Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

1 If my proposal does not target populations in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), but addresses those diseases or pathogens mentioned in a Request for proposal, am I eligible to apply?
No. Proposals must seek to reduce the burden of disease in populations living in LMICs.
2Are Korea-based subsidiaries considered as eligible Korean entities and organizations?
Yes, if your organization is a legal business entity registered and has research facilities in Korea.
3How do you define an eligible entity?
Eligible entities include academic institutions, public and private research organizations, non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, or other recognized institution capable of supporting the proposed activities and administering grants and are legally established in accordance to the law of their countries.
Please note that both principal applicant (principal investigator) and co-applicant(s) are legal entities subject to above conditions.
4Do I need any specific academic qualifications to apply?
No. Our Request for Proposals is open to everyone regardless of age or academic qualifications. However, the project lead and team must have the necessary qualifications and skills to carry out the proposed activities of the innovation.
5Do I need a collaborator?
Please refer to the eligibility criteria stipulated in each call for proposals
  • Product Development Award (PDA):
    It is not mandatory for applicants to have a collaborator at the time of proposal submission. However, the applicant team must include at least one Korean entity with the expertise to make a significant contribution to the project. Inclusion of non-Korean partner(s) especially those from the Global South is highly recommended.
  • Evidence Generation Award (EGA):
    It is not mandatory for applicants to have a collaborator at the time of proposal submission. However, the applicant team must include at least one local institution based in the country or region that the proposed evidence generation will focus on. Collaborative submission among the institutions in the Global South are highly welcome and encouraged. Inclusion of a Korean entity is encouraged but not required.
6Can the grant be used to support specific technology development that is already underway (i.e., development of new technology platforms) and will proposals for basic research be considered?
Eligible funding scopes and conditions are described in each Request for Proposal.

Application and Review Process

1What types of awards are available from the RIGHT Foundation?
There are two types of awards at the moment:
1) Product Development Award (PDA): This is the standard award that intends to support development of new or improved vaccines, therapeutics, biologics or diagnostic platforms as global public good for prevention and control of infectious diseases that disproportionately affect the people in the Global South
2) Evidence Generation Award (EGA): The purpose of this award is to generate evidence to critically assess the potential public health value of digital tools and specific conditions and approaches under which digital tools can strengthen public health and expand the quality, affordability and accessibility of health services.
For more information, please refer here.
2Where do I find the application forms and templates to apply to the RIGHT Foundation?
All application forms can be access through our website. You will be asked to register and create an account in our grant management system when you follow the link on the website.
3Can an applicant submit more than one application?
A project lead may only be listed on one application to this request for proposals. An entity may, however, submit multiple applications, provided if each proposal is led by different project leads and addressing different public health needs.
4Does the RIGHT Foundation accept proposals in Korean?
No. Only proposals in English will be accepted.
5Will the selection process use a peer review or champion-based review in evaluating application?
The selection process consists of a Panel of Experts (POE) to identify and prioritize the most promising proposals before submission to a Selection Committee (SC). The SC will carry out in-depth reviews and discussions taking the POE’s comments into consideration followed by a recommendation to the Board of the Directors (BoD). The BoD of RIGHT Foundation will make all final funding decisions.
6Can I submit hard-copies and materials along with my full proposal application?
No. The RIGHT Foundation cannot accept any supplementary materials submitted with proposals other than soft copies of additional information requested in the proposal template.
7How will I know if my proposal is approved for funding?
At the completion of the evaluation and approval process, RIGHT Foundation will inform successful applicants of its investment decision. RIGHT Foundation reserves the right to abstain from providing formal feedback to applicants receiving a non-award decision.
8Can applicants contact RIGHT Foundation Selection Committee members directly?
The RIGHT Foundation restricts communications between current and potential awardees and Selection Committee members and requests they refrain from queries, concerns, and requests related to RIGHT Foundation and its processes. The RIGHT Foundation will coordinate all communications among the parties. This is required to ensure and enhance organizational transparency and fairness in the decision-making process.
9Can the applicant resubmit its proposal after a non-award decision?
Proposals that are not awarded funding may be resubmitted in future funding rounds. The resubmission allows team to explain how your proposal or partnership has been strengthened since your last submission.
10What does it mean that each milestone should end with clear Go/No-go decision criteria?
Each milestone should have exit point(s) used to decide whether the next activity proceeds.

