Investment FAQs

General Information

QDoes the GHIT Fund award projects for medical devices?

ANo. Interventions within the scope of the GHIT Fund are as follows: drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics. Although the GHIT Fund currently does not award projects for medical devices. However, research and development that applies existing medical devices to diseases targeted by the GHIT Fund may be eligible for investment. Please send inquiries to the GHIT Fund for more details.

QI am an individual seeking financial assistance. Am I eligible for a grant?

ANo. The GHIT Fund does not provide support to individuals or single organizations that are not part of an eligible R&D partnership. To apply for our funding, your organization must be part of an appropriate partnership.

QI am raising money for a non-profit organization's operations budget. Am I eligible for a grant?

ANo. The GHIT Fund only supports projects undertaken by global R&D partnerships between Japanese and non-Japanese organizations aimed at discovering and developing new health technologies for the developing world. Fundraising for operational costs of organizations is not eligible for investment.

QDo you allow multiple applications from the same partnership for an RFP?

AYes, interested partnerships may apply for multiple grants, provided they address the RFP scope. You may also apply to different programs simultaneously.

QDoes the GHIT Fund award scholarships?

ANo. The GHIT Fund does not award scholarships.

QHow does the GHIT Fund manage intellectual property issues?

AIntellectual property and other access issues are addressed in the Data and Product Access Policies section of the GHIT Fund website ( Access Policy ).

QIn what currency will support by the GHIT Fund be provided?

ARegardless of the nationality or location of partners, grants by the GHIT Fund will be provided in Japanese yen. Budgets must also be submitted in Japanese yen.

QDoes the GHIT Fund require a particular currency conversion index?

ANo. Currency conversion management is the responsibility of the designated development partner.

QWhat is the maximum budget for awarded projects?

AFor the Target Research Platform, there is a budget limit per project. For other programs (Screening Platform, Hit-to-Lead Platform, and Product Development Platform), the GHIT Fund does not specify maximum funding amounts. Proposal budgets should reflect the amount needed to carry out project activities. Please refer to each RFP for details.

QCan proposals for a clinical trial request a full project budget?

AFor projects that cover Phase 2b activities and beyond, if awarded, the investment amount from the GHIT Fund shall be less than 50% of the total project budget during the funding period. Please refer to each RFP for details.

QWho should I contact if I have a question?

APlease use the inquiry form to Contact Us.

QCan applicants contact GHIT Fund Selection Committee members?

ANo. The GHIT Fund restricts communications between current and potential Product Development Partners and Selection Committee members and asks them to refrain from interacting directly regarding queries, concerns, and requests related to GHIT funding. The GHIT Fund Management Team will coordinate all communications among parties. This ensures and enhances organizational transparency and fairness in the decision-making process.

Investment Process

QWhat is the GHIT Fund's investment process?

AInformation regarding the investment process for each platform can be found in the Funding Opportunities section of the GHIT Fund website.

QWhat are the key deadlines in the application process?

ADeadlines in the application process vary for each Request for Proposal (RFP). Please refer to “ RFP Schedule ” or each program page on “ Funding Opportunities ” of the GHIT website for active RFPs and their deadlines.

QWhere do I find the application forms?

AThe RFP and Intent to Apply form are posted on each platform page on " Funding Opportunities ". Full proposal forms will be shared from the GHIT Fund only to eligible applicants who submitted an Intent to Apply form by the specified deadline.

QHow do I submit an Intent to Apply form?

APlease complete an Intent to Apply form posted on each platform page on “ Funding Opportunities ”, and submit it via online submission systems. Details on how to submit the application can be found on the RFP document.

QI have submitted the Intent to Apply form. When will I hear back from the GHIT Fund?

AThe GHIT Fund Management Team notifies applicants of the eligibility assessment results shortly after the Intent to Apply submission due date.

QHow do I submit my proposal?

AEligible applicants who submitted an Intent to Apply form will receive full proposal templates. The GHIT Fund uses online submission systems to receive applications. Details on how to submit the application can be found on the RFP document.

QIs there any limit to the proposal pages? Are forms for budget and timeline (Gantt chart) included in the page limit?

APage limit is included in the instruction section of the proposal template. The number of pages for the budget and timeline (Gantt chart) forms will be counted in.

QIn what format should I submit proposals? (e.g., PDF? Word?)

ASubmitting proposals in Word format is required. Submission of a PDF version is optional.

QI have materials I want to submit along with my application. How do I send them?

AWe are not able to accept actual samples, prototypes, or other supplementary materials. These materials will not be returned to applicants. Please refer to each RFP for details.

QWhat are the expected partner responsibilities?

APartner roles and responsibilities as they relate to project activities should be defined by applicants and included in proposals. Please refer to each RFP for details.

QWhat are the criteria that will be used to evaluate investment applications?

AProposals will initially be examined to determine whether:
・The partnership meets GHIT Fund eligibility criteria;
・Project objectives are aligned with the RFP-specified scope; and
・The proposal is complete and addresses all required content.

GHIT Fund staff may ask clarifying questions or request additional information, as needed, to qualify proposals for evaluation.

All proposals passing the preliminary examination will be evaluated and prioritized based on the following criteria:
■ Scientific and technical merit (e.g., sound approach and methodology, level of innovation, overall quality and comprehensiveness)
■ Impact to be created (e.g., how it will address a global health priority)
■ Partnership (e.g., collaboration capabilities and expertise)
■ Project management (e.g., project history and performance, risk management, budget)

QHow long is the application process likely to take?

AIt takes approximately seven months from the Intent to Apply submission due date to the award notification date.

QWill the partnership be notified of the application progress by GHIT Fund staff?

AGHIT Fund Management Team will notify applicants after the following steps in the application process: Intent to Apply, proposal submission, and investment award decision.

QHow will I know if my proposal is approved for funding?

AAt the completion of the proposal evaluation process, GHIT Fund will inform each applicant of their proposal's investment award decision.

QCan I resubmit a proposal after a non-award decision? If so, can I make changes to the rejected proposal?

AProposals that are not awarded funding may be resubmitted in future funding rounds. At that time, it is recommended that changes be made to the proposal to reflect the feedback received last time.

QDoes the GHIT Fund require contractual agreements between collaboration partners?

AYes. Prior to receiving funds for an investment award, the GHIT Fund requires collaboration partners to enter into a contractual relationship. Signed contractual agreements are required not at the time of proposal submission, but after the investment decision is made.

QTo which organization will the investment funds be paid after the investment in the project is approved?

AThe application must identify all organizations participating in the partnership and designate a Designated Development Partner (DDP) from the partnership, which will be the recipient of the grant and will be responsible for the project's outcomes. The representative of the DDP will serve as the point of contact and communicate with the GHIT Fund.

QWhat is the GHIT Fund's policy on indirect costs (e.g., overhead)?

AThe GHIT Fund will support indirect costs up to 14% of the total direct budget of an investment. Higher indirect cost rates will not be accepted.

QWhen will awarded investment funds be paid?

AIn principle, the investment funds will be paid in two installments. The first payment will be made after the Investment Agreement has been signed. Subsequent payment(s) will be made after the progress report has been reviewed.

QWhat are the investment reporting processes?

AThe GHIT Fund requires the Designated Development Partner (DDP) to submit semi-annual progress reports for the project and the budget. Progress reports are intended to track progress toward GHIT-monitored milestones.

QDoes the GHIT Fund have an annual progress report form?

AYes, the GHIT Fund will send you the form after the investment decision has been made. The GHIT Fund uses a web-based reporting system. Details regarding the website will be provided to development partners who are awarded funding.

QWhat happens if my awarded project fails to meet its milestones?

AThe GHIT Fund will evaluate delayed progress on a case-by-case basis. Milestone target dates may be re-set after discussion with the GHIT Fund. In the event of major delays or deviations to the project scope, the Selection Committee may be called on to review project progress.
Further, the GHIT Fund has the right to terminate the grant agreement if the partnership fails to fulfill its contractually agreed-upon obligations.
In the event an investment is terminated, the GHIT Fund reserves the right to cancel future fund payments and to reclaim paid funds. In lieu of termination, the GHIT Fund may choose to renegotiate the terms of the existing investment agreement.

QDoes the GHIT Fund only accept proposals in English?

AOnly proposals in English are accepted. All eligible proposals will go through evaluation by External Reviewers as well as the Selection Committee, both of which consist of global experts. Evaluations and discussions regarding selection of proposals will be conducted solely in English; therefore, all applicants are asked to submit documents in English in order to avoid possible language-related confusion or miscommunication.

QDo funds from the GHIT Fund cover capital equipment?

AThe GHIT Fund does not provide funding for capital equipment.

QWhat is the process for discontinuing a project with the GHIT Fund?

AIn cases where the GHIT Fund must consider discontinuing a specific investment, the GHIT Fund Management Team will take the following steps:
- If there is consensus between the Designated Development Partner (DDP) and the GHIT Fund, the project will be discontinued upon obtaining the GHIT Fund CEO's approval; the decision will then be reported to the Board at the subsequent Board meeting.
- If there is no consensus between the DDP and the GHIT Fund, the Selection Committee (SC) will be consulted to determine whether or not to discontinue the project. If it is decided that the project be discontinued, the decision will be reported to the Board. The GHIT Fund will then notify the applicant of the decision of discontinuation.

QHow will deliverables (products, IP, etc.) from each program be handled?

APlease refer to the Data and Product Access Policies section of the GHIT Fund website ( Access Policy ) for information on the handling of deliverables from each program.