Applied Research Grants
Applied Research Grants support researchers in low- and middle-income countries pursuing applied nutrition studies and local scientific capacity building to improve public health through sustainable, scalable evidence.
Funder: Nestlé Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (Letter of Intent) | January 10, 2027 (Spring full application) | July 10, 2027 (Autumn full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $20,000–$300,000, depending on grant type; research grants generally last 1–3 years
Summary: Supports applied nutrition research that improves public health and builds scientific capacity in low- and middle-income countries.
Key Information: At least 75% of the budget must be spent within low- and middle-income countries.
Description
The Nestlé Foundation funds applied human nutrition research with practical public health relevance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Its emphasis is on improving maternal, child, and adolescent nutrition through evidence that can lead to sustainable, scalable benefits. Priority topics include growth and early development, nutrient deficiencies, breastfeeding and complementary feeding, food-based interventions, nutrition education, and infection–nutrition interactions. The Foundation also considers emerging work on gut health, precision nutrition, and approaches to the triple burden of malnutrition.
The grants pair research with local scientific capacity building. Training, mentorship, and human resource development should be integral to projects, with LMIC-based researchers taking a leading role. Smaller training and pilot studies can provide a starting point for later, larger research proposals.
