Needham Research Institute

The Needham Research Institute, founded in 1968 as the East Asian History of Science Trust and renamed in 1983, is a Cambridge-based registered charity and research centre on the University of Cambridge grounds, dedicated to advancing the study of science, technology, and medicine in East Asia. Inspired by Joseph Needham's legacy, including his Science and Civilisation in China series, it houses a world-renowned East Asian History of Science Library, Needham's personal archive, and serves as a global hub for scholars. Its mission emphasizes rigorous scholarship, international collaboration, research facilitation, publication, teaching, and public outreach to illuminate East Asia's scientific heritage and its global impact.

It exclusively funds academic research in the history of science, technology, and medicine in China, Japan, and Korea through targeted fellowships, postdoctoral scholarships, and travel grants for individual researchers—not organizations, communities, or general charities. Beneficiaries are scholars worldwide, though some opportunities specify criteria like US-based applicants, East Asian nationals, or affiliations with partner institutions.

Unsolicited applications are not accepted; opportunities are periodically advertised on the website in partnership with foundations like the Li Foundation or ISF, requiring email submissions of research proposals, CVs, references, and documents per each call. Typical grants range from £5,000 (3-month fellowships) to £40,322 annually for postdocs, with varying deadlines (e.g., 31 March or 15 November)—check site for current listings. It excludes core funding, capacity building, or non-academic projects, distinguishing itself through its unique archival resources, long-term commitment to Needham's opus, and role as a premier centre for East Asian scientific history.