Funding and Budget

1How are the project milestones and payout milestones decided?
The RIGHT Foundation applies stage-gate funding to its awards. Project and payout milestones are mutually agreed upon and set by both the RIGHT Foundation and applicant and finalized in the grant agreement.
2In what currency will the grant from RIGHT Foundation be provided?
Budgets should be submitted in Korean Won (KRW, ₩).
3What is the maximum budget for awarded project?
  • For PDA: The maximum budget per project (over three years) is set at 4 billion Korean won (KRW). You will be required to provide a plan to secure full funding to complete the project. The RIGHT Foundation will only support up to 50% of the total project costs. The funding amount will be determined to be commensurate with the proposed activities.
  • For EGA: The maximum budget per project (over one year) is set at 200 million Korean won (KRW). The funding amount will be determined to be commensurate with the proposed activities. No matching funds are required by the applicant.
4Do I require co-funding?
  • For PDA: Because the RIGHT Foundation will only support up to 50% of the total project costs, you must provide a plan to secure full funding to complete the project. Co-funding requirement may be waived for applicant teams which are composed solely of academic institutions and/or non-profit organizations.
  • For EGA: No matching funds are required by the applicant.
5As an awardee, what types of country approvals will I need in order to accept funding from the RIGHT Foundation and when should I start this process?
Every country has different requirements for accepting foreign money and some countries require a formal approval. It is up to the awardees and their Institution to obtain any relevant approvals.
6I am an individual seeking financial assistance for my project, am I eligible for a grant from RIGHT Foundation?
No. The RIGHT Foundation does not provide support to individuals.
7I am raising money for a non-profit organization’s operations budget, am I eligible for a grant?
No. The RIGHT Foundation only invests on R&D projects.
8What is the RIGHT Foundation’s policy on indirect costs? (e.g., overhead)
Indirect cost rates are subject to the following limitations:
  • Government Agencies, Other Private Foundations: 0%
  • Universities, Academic Institutes: 10%
  • Non-governmental organizations, Non-profit foundations, For-profit organizations: 15%
9What is the RIGHT Foundation’s policy on VAT(Value Added Tax) or GST (Goods and Services Tax)?
In principle, VAT or GST should be excluded in the budget requested to RIGHT Foundation.
10Does the RIGHT Foundation award scholarships?
No. The RIGHT Foundation does not award scholarships.
11Do investment awards from the RIGHT Foundation cover capital equipment?
No, the RIGHT Foundation does not provide funding for setting up research facilities or capital equipment.

Partnerships

1What are the expected partner responsibilities?
Partner roles and responsibilities as they relate to project activities should be defined by applicants and included in proposals.
2Does the RIGHT Foundation require contractual agreements between collaborating partners?
It may not be a requirement for the funding decision but if a project requires certain partnership from the beginning or in the course of the project, such contractual agreements can be set as project milestones. The RIGHT Foundation reserves the right to retract our decision if full funding for the project can’t be secured before the start date of the project.

Intellectual Property

1Does the RIGHT Foundation have the right to file patents or other intellectual property rights on the funded developments?
No. The RIGHT Foundation does not have the rights to file for intellectual property (IP) rights on the funded developments. The grantee retains these IP rights.

The RIGHT Foundation ensures that results of the project are made available and accessible for the purpose of achieving Global Access commitments.
2What is the Global Access?
“Global Access” means (i) all information and knowledge gained from grants, projects or other investments funded by the RIGHT Fund (collectively “Projects”) should be promptly and broadly disseminated; and (ii) products, data and other innovations resulting from Projects should be made available and accessible in terms of price, quantity, quality and timeframe so as to benefit our intended beneficiaries. Read more about the Global Access policy here.

Others

1Will awardees continue to undertake public engagement activities after securing the grant?
The RIGHT Foundation may elect to highlight and showcase the work of awardees in certain instances.
2Who should I contact if I have a question?
General questions regarding the application can be directed to [email protected] (email subject header: RFP-Questions) or send a message through the grant management system with the same subject line.