IUPAC Science Board Announces Changes to the Project System and Calls for Proposals.
The IUPAC Science Board has been reviewing the IUPAC project system and is introducing a number of changes aimed at strengthening the impact, coordination, and strategic direction of IUPAC projects.
A key development is the introduction of Strategic Areas—mid- to long-term areas of focus that will help guide IUPAC projects and signal where the Union intends to concentrate its influence and resources. Strategic Areas will complement, rather than replace, IUPAC’s fundamental work in areas such as nomenclature, terminology, chemical data standards, and the Color Books. Two Strategic Areas have already been safeguarded from the outset: Language and Standards of Chemistry and Delivering Green and Sustainable Chemistry.
The Science Board is now inviting the IUPAC community to propose additional Strategic Areas, with new areas scheduled to launch in January 2028. Individuals, task groups, Divisions, and National Adhering Organizations (NAOs) are encouraged to put forward forward-looking themes that connect IUPAC’s core strengths with emerging scientific and global challenges. The deadline for Strategic Area proposals is 15 December 2026.
> SUBMIT your idea and complete this Strategic Area Proposal Form
Alongside this longer-term strategic process, IUPAC is also introducing changes to the way individual projects are proposed, reviewed, and managed. Project proposals will move from continuous intake to synchronized application cycles and will be reviewed by the Project Committee. Projects aligned with Strategic Areas will ordinarily involve at least two Divisions, while disciplinary projects involving a single Division will continue to be considered with appropriate justification. Projects will normally run for up to four years, with formal midterm review against agreed milestones.
The first Call for Project Proposals for the 2026–2027 transition period is now open, with a submission deadline of 31 October 2026. Proposals should support IUPAC’s core activities, digitization, outreach, and/or the developing Strategic Area framework, with an emphasis on clear deliverables, international collaboration, diversity, digital standards, external impact, and sustainable maintenance of project outputs.
> ACCESS submission form and guidelines
Together, these changes are intended to create a more coordinated project system that preserves IUPAC’s essential standards-setting role while enabling the Union to address important emerging challenges through visible, collaborative, and high-impact initiatives.
Please do contact us if you have any questions.
Christine Luscombe, Vice President and Chair of the Science Board
Fabienne Meyers, IUPAC Secretariat
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