As part of the Sport for Mobility programme, and to further enhance the integrity, credibility and fairness of Para sport competitions, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is announcing grant funding available for organisations to carry out multi-disciplinary classification research.
Available over the next four years to International Federations (IFs), International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSDs) and Recognised International Federations (RIFs), in collaboration with the scientific community, the IPC Classification Research Grants will support the development and improvement of best practice and evidence-based classification systems in Para sports.
Full details of the IPC Classification Grant Scheme can be found here.
Classification is the cornerstone of Para sport, providing criteria for determining who is eligible to compete and a framework that allows fair and meaningful competition by minimising the impact of athletes’ impairments on the outcome of competition. Para sport classification systems are critical to the IPC’s ability to deliver its mission to lead the Paralympic Movement, oversee the delivery of the Paralympic Games, and support IPC members to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence.
Dr. Mike Peters PLY, IPC Chief Executive Officer, said: “The IPC is committed to advancing classification systems and processes across the Paralympic Movement. Backed by a grant to deliver the Sport for Mobility programme, the IPC announces the Classification Grant Scheme and believes it is a major step in the right direction.
“Following the publication of a revised Classification Code in 2024, the IPC is thrilled to now be able to make significant grant funding available to organisations to strengthen and build the scientific base to support the decision-making processes in classification.”
Tea Cisic, IPC Classification Director said: “This IPC Classification Grant Scheme represents a monumental step forward in further improving the scientific base behind Para sports’ classification systems. We trust the outcomes will benefit all IPC members and athletes, enhancing the integrity, credibility, and fairness of Para sports’ competitions. Research projects should aim to contribute to the development of Para sports’ classification systems and have the potential to be translated into practice. We invite our members, as well as the wider scientific community to consider applying for this grant.”
The first call for applications is open until the end of September 2025 with four bands of funding available to organisations: up to EUR 65,000, up to EUR 90,000, up to EUR 125,000, and up to EUR 250,000. Projects must be 12-36 months in length and be delivered before October 2028. Research proposals can be submitted according to the information on the IPC 2025 Classification Research Grant Scheme.
A second call for applications will be announced in the second half of 2026.