutions and organisations from Southeast Asian Lower-Middle Income Countries, as per World Bank definition, are expected to have active and leading roles in a consortium, benefitting from equitable partnership structures. This includes joint research agenda-setting, building research and research support capacity and mentorship relations, leading ethically grounded projects, and participating in regional health policy discussions and research governance.  

Each SEA DREAM consortium is expected to include at least one organisation from a Southeast Asian LMIC, contributing to SEA DREAM’s objective to establish equitable regional partnerships that uplift the Southeast Asian research ecosystem as a whole.

The Lead Organisation is responsible for managing and distributing the grant within the consortium and holds overall legal and financial accountability to ensure compliance with the SEA DREAM grant conditions across all Consortium Members. The Lead Organisation oversees:  

• Consortium coordination and partnership management   
• Operational oversight of Consortium activities  
• Financial management of overall Consortium budget and disbursement to Consortium Members  
• Reporting and Communication, including Monitoring, Evaluation and Risk Management  

The Lead Organisation is also responsible for submitting the final application to SEA DREAM and signing the grant agreement.  

The Co-Applying Organisation will work in partnership with the Lead Organisation contributing to the proposed activities. This could include, but is not limited to, leading a strand of research, or meaningfully engaging in training and development or research ecosystem strengthening activities.  

The consortium should agree among themselves on additional roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the Lead Organisation and individual Consortium Members, official communication and representation of the consortium, arrangements for consortium meetings, and other governance matters.

SEA DREAM does not claim ownership of intellectual property; IP remains with the researchers’ employing organisations.

See: Intellectual Property Policy

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with the private sector and local government as part of their research. A strong application will include strategic stakeholder involvement and effective dissemination strategies to achieve impact and support communities most affected.

Yes. A for-profit startup company may participate in the consortium, provided that its role is aligned with not-for-profit activities under the project. Any profits generated must be consistent with Wellcome’s charitable objectives. For further details, please refer to this policy document. 

No. Ethics approval is not required at the application stage. However, the applicant must address ethical considerations, the involvement of human participants or animal studies, and provide a data management plan in the proposal, as well as plan to receive ethical approval ahead of conducting research. 

Any research involving human and animal subjects must undergo an ethics review before research is conducted.

Yes. If the proposed activities involve human challenge studies, strict restrictions and methodological safeguards must be in place due to the high ethical sensitivity of such studies. All researchers and organisations are required to adhere to ethical principles and guidelines, comply with all relevant legislation, and follow best practice standards for research involving human participants.

A safeguarding policy outlines an organisation's commitment to protect peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, bullying, abuse and neglect.  

The organisation must ensure safeguarding policies, protocols, and procedures are in place and is being verifiably complied with effectively with no indication at all of any safeguarding breach. 

Applications must describe within their risk management approach how safeguarding risks will be identified and managed within the project.

Yes. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is permitted. If generative AI has been used to develop your research question or assist in writing your application, the applicant must disclose any use of generative AI on their application form except where it has been used for translating application language and improving the standard of English used in applications. The applicants must be responsible for the content of their applications if generative AI has been used.

See: Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) is a framework used in ASEAN aimed at ensuring fair treatment and representation of all individuals, regardless of matters such as gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. These factors are essential to ensure that the research is conducted in a responsible, equitable, and inclusive manner. 

In general, the payment to grantees is done quarterly in arrears, subject compliance to all reporting requirements. Grantees must submit fund requests by the 20th of the month following the end of each quarter, based on expenditures incurred during that quarter. Grants are disbursed within the last week of the second month of the following quarter, approximately one month after the submission and approval of quarterly reports.

Yes, in exceptional cases. If a grantee operates in a limited financial resource setting; advanced payments can be considered. Advanced payments may be in the form of 1) a mobilisation (one-off) payment; or 2) ongoing advanced funding if conditions are met. 

Requests for advanced funding must be indicated in the application with the relevant evidence e.g., financial standing based on reserve funding ratio.

No. Should the grantee not be able to comply with specific terms and conditions in the grant agreement, they are not eligible for the award.  

When organisations and researchers accept grant funding from SEA DREAM they must agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the award. These terms and conditions are set out in the grant agreement, which includes our grant conditions and funding policies. 

The purpose of our terms and conditions is to ensure that funding is used for the purposes for which it was awarded, and that the research is managed lawfully and continues to be run in line with SEA DREAM’s strategic aims. 

However, potential adjustments or deviations in terms of grant management may be agreed to in the award letter, such as reporting and payment schedules, if a strong supporting rationale and justification are provided

Yes. Grantees are expected to conduct an annual independent external audit and budget accordingly in their proposal. The SEA DREAM Programme team may conduct site-visits in addition to the external audits to monitor compliance of each grantee to the terms and conditions and funding policies. 

Grantees must allow SEA DREAM, at our expense and on reasonable notice, to audit their accounts, records, systems and facilities in relation to the Grant. 

You must ensure that you are able to audit the Grant Activities of any Consortium Member Organisation in such a way that you are able to comply with your obligations to us.

You must keep all invoices, receipts, accounts, and other relevant documents relating to the Grant and Grant activities in accordance with your data retention policy, and at a minimum for three years after the Grant end date and provide these to us if we ask you for them.

For each Consortium, the Principal Investigator and supporting staff (i.e., Deputy-Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigators, Grants and Research Office support staff) are expected to meet with the SEA DREAM Programme every three (3) months in quarterly meetings tied to quarterly reporting. Ad-hoc meetings for coordination and consultation may be scheduled as required by SEA DREAM or requested by the grantee. 

At the beginning of your award, within the first month, a kick-off meeting will be set up by the SEA DREAM Programme team.   

Alternative meeting and reporting arrangements may be agreed on in exceptional cases.

The SEA DREAM Programme mandates regular reporting from Grantees, covering both technical and financial aspects. All reports must be submitted in English. 

Grantees are required to submit: 

• Quarterly financial and technical progress of the programme, including expenditure budget and variance, budget forecast, outputs and milestone achievements, as well as risk management.  
• Annual Report provides a comprehensive overview of the programme’s yearly progress, including outputs, outcomes, key achievements, and impact. It highlights accomplishments through select grantee case studies and includes analysis of risks, challenges, and lessons learned. 
• Midterm Report at the half-way point of your grant, focusing on reviewing progress, challenges and lessons in achieving the programme's objectives. It includes necessary adjustments, as well as analysis of the political and economic context and stakeholder engagement. 
• End of Grant Report provides a clear narrative towards the impact achieved towards strengthening the research ecosystem of Southeast Asia and lessons learned from all activities across the consortium.  
• IP and Commercialisation Report covers all IP-related activities for the previous calendar year that should include new invention disclosures, new patent applications and granted patents, copies of commercialisation agreements and transactions, revenue generated by commercialising IP, and revenue retention request (if relevant). If there is no IP-related activity within the grant, the grantee needs to submit the NULL report. 

Yes. The Lead Organisation will consolidate input from partners.

A succession plan should be in place and defined in the Consortium-level agreement between all Consortium Members. SEA DREAM will have to be informed immediately and asked for approval ahead of any changes. SEA DREAM might conduct additional due diligence checks and organisational and operational reviews for new Consortium Leads.

During project implementation, Consortium Lead and Members are expected to maintain a risk and issue register to identify, document, and manage potential risks and issues that could impact the successful completion of grant activities. The SEA DREAM risk management framework will be provided to the Lead Organisation for reference in developing the risk register that are specific to the proposed project by each consortium. If the project cannot be performed according to the proposed work plan and timeline, the Lead Organisation is responsible for informing SEA DREAM within (and in urgent cases outside) of regular reporting structures to highlight implementation and performance risks and develop mitigation strategies and solutions.

No. By default, an extension of the project is not permitted.

Yes. Throughout the funding call, prospective applicants can submit their questions to: 

• info@sea-dream.org for general programme inquiries. 
• grants@sea-dream.org for questions related to funding call and grants. 

Answers to clarification questions will be published on the SEA DREAM webpage.

Yes. SEA DREAM will hold its second information session, DREAM 4 Health 2026: Applicant Q&A and Guidance Webinar, on 13 February 2026. This webinar will focus on supporting applicants in preparing their Preliminary Applications. Subscribe here.  

Applicants may also watch or rewatch our DREAM 4 Health 2026 Pre-Launch & Webinar. 

In between the preliminary application window, SEA DREAM will host a series of webinars and Q&A sessions for potential applicants.  

Interested applicants are encouraged to subscribe for the SEA DREAM Newsletter to receive programme updates. Information on the Funding Call and the Launch event is published e on the SEA DREAM website page at www.sea-dream.org.  

For Preliminary Applications, applicants are required to review the relevant guidelines on the SEA DREAM website, including how to prepare and complete the application form, how to submit via the SEA DREAM Application Portal, and how Preliminary Applications will be assessed. Financial management guidelines will also be provided, including eligible and ineligible costs and key financial management policies. 

Applicants are also encouraged to read the Policy Snapshots. Full programme policies will be released in the first quarter of 2026. 

For the Full Application, detailed applicant guidelines will be made available on the SEA DREAM website. These will provide instructions on completing and submitting the Full Application form, and will include information on eligibility and evaluation criteria, submission deadlines, and key requirements such as reporting cadence, risk management, Gender Equity, Disability, and Inclusion (GEDI), and value for money. 

Applicants are also required to review the thematic priorities and SEA DREAM objectives for funding regional research consortia. 

Communication of updates and clarifications regarding the funding call is made available on the SEA DREAM website. 

Sign up to SEA DREAM newsletter here.