Research Newsletter - Issue 113: Funding Opportunities

TORA deadline:  30 April 2026

Call deadline:  11 May 2026, 1:00pm

The Science Week Programme call is now open for applications.

The purpose of the Science Week Call is to provide support to festivals and events nationwide that endorse public engagement, communities underrepresented in, or those with less access to STEM to engage in ways that are relevant and accessible during Science Week and beyond in creative ways.

Science Week Festivals typically involve a programme of events/activities serving multiple different audiences in their local region, with events spread throughout the week.  The activities delivered as part of these Festivals should be carefully designed to ensure that they will appeal to those underrepresented and/or underserved in STEM and who would traditionally not attend a science event.  Festival programmes funded under the 2026 Science Week Funding Programme must allocate their funding according to the following conditions:  

• A minimum of 20% of Research Ireland funding must be allocated for adults attending without children.  
• A maximum of 20% of Research Ireland funding allocated for education content delivered during school hours. In special circumstances if you propose delivering activities to schools that otherwise have very limited access to STEM engagement, the threshold of 20% may be exceeded, however, approval must be obtained prior to submission of your application- please contact the Science Week team at scienceweek@researchireland.ie to discuss. 
• The remaining allocation of funding is for activities for the general public and families, with specific consideration to be given to ensuring meaningful engagement with historically underserved groups.  

The majority of the programme must be open to the public (i.e., "not 'invite-only' unless" the target audience requires a closed session, e.g., a specific community engagement).  

Festivals must be delivered during Science Week 2026, preferably with a strong focus on evening and weekend activities.  They ask that all of these embed broad and equitable access to create spaces that are welcoming and foster a sense of belonging and agency for a variety of audiences.

Research Development and Support contacts: 

• Research Development Officer
• Call Manager: Dr Martin O’Donoghue

TORA deadline:  08 May 2026  

Call deadline:  18 May 2026, 1:00pm

The Science Week Programme call is now open for applications.

The purpose of the Science Week Call is to provide support to festivals and events nationwide that strengthen public engagement, communities underrepresented in, or those with less access to STEM to engage in ways that are relevant and accessible during Science Week and beyond in creative ways.

Science Week Events are typically a single event or short series of events for a specific target audience or in a specific location.  Under the Science Week Funding Programme, Research Ireland is seeking proposals for Science Week Events that create appealing and stimulating experiences with a depth of participation that has clear takeaways and outcomes for participants.  They are keen to trial new formats and inventive ways of talking about science and research, and to attract people who typically would not consider attending a Science Week Event.  Interdisciplinary collaborations, and/or collaborations with cultural organisations, are particularly encouraged.  

Priority will be given to applications that directly support the Science Week theme of Water and take place in areas where a Science Week Festival is not available.  The event should be designed with specific relevance to communities historically underserved by STEM engagement, underrepresented in STEM, and who would traditionally not attend a science event.  

Research Development and Support contacts: 

• Research Development Officer  
• Call Manager: Dr Martin O’Donoghue

TORA deadline:  19 May 2026

Call deadline:  28 May 2026  

Synopsis of the call scope and value:  The EPA Research Call 2026 will support innovative research projects addressing environmental, climate change, and sustainability challenges to inform policy and decision-making.  Applicants can apply under open themes addressing identified policy and evidence needs, with project durations ranging from 24 to 48 months.  A total pool of €10.5 million in research funding is available for this call.

Summary of Research Themes:  The call invites proposals under the following nine themes:

• Cross-cutting:  Policy Implementation, Effective Regulation, and Innovative Governance Models.

• Climate Change:  Bringing Mitigation and Adaptation Together; Improving Cross-Sectoral Governance in Climate Adaptation.

• Healthy Environment:  Environmental Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR); Strengthening the Environmental Dimension of One Health.

• Green & Circular Economy:  Enabling Material Flows for Sustainability; Designing Innovative Sustainable Value Chains.

• Natural Environment:  Integrating Nature into Decision-Making; Knowledge and Evidence to Support Soil Health (e.g., Peat/Peatland Regulation).

Research Development and Support contacts: 

• Research Development Officer  
• Call Manager:  Dr Tauseef Ahmad

TORA deadline:  20 May 2026

Call deadline:  28 May 2026, 4:00pm

The Ulysses scheme aims to foster new collaborations between Irish based and France-based researchers by providing seed funding for reciprocal travel visits.  The scheme thus facilitates the exchange of innovative ideas and approaches across all disciplines.  Funding is provided over the course of two calendar years, with €5,000 awarded to each Ireland- and France-based research partners.

This year, selected research projects will also be supported by the following strategic partners:

• Electricity transmission system operator EirGrid will partner with France-based Réseau de Transport d’Électricité to support suitably aligned research projects in the area of renewable energies, smart grids and technical and societal issues related to energy transition.
• The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and ADEME, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, will provide support for research projects exploring topics relating to environmental, climate and energy transition.

An application submitted by an Ireland-based research partner(s) to Research Ireland must be matched by an application submitted by the France-based research partner(s) to Campus France.

Please note all applications to the Ulysses call are required to be submitted via the Research Office. 

Research Development and Support contacts: 

• Research Development Officer  
• Call Manager: Dr Hannah Leonard

TORA deadline:  20 May 2026 

Call deadline:  27 May 2026 

The AICC Research & Innovation Grants Scheme 2026 aims to support innovative, dynamic, and collaborative cross-border cancer research activities focused specifically on 'Survivorship – Living Well With & Beyond Cancer'.  The overall goal is to increase the level of collaboration and innovation amongst cancer researchers and experts across Ireland and Northern Ireland to improve care and outcomes for people living with and past cancer.

This is a two-tier scheme:

• Tier 1:  Up to €100,000 (excluding overheads) for smaller-scale applications involving pilot projects or mapping activities over a maximum of 24 months.
• Tier 2:  Up to €330,000 (excluding overheads) for specific, targeted projects or education/training initiatives over a maximum of 36 months.

Important Information:

• Eligibility (Cross-Border Collaboration):  Collaboration across the two jurisdictions is a mandatory component.  All applicants are required to have cross-border collaborators as co-applicants to be deemed eligible (e.g., a Lead Applicant from Ireland must have a Co-Applicant from Northern Ireland, and vice versa).
• Lead Applicant:  Must hold a post (permanent or a contract that covers the duration of the grant) in an HRB-recognised Host Institution in Ireland or Northern Ireland as an independent investigator.  They must demonstrate a record of research output (at least 3 original peer-reviewed publications) and a record of independence (secured at least one peer-reviewed research grant).

Research Development and Support contacts: 

• Research Development Officer  
• Call Manager: Dr Tauseef Ahmad