By Dr. Muhammad Usman

Have you ever thought about who supports scientific research that addresses local challenges, preserves indigenous knowledge, and advances national priorities? National science funding bodies are state-supported organizations that facilitate scientific research, build human and institutional capacity, and promote scientific culture thereby developing science and research ecosystem in a country.

Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), a national funding body, aims at strengthening the research, innovation, and scientific capacity in Pakistan. Established under the PSF Act 1973, PSF works under the Ministry of Science and Technology. To achieve its objectives, it actively funds research projects, fellowships, scientific societies and other technology promotion initiatives. Moreover, it carries out several science promotion and popularization activities ranging from science and technology awareness campaigns to science clubs and mobile science caravans, specifically focusing the underserved regions of the country. In addition to this, it facilitates international scientific exchanges by maintaining liaison with scientific bodies across the globe to build strong collaborations for accelerated knowledge and innovation.

PSF has a long history of funding basic, applied and strategic research conducted by academic researchers, scientific communities, and industries. By funding theory-driven research, applied industrial projects, and national priority initiatives, PSF helps scientific knowledge creation, innovation and solutions that advance several social, economic, and strategic objectives. Some funding programs are continuously open for applications, allowing researchers to submit proposals at any time. Others are call-based, either focusing on emerging scientific priorities such as climate change, or on internationally collaborative topics driven by partner institutions around the globe.

PSF’s research funding process follows a structured path from application to project completion. It begins with the submission of a concept paper, which is evaluated by an internal screening committee of subject experts. If recommended, Principal Investigators (PIs) are invited to submit full project proposals, which undergo external peer review. Successful proposals are then considered by technical committees for final approval. Once approved, funds are released to the PIs, and the projects are later monitored and evaluated to ensure objectives are met.

Transparency is a cornerstone of effective research funding, thus PSF diligently emphasizes open, fair, and accountable processes in its programs. Be it an open, call-based, or an internationally linked initiative, PSF ensures that its funding processes are transparent and merit-based. Transparency is not limited to the final funding decisions; it encompasses proposal calls, peer review, fund allocation, and monitoring. Accordingly, PSF ensures it is implemented across all stages of its funding mechanism.

While transparency has long been a core principle of PSF’s funding processes, recent advances in digitization and online systems have made it easier to implement, monitor, and communicate these practices effectively at all stages of the funding process. Like other public organizations in the country, PSF is also implementing digitization initiatives that reflect the government’s E-Pakistan principles, strengthening transparency and effectiveness in research funding.

All funding calls at PSF are announced with clear criteria, deadlines, and objectives across multiple channels, including the PSF website and social media accounts. This ensures that announcements reach the relevant audience and that applicants fully understand the scope and requirements. Online systems at PSF allow for the submission of concept papers and full proposals, reducing ambiguity and minimizing bias. Deadlines are computer-locked, guaranteeing fairness across submissions. Internal screening committees, composed of subject experts, follow documented procedures to avoid favoritism or conflicts of interest. Decisions are made and communicated to PIs through the online system, ensuring proper records are maintained.

Standardized timelines and required data fields for all PIs further strengthen transparency. A semi-automated peer-review process identifies the most relevant experts, ensuring a fair and rigorous evaluation of proposals. Technical committees provide documented justifications for their decisions, all maintained within the system. While fund disbursement and monitoring/evaluation have traditionally followed a conventional approach, PSF is actively enhancing its digital systems to record disbursement and project evaluation online. Once fully implemented, these steps will ensure the entire project lifecycle, from announcement to evaluation, is fully digitized, further enhancing the transparency that already exists in PSF’s conventional processes.

By combining clear procedures, digitized systems, and rigorous peer review, PSF is making research funding more transparent and accessible than ever before. The ongoing digital enhancements promise a fully traceable project lifecycle, from call announcement to evaluation. In doing so, PSF is fostering innovation, accountability, and trust in national research initiatives.