Now Accepting Proposals: Competitive Research Fund on Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprise Growth

IPA's Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Initiative is excited to announce that it is now accepting applications to the 8th round of the Competitive Research Fund on Entrepreneurship and SME growth. We are looking for proposals for research projects that use rigorous methods to test innovative programs and policies that promote SME growth. In the past, the Fund has awarded grants for projects ranging from an evaluation of an export promotion program in Egypt to a study looking at the importance of business networking in Nanchang, China.

The Competitive Research Fund offers grants at three funding levels for research that aligns with the Initiative’s key focus areas: access to finance, human capital and skills, and access to markets and information. In addition, the 8th round has a special focus on high-growth entrepreneurship in Latin America; reducing the cost and risk of lending to SMEs; and improving managerial capital. 

Please visit our website for the full RFP, applications form, and budgeting guidelines and summaries of previously awarded projects. Applications for this round are due on December 10, 2014. We encourage you to share this with any researchers who may be interested.