Research Newsletter - Issue 104: Funding Opportunities

TORA deadline: 03 June 2025 

Call deadline: 10 June 2025

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has opened their Thematic Research Call with four thematic themes:

1. Climate, Agri-Environment and Biodiversity
2. Smart, Sustainable Animal and Plant Production, Health and Welfare 
3. Bioeconomy, Agtech, Digitisation and Data
4. Safe, Nutritious and Sustainable Food Processing and Consumption

There are three funding instruments to these themes (I-III):

1. Standard project which must include at least two RPOs for projects that last up to 4 years and can apply for funding up to €750,000.
2. Large Project which must include at least three RPOs for projects that will last up to 4 years and can apply for funding up to €1,500,000
3. Strategic project which must include at least four RPOs for projects that last up to 5 years and can apply for funding up to €3,000,000.

Applications must be submitted via DAFM’s Smart Simple system.

For Further information, please see the call page.

Contact:  Dr Martin O'Donoghue via martin.odonoghue@dcu.ie 

TORA deadline:  05 June 2025

Call deadline: 12 June 2025

The Evidence for Policy (EfP) Programme is a collaborative initiative between the Health Research Board (HRB) and the Department of Health (DOH) to support research projects that aim to strengthen the evidence base for policy development and evaluation of policy implementation by the DOH.  

The aim of the EfP scheme is to generate timely, rigorous, high-quality, open, and transparent evidence to inform policy making in health and social care. The scheme will support internationally competitive research that addresses priority evidence gaps for health and social care policy. In doing so, it aims to develop capacity to respond in a timely manner to key research questions for policy makers, fostering integrated knowledge translation and collaboration between the policy and research communities. 

This second round of the call invites research proposals to address three topics prioritised by the DOH. Detailed specifications for each of the following topics are provided in the scheme guidance notes:

Topic 1: Evidence on effective strategies to promote physical activity in the community for secondary prevention following stroke

Topic 2: Evidence to inform future policy on medical workforce planning and configuration in Ireland

Topic 3: Evidence to inform the development and implementation of a statutory home support scheme in Ireland. 

Individual projects can receive up to €300,000 in direct costs (exclusive of overheads), with a maximum duration of 24 months.  

The objective of this initiative is to provide opportunities for researchers to bring their wealth of experience and expertise to EfP. The HRB also welcome teams with relevant skills who are new to research for policy, to widen the pool of researchers nationally who are able to generate evidence to inform health and social care policy, adding to capacity and capability in this vital area. 

Applicants must have a suitable track record and demonstrate clearly that the research team contains the necessary breadth and depth of expertise in all methodological areas required for the development and delivery of the proposed project. 

The programme welcomes applications using a broad range of methodologies, including primary and secondary research. It is up to the research team to identify and justify their chosen methodology. 

• All applications must be made using the HRB Grant Electronic Management System.  

• For further information, including the applicant guidance notes, please see the HRB call webpage. 

• Contact Dr Helen Burke via Helen.Burke@dcu.ie.

TORA deadline: 16 June 2025 

Call deadline: 24 June 2025

The overarching purpose of the Research Ireland Discover Programme Call is to develop and invest in STEM education and public engagement and to extend activity and ability in this area. Particular focus should be given to the special consideration areas of Broadening participation and equity of access, Climate Action and Sustainability, Digital Transformation and Co-Creation.

More specifically, the programme aims to support projects that address one or more of the following objectives, namely projects that: 

• Inspire and create greater public awareness of the impact of research, innovation and science for society and its connection and contribution to everyday life. 

• Stimulate and create debate and dialogue amongst the public, and opportunities for dialogue with research, innovation, science and technology experts, on topics of societal importance where STEM has a key role. 

• Build an awareness, curiosity and confidence in the scientific method through relevant/relatable experiences. 

• Provide insights into STEM related careers and discoveries, while breaking down any barriers to entry including negative stereotypes. 

• Use new and creative ways to involve those who would not typically engage with STEM. 

• Enable a broad range of civil society and community groups to engage with, and participate in STEM, with particular emphasis on equal access, inclusion and diversity. 

• Support projects which develop capacity and skills for the delivery of STEM and Public Engagement in Ireland.

The call includes three categories: 

1. Category 1:  project funding must be completed in 2026, and will fund projects up to a maximum of €60,000.
2. Category 2:  2A Regional or National Initiative Funding (12 months) and 2B Regional or National Initiative Funding (24 months) will fund projects up to a maximum of €300,000.
3. Category 3:  3A Sustaining Regional or National Initiative Funding (12 months) or Sustaining Regional or National Initiative Funding (24 months) will fund projects up to a maximum of €300,000.

Applications must be made via SESAME.

For further information, please consult the call page.

Contact: Dr Martin O'Donoghue via Martin.ODonoghue@dcu.ie

TORA deadline:  19 June 2025

Call deadline:  26 June 2025

The Irish Cancer Society Networking Award offers all cancer researchers the opportunity to establish and strengthen collaborations and relationships with their cancer research peers.  This programme will give academic researchers and clinical professionals the opportunity to learn about up-to-date cancer research, network and collaborate, and gain experience in research dissemination.

The aim of this award is to contribute towards the cost of developing and hosting networking initiatives, training activities, collaborations, partnerships, or another type of networking activity (e.g., host a workshop/conference).  These awards are intended to support motivated individuals who would not otherwise be able to undertake these activities.

This award is open to cancer researchers of all backgrounds. 

As a guide, some eligible networking initiatives include:

• Organise and host a small-scale conference or workshop in cancer research

• Organise and host a cancer specific ‘summer school’ (or similar)

• Host a meeting with national/international researchers or clinical professionals with the aim of establishing new research collaborations in a translational/survivorship cancer research topic

Please note, this is not an exhaustive list.  The Society is open to all networking initiatives that satisfy the purpose and objectives of the call. If you are unsure if your initiative is eligible, please contact grants@irishcancer.ie.

Applicants can apply for funding up to a maximum of €2,000.  The number of awards made will be dependent on the number of applications received and total budget requested in each. Each applicant may only submit one application.

The proposed networking initiative must not begin prior to 17th October 2025.  The initiative must be completed within 12 months of the start date. 

Applications must be completed and submitted through the Irish Cancer Society Gateway Grant Tracker online system by registering here. 

For further information, visit the call webpage.

Contact: Dr Helen Burke via Helen.Burke@dcu.ie

TORA deadline:  23 June 2025

Call deadline:  01 July 2025, 12:00pm

The 2025 SEAI National Energy Research, Development & Demonstration (RD&D) Funding Programme is now open for applications, with up to €19m in funding available for innovative research proposals to transform our energy system.  

Check out the SEAI National Energy Research Funding webpage for full details.  

This year’s call includes both an open strand and a thematic strand.  There are 20 topics in the thematic strand, with research themes including heat, electricity, grid flexibility, EV grants, energy modelling, maritime transport, energy poverty, offshore wind, critical raw materials, behavioural change and bioenergy among others.   

Project duration can be between 12 to 48 months, depending on the specific needs and structure of the project. Proposals intending to recruit PhD students must apply for a 48-month project duration.  The maximum SEAI funding available per project is €1,250,000, inclusive of overheads.

SEAI is running a call launch webinar on the 21st May, 10:00am. Register for the webinar here. 

Contact:  Christina Rushe via christina.rushe@dcu.ie or Dr Ecaterina McDonagh via ecaterina.mcdonagh@dcu.ie 

TORA deadline:  07 July 2025

Call deadline:  15 July 2025

For the last time, Research Ireland is running the SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme under the Placement Stream and the IRC Enterprise Fellowship Scheme (Postdoctoral) under the Partnership Stream of the 2025 Research Ireland Enterprise Fellowship Programme. Applications must be submitted via Research Ireland’s SESAME grants system for the placement stream and Smart Simple for the Partnership Stream.

• The placement stream supports academia-enterprise interactions through the placement of an academic researcher with an industry partner. In the context of this call, industry partners include a wide range of enterprises including SMEs, multinational companies, registered charities and social or cultural organisations. Fellowships can be for between 1 and 12 months if full-time, and between 2 and 24 months if part-time. The maximum Research Ireland contribution to the cost of each Fellowship is €100,000 direct costs to support the Fellow’s salary/teaching buy-out, travel and open access costs only. Applications are accepted from all disciplines. Eligible applicants include Faculty researchers, postdoctoral researchers and PhD researchers (but must be in the final 6 months of their studies at the call deadline). Applications to this stream must be submitted via SESAME.

• The partnership stream supports a postdoctoral researcher for 2 years full time research. Differing from previous years, it will cover any point on the postdoc pay scale in line with their existing salary. €5,000 per annum will also be provided for research expenses. There is also no longer a five years post PhD cap on applicants. Enterprise partners can be industry, the public sector and the non-government sectors. However, waivers for the first-year contribution from the eligible Enterprise Partners will no longer be offered.  Enterprise partners must have the financial capacity to provide a minimum contribution of €22,000 - €27,500 towards project costs each year.  Applications to this stream must be submitted via Smart Simple.

Guidance on which stream might be appropriate to you is available here.

Contact the research development officer in your faculty:

• Science and Health: Dr Peter Hyde (peter.hyde@dcu.ie),
• Engineering: Dr Faisal Zahoor (faisal.zahoor@dcu.ie),
• Business: Avril Healy (avril.healy@dcu.ie),
• Education: Dr Tríona O’Hanlon (triona.ohanlon@dcu.ie),
• Humanities and Social Sciences: Aoife Brady (aoife.c.brady@dcu.ie),
• or the research support officer for this call: Dr Martin O’Donoghue (martin.odonoghue@dcu.ie)

TORA deadline:  TBC

Call deadline: TBC

The Research Ireland Infrastructure Programme 2025 Call will open in May. This call will fund state-of-the-art infrastructure to enable high-quality, impactful research across Ireland.

Key details for the 2025 Call:

• Expanded remit: The programme will support research infrastructure that underpins all disciplines
• Application process: A two-step application process consisting of an Expression of Interest, followed by the submission of a full proposal
• Application cap: Maximum of 6 applications per Research Body
• Budget threshold: Minimum budget request of €500,000 with no maximum budget cap; a minimum, additional 10% cash cost share is required
• Lead applicant eligibility: Independent researcher with a PhD (or equivalent) for at least 3 years, who either holds or has held a significant, internationally peer-reviewed research grant
• Emphasis: Strong focus on inter-institutional sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration

Contact: Dr Martin O'Donoghue via martin.odonoghue@dcu.ie or Kieran O'Dwyer via kieran.odwyer@dcu.ie