Do you have a research paper on energy, transport, climate finance or green growth that is almost finished but still isn’t submitted? The International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and the Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) programme are inviting researchers from developing countries to the 2nd ICTP-CCG Catalyst Facility Academic Writing Residency. It’s a fully supported three-week stay in Trieste, Italy, from 1 to 19 March 2027, where you’ll get your manuscript ready for publication with mentoring from experienced academics. Applications close on 15 November 2026.
Residency at a Glance
- Organisers: ICTP (a UNESCO Category 1 Institute) and the CCG Consortium, including Imperial College London and Loughborough University
- Location: ICTP campus, Trieste, Italy
- Dates: 1–19 March 2027 (three weeks, in person)
- For: Researchers from ODA-eligible countries, with priority for Least Developed Countries
- Focus: Writing and publishing a nearly finished paper on climate-compatible growth
- Support: Flights, accommodation, daily allowance and mentorship
- Registration fee: None
- Deadline: 15 November 2026
What Is the Residency About?
Many researchers in the Global South finish their fieldwork and analysis but struggle to find uninterrupted time and guidance to turn results into a published journal article. This residency fixes that. For three weeks you step away from teaching and other duties, work on your manuscript at ICTP, and get feedback from CCG mentors.
It is not a research programme. Your data collection and analysis must already be complete. By the end of your stay you’re expected to produce a pre-print and, ideally, submit the paper to a peer-reviewed journal.
Benefits
- Return flights to Trieste, Italy
- Accommodation in ICTP’s guesthouse
- Daily subsistence allowance for meals and personal expenses
- In-person mentoring from academics in the CCG Consortium
- Possible support for open-access or journal submission fees, with prior approval
- Peer exchange with researchers from other developing countries
- No registration fee
ICTP notes that a limited number of grants are available, prioritising participants from developing countries, so funding is competitive.
Research Topics
Your paper should fit one or more CCG research areas, such as:
- Energy systems and low-carbon transitions
- Sustainable transport and mobility planning
- Infrastructure resilience and circularity
- Resource efficiency and critical minerals
- Green growth, economics and climate finance
- Governance, equity, and gender equality and social inclusion (GESI)
- Data-to-Deal and investment preparation
- System planning and integrated policy design
- Green hydrogen and emerging fuels
- Circular economy and resource governance
Eligibility
- You are a national of an ODA-eligible country (on the OECD DAC list). Nearly all African countries qualify, and applicants from Least Developed Countries get priority.
- You are affiliated with a university or research institution in an ODA-eligible country.
- You have a completed draft research paper with all analysis finished.
- Your paper aligns with at least one CCG research community or theme.
Encouraged (not required):
- Co-authors from other institutions, especially other Global South institutions
- Previous participation in CCG capacity-building activities
- Contact with CCG academics before you apply, to discuss a possible joint paper
How Applications Are Judged
- Quality and originality of the paper
- Relevance to CCG’s research themes
- Your academic profile and publication record
- Co-authorship across institutions
- Potential for publication and impact
Tips for a Strong Application
- Only apply with a paper that’s ready. Reviewers want results already in hand. If you’re still collecting data, wait for a future round.
- Name your target journal. Showing you know where the paper fits demonstrates it can realistically be submitted during the residency.
- Link clearly to a CCG theme. Use the language of the research area your work fits, such as energy access, climate finance or critical minerals.
- Reach out to CCG researchers. Contacting a CCG academic before applying is encouraged and can strengthen your application.
- Highlight South-South collaboration. If you have co-authors at other developing-country institutions, say so.
How to Apply
- Read the full call on ICTP’s event page for the residency (smr 4340).
- Click “Apply here” to create an account on the ICTP applicants portal.
- Complete the online form and upload the documents requested, including details of your draft paper.
- Submit before 15 November 2026.
For questions, contact the residency secretariat at [email protected].
Apply for the ICTP-CCG Academic Writing Residency 2027
