The National Science Foundation (NSF) is mandated to generate, disseminate and transfer knowledge ensuring its effective utilization for the greater benefit of the people of Sri Lanka. The R & D grant schemes seek to foster the formation of multi-disciplinary teams to conduct cutting-edge research and development projects that are of relevance to Sri Lanka and society.

The aim of this scheme is to take research outputs beyond the laboratory scale by assisting three target groups of people belonging to different sectors to conduct projects of experimental development focusing on encouraging universities and research institutes to conduct projects leading to technology-driven innovations (TDI), based on existing knowledge gained from basic and applied research not confining research output limiting to laboratory scale, and strengthening capacity and capability of non-state sector companies (small, medium and large)to conduct activities directed to producing globally/regionally competitive new materials, products or devices, installing new processes, systems, and services, or to improving substantially those already produced or installed and become active partners in the innovation process.

This programme is specially designed to develop International Research collaborations between Sri Lankan and International Research Institutions to stimulate information exchange to advance science and technology and to meet global standards in research. Through collaborative research programmes, a synergistic effect, magnified R&D outputs with greater scientific, social & economic impact are sought by such means as sharing resources and research facilities.

The International Partnerships for Science and Technology (IPSAT), is a programme to obtain services of high calibre scientists and technologists working abroad. It is directed at promoting international research collaborations, technology transfer, and at obtaining expertise towards developing a globally-engaged community of scientists and technologists in Sri Lanka. The Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy of Sri Lanka has also identified IPSAT as a key strategy programme for human resource development for research innovations & allied service.

The National Science Foundation (NSF), which believes in multidisciplinary and collaborative research to address national needs and to drive the national research system to produce well defined outputs that will benefit the intended end users, initiated the National Thematic Research Programme (NTRP) where the themes are decided as per the national priorities. In this Programme the NSF adopts a new approach, where the NSF itself identifies the research problems and invite research groups who have demonstrated their capability in conducting research successfully over the years to carry out research on these identified research problems.

The NSF supports R & D activities of Sri Lankan scientists in all fields of Science & Technology, the output and outcomes of which will ultimately benefit the Sri Lankan society. Accordingly, the GapF grants facilitate and encourage scientists to carry out further research of high standard preferably with collaboration with the industry sector, targeting commercialization. The main objective of this scheme is to support further research of NSF funded completed grants with commercial potential to achieve a higher technology readiness level or to develop a product or a process with commercial value.

To ensure Sri Lanka remains competitive in global science and technology research, it is crucial to establish laboratories with modern infrastructure. This initiative aims to support universities and R&D institutions by providing funds for the purchase of necessary spare parts for the repair and maintenance of research equipment. By addressing equipment maintenance needs, this scheme facilitates uninterrupted research and experimental development, ultimately contributing to the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka.

Laboratories with modern infrastructure facilities for research are needed to be in par with the global S & T research. This schemes will assist the acquisition of equipment for research that is generally too costly to be purchased by the Research Institutions and Universities. Objectives are to facilitate and support infrastructure development in University and Research Laboratories and maintain the smooth functioning of R & D activities, thereby establishing a sustainable and viable research culture in Sri Lanka and to form collaborative research teams and share equipment with other researchers and Departments/Divisions in R & D Institutes/Universities

This scheme supports scientific events in order to communicate research data and results to a wider audience nationally and internationally. Basic support is provided for printing proceedings and providing course material. 

The NSF Postgraduate Research Scholarship scheme is implemented in order to increase the number of postgraduate research studies conducted by Sri Lankan graduates at local Universities. It is also intended to attract and encourage graduates from recognized Universities to conduct fulltime research leading to postgraduate research degrees and to encourage them to take up careers related to research.

The NSF Research Scholarship scheme was initiated with the specific objective of encouraging young and outstanding graduates to conduct postgraduate research leading to MPhil or PhD. This scheme will assist in providing financial support to graduates to conduct full time research (within Sri Lanka) leading up to 3 years for MPhils or PhDs.

This grant scheme provides an opportunity for scientists/ engineers with recent Ph.D. or equivalent qualifications to carry out full-time research within the country for up to 2 years. These grants are awarded in all fields of Science & Technology after a comprehensive evaluation by the NSF. Applicants should have evidence of excellent research achievements and strong recommendations from two referees. An academic or researcher with a permanent position should be included as a Co-investigator and who is willing to complete the project, in any case, the Postdoctoral Research Scientist fails to do so.

The scheme provides financial assistance for programmes organized by Schools and University Science Societies registered with NSF, and programmes organized by reputed scientific institutes registered with STMIS targeting school and university community. Programmes will be considered in two major categories as Science Education Programmes and Science Popularization Programmes.

This scheme supports publication fees of research articles of Sri Lankan authors in high-impact indexed journals, enabling dissemination of research results for greater visibility. 

The requests for NSF support for overseas travel to attend scientific meetings/conferences are considered on the basis of three geographical regions. (i.e. SAARC, Asia- Pacific and Africa-America-Europe regions). Only resident Sri Lankan scientists and technologists are eligible to apply. Every application requires a strong recommendation from the Head of the Institute and should be linked to an on-going R&D activity.

Recognizing that scientific knowledge and its applications are central for national development at all levels, the National Science Foundation in alignment with the National Science Technology and Innovation Strategy has introduced the Overseas Special Training Programme (OSTP) to financially assist scientific and technical personnel, (science administrators, science educators, S&T policy makers & science communicators) as well as full time research students to acquire overseas training up to 12 months.

OSEP is to provide an international exposure on trends in modern science, technology, research and innovation to Sri Lankan school children, teachers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; STEM) and University Undergraduates in order to upgrade and improve their knowledge on science, technology and innovation to face the challenges of the modern world by providing financial assistance.