Research Newsletter - Issue 114: Funding Opportunities
TORA deadline: 22 May 2026
Call deadline: 29 May 2026
The Notre Dame-DCU Exchange Grant in Precision Biomedical Technologies (2026) call — jointly administered by the Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health (BIPH) at the University of Notre Dame, the DCU Life Sciences Institute (LSI), Notre Dame Global, and Notre Dame Dublin — is designed to catalyse international research partnerships in precision biomedical technologies. The funding mechanism acts as a seed stage to foster deep personnel and knowledge exchange, intended to establish proof-of-principle data that leads directly to larger, externally funded cooperative grants. Awards are granted for a strict, non-renewable one-year term. While total award caps are scaled to project requirements, eligible expenses are limited to consumables for proof-of-principle studies, travel/subsistence expenses for institutional personnel exchange, and partial stipends for hosting research trainees. Funding cannot be used to cover faculty salaries, teaching buy-outs, major equipment, office supplies, or software.
Research Development and Support contacts:
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Call Manager: Dr Tauseef Ahmad, Research Support Officer
TORA deadline: 02 June 2026
Call deadline: 13 June 2026, 1:00pm
Research Ireland has now opened their Discover Programme. The Discover Programme supports organisations to develop and deliver education and public engagement projects that aim to broaden participation and engagement of the public with research and innovation. The programme prioritises public engagement, and aims to help grow opportunities for engaged research. It will facilitate stronger connections between researchers, public policy, and wider research users and performers to achieve tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Importantly, this year the Discover Programme extends beyond STEM and is open to engagement with all research disciplines. This year’s Call is to broaden participation and engagement of the public with research and innovation. Education and public engagement proposals for all research disciplines are eligible (including STEM).
Please note: There is a partnership within this call with the Department of Education and Youth which is focused on STEM proposals only so any projects co-funded with the Department of Education and Youth will be STEM focused.
Please review the Discover Programme’s call page for further information.
Research Development and Support contacts:
- Call Manager: Dr Martin O’Donoghue
TORA deadline:
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SEAI-Based Fellowships: 04 June 2026
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Academic Fellowships: 23 June 2026
Call deadline:
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SEAI-Based Fellowships: 11 June 2026
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Academic Fellowships: 30 June 2026
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has officially launched the 2026 ENERGISE Fellowship Programme. This prestigious initiative is designed to support postdoctoral and experienced researchers, build national research capacity, and accelerate the development of future leaders in the clean energy transition. The primary objectives of the Energise Fellowship Programme are to:
- Build capacity in the sustainable energy sector.
- Enhance national capabilities and capacities at the energy-policy interface.
- Build capacity in bridging the gap between policy and research.
- Strengthen knowledge to support the clean energy transition.
- Provide career development opportunities for participating fellows.
- Provide researchers considering a transition from academia to the private or public sector with relevant experience and skills.
- Provide researchers with funding in their own name to advance academic career progression, while rounding out professional experience during the fellowship.
- Provide a development opportunity for experience in energy policy and strategic development and implementation.
The 2026 call offers two distinct fellowship pathways:
- Academic Fellowships: A bottom-up, open call where you can propose your own independent research idea aligned with Ireland's clean energy goals. