Call for demonstration sites: Asia Science Mission for Sustainability | deadline: 16 August

The Asia Science Mission (ASM), part of the ISC Science Missions for Sustainability, is being co-designed with regional partners to address Asia’s most pressing challenges: climate change, water insecurity, biodiversity loss, and health risks. Coordinated by Future Earth Asia in collaboration with the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research, and the Australian National University, ASM works to bridge science, society, and policy. Through regional demonstration projects and integrated systems research, the Mission is building a new model for generating and applying sustainability knowledge tailored to Asia’s complex and diverse socio-ecological realities. The ASM is supported by the ISC Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacifc, which is funded by the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Scope

Selected demonstration sites will showcase how the Asia Science Mission’s innovative approaches-including meta-network collaboration, knowledge integration, and co-designed stakeholder engagement-bridge gaps between fragmented data, knowledge systems, institutions, and communities. These collaborations will generate robust, evidence-based solutions that drive long-term resilience and transformative change across socio-ecological systems.

For the initial phase, two pilot sites will be selected and will:

• Work closely with the ASM team to co-design a place-based project
• Establish a transdisciplinary collaborative space for knowledge co-production
• Be supported through mentorship, expert guidance, workshops, and outreach
• Be expected to receive up to 85,000 AUD each for the first year. Support for a total period of up to three years may be continued, pending performance and available resources.

Thematic priorities

We welcome EOIs for demonstration sites that focus on climate change and interlinked sustainability challenges aligned with the following SDGs:

• SDG6: Clean water and sanitation
• SDG11: Sustainable cities and communities
• SDG 13: Climate action
• SDG 14: Life below water
• SDG 15: Life on land

Eligibility criteria

This call for proposals is part of ASM’s broader effort to identify and support demonstration sites across Asia that can advance actionable sustainability science. Initial funding for 2 pilot sites will be provided by the International Science Council’s Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific (ISC-RFP), with priorities given to proposals from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri-Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam.

Proposals from other parts of Asia (including Pacific), outside of the RFP funding focus, are also strongly encouraged. While these may not be eligible for immediate funding at this stage, they will be considered for inclusion in the broader ASM network, future engagement opportunities, and potential support through other funding avenues.

Applicants should demonstrate that their site:

• Has strong potential for stakeholder co-design to tackle complex system problems and socio-ecological vulnerabilities;
• Can expand transdisciplinary collaboration involving local and international researchers, Indigenous leaders, grassroots organizations, and policy-makers;
• Will leverage co-funding, drawing on local and regional resources to ensure financial resilience and partnership buy-in.

Submission guidelines

Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 16 August 2025 (23.59 UTC) in English using the official application template that can be downloaded and submitted HERE.

For any queries, send an email to: [email protected]; Subject line: [Asia Science Mission Demo Sites Call-Query]

Guiding principles for demonstration sites

Projects must align with the ISC’s model for Mission Science for Sustainability (ISC, 2023):

View full ISC principles

Each demonstration site should:

• Be participatory, collaborative, and systems-oriented, addressing complex sustainability challenges
• Be reflexive, humble, and adaptive, with a focus on learning and responsiveness
• Embrace pragmatic and innovative approaches to sustainability transitions
• Maintain quality, integrity, and transparency in all research and implementation processes
• Aim for collective benefit, equity, fairness, diversity, and inclusion
• Uphold responsibility, respect, and accountability across stakeholder groups
• Promote open science and adhere to FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)

Timeline

• 16 July: Call for EOI announced
• 16 August: EOI submission deadline
• September: Project proposals shortlisted
• October 2025 onwards: Pilot sites selected
• November: Start of projects (tentative)

Contact information

For more information on the substantive aspects of the call, please contact:

Email: asiaregion[at]futureearth.org with Subject Heading in email as “[Asia Science Mission Demo Sites call]”