Research Newsletter - Issue 106: Funding Opportunities

TORA deadline: 18 September 2025

Call deadline: 26 September 2025

Research Ireland and Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) have partnered to develop the Research Ireland – Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge. This pilot initiative aims to incentivise and support research projects that will explore STEM-based solutions for utilisation of renewable gases by the energy industry in Ireland.

Two overarching challenge areas will guide the collaborative engagement and research activity under this Call:

The Energy System Integration Challenge will support the development of solutions to accelerate the optimisation and integration of renewable sources in Ireland’s energy system under two themes:
- the integration of renewable gases at a local and regional level, and
- the development of Artificial Intelligence-based solutions for intelligent gas network performance diagnostics.
The Biomethane and Biohydrogen Challenge will support the development of solutions which improve the efficiency, efficacy and commercial viability of biomethane and biohydrogen production, including extraction and utilisation of the byproducts.

Successful teams will be awarded up to €200,000 and will work through a series of phases to develop their idea. An overall prize award of €1 million will be available to the team that demonstrates the highest potential for transformative impact.

To be eligible to apply to this call, applicants must either be permanent or have a contract that covers the duration of the award.

The required letters of support will be issued to applicants from DCU’s Research Office once their budgets have been approved. Applications are made through Research Ireland’s SESAME.

For further information, please see the call page.

For queries, please contact the call manager Martin O’Donoghue via martin.odonoghue@dcu.ie.

TORA deadline: 1 October 2025

Call deadlines:

Pre-proposals: 9 Oct 2025
Full applications: 12 March 2026

Research Ireland and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are participating in the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP), supporting Irish researchers to develop and strengthen transnational collaborations and accelerate the energy transition towards achieving the EU’s goal of becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

Awarded projects will have a duration of up to 36 months. For applicants based in Ireland, Research Ireland will provide the following funding for projects:

Up to a maximum of €330,000 direct costs per award for Irish applicants acting as partners on transnational proposals.
Up to a maximum of €405,000 direct costs per award for Irish applicants acting as coordinators on transnational proposals.

Research Ireland is participating in the following subset of call modules only:

CM2025-02 Energy system flexibility: renewables production, storage and system integration
CM2025-03A Advanced renewable energy (RE) technologies for power production (ROA)
CM2025-04 Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
CM2025-05 Hydrogen and renewable fuels

To be eligible, applicants must hold a PhD for at least three years by the pre-proposal deadline, be permanent or be an independent researcher with a contract that spans the duration of the award and be an author on at least three international peer-reviewed articles.

Applicants intending to apply either through Research Ireland or SEAI must email those funders the following details before the pre-proposal deadline:

List of project partners
Irish Host institution
Total Budget request
Whether you intend to apply as a coordinating or non-coordinating partner

Pre-prosposals must be submitted via the CETPartnership portal:

Further information can be found on Research Ireland’s call page, SEAI’s call page and the CETPartnership call page.

For queries, please contact the call manager Martin O’Donoghue via martin.odonoghue@dcu.ie.

TORA deadline: 2 October 2025

Call deadline: 10 October 2025

Researchers are invited to explore the determinants of health and wellbeing, identify existing barriers, and develop novel approaches and interventions tailored to specific population cohorts -- including but not limited to infants and children, women, and individuals with disabilities and/or chronic diseases. The Challenge seeks solutions that focus on prevention, equity, and continuity of care.

Successful teams will be awarded up to €250,000 and will work through a series of phases to develop their idea. An overall prize award of €1 million will be available to the team that demonstrates the highest potential for transformative impact.

Applicants must be permanent staff members within DCU or have a contract that would span the duration of the award.

The required letters of support will be issued to applicants from DCU’s Research Office once their budgets have been approved. Applications are made through Research Ireland’s SESAME.

Further information on the Challenge can be found on the call page.

For more information or queries, please contact the call manager Martin O’Donoghue via martin.odonoghue@dcu.ie.

TORA deadline: 7 October 2025

Call deadline: 14 October 2025

Overview

The ILP 2026 scheme by the Health Research Board (HRB) supports innovative, internationally competitive research projects that address current and emerging challenges in health and social care. The scheme funds research in:

Patient-Oriented Research (POR)
Population Health Research (PHR)
Health Services Research (HSR)

Projects should aim to:

Address key questions in health and social care
Contribute to international knowledge
Enhance Ireland’s research visibility

Funding & Value

Maximum direct costs per award: €330,000 (excluding overheads)
Maximum total award: €430,000 (including overheads)
Expected number of awards: Minimum of 27
Project duration: 24 to 48 months

Key Dates

Call opens: 5 August 2025 at 13:00 (via HRB GEMS)
Application deadline: 14 October 2025 at 13:00
Funding decision expected: June 2026

Eligibility

Applications must be submitted by a team including researchers, knowledge users, and PPI (Public and Patient Involvement) contributors.

Lead Applicant must:

Be an independent investigator with a post in a HRB-recognised Host Institution in Ireland (permanent or contract covering the award duration).
Alternatively, be recognised by the Host Institution upon award as an independent investigator with dedicated office and research space.
Demonstrate a strong track record in their research field.
Only one application per Lead Applicant is allowed.

Application Process

Submit via the HRB Grant E-Management System (GEMS).
Must be reviewed and approved by the Host Institution’s research office before submission.
Be aware of internal institutional deadlines for approval.

Further Information

Full call details: HRB ILP 2026 Funding Page
ILP 2026 Guidance Notes (PDF)
ILP 2026 FAQs
For queries, please contact call manager Tauseef Ahmad via tauseef.ahmad@dcu.ie.

TORA deadline: 14 October 2025

Call deadline: 21 October 2025

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) is a European intergovernmental framework which funds interdisciplinary research networks (not research). These networks, called COST Actions, provide open spaces where researchers and innovators can connect, collaborate, and build their ideas together.

The COST Open Call is a single stage submission process, and the 2025-1 Collection Date is 21 October 2025. Up to 70 new COST Actions are to be approved, subject to available budget. If you have searched the Actions on the website and can't find any in your field you may consider proposing your own COST Action Network. The COST Open Call is for new COST Actions, which cover the expenses of networking activities (not research).

The Network of Proposers must include at least seven different COST Full or Cooperating Members, amongst which at least 50% shall be from COST Inclusiveness Target Countries. Please note that a new Technical Annex template has been introduced and proposals must be submitted using the new template available in e-COST when creating a proposal. Participants planning to submit a proposal for a COST Action will need to refer to the SESA guidelines and the Open Call Announcement on the Documents and Guidelines page.

For more information on the open call and to inform DCU Research Development and Support of your intention to apply, please contact the call manager Christina Rushe via christina.rushe@dcu.ie.

TORA deadline: 27 November 2025

Call deadline: 5 December 2025

The QuantERA programme, supported by the European Commission, forms a network of Research Funding Organisations across Europe and beyond dedicated to advancing high-quality research and innovation in the field of Quantum Technologies (QT). The QuantERA programme unites researchers, funding agencies and policymakers to support cutting-edge quantum projects at the forefront of discovery. The QuantERA Call 2025 is a joint transnational Call for research proposals which must be aligned to either Quantum Phenomena and Resources (QPR) or Applied Quantum Science (AQS). The call is a one-step submission, so there are no separate pre-proposal or full-proposal stages.

Applications must align with one of two call topics:

Quantum Phenomena and Resources (QPR): Focused on foundational quantum science, exploring novel quantum phenomena, resources, protocols, and addressing fundamental challenges in QT.
Applied Quantum Science (AQS): Aimed at translating known quantum effects into technological applications and developing new quantum-based products and systems.

Each proposal must comprise at least three eligible partners from at least three countries. The consortium budget must be balanced: at most 60% of the total requested funding may be requested by partners from one country and at most 40% of the total requested funding may be requested by a single partner.

Projects have a duration of 36 months. The Irish based PI must have a PhD for at least 3 years by the deadline and either be permanent or be an independent researcher who has a contract that covers the duration of the award. Applicants must also be an author on at least three international peer-reviewed articles. The Irish budget is up to a maximum of €330,000 in direct costs where the applicant is a partner and up to a maximum of €405,000 in direct costs where the Irish applicant is the project coordinator.

Please note that applicants must send Research Ireland the following information before submission:

List of project partners
Irish Host institution  
Total budget request to Research Ireland 
Whether you intend to apply as a coordinating or non-coordinating partner

For further information, please see Research Ireland’s webpage on this call and the QuantERA webpage.

For queries, please contact call manager Martin O’Donoghue via martin.odonoghue@dcu.ie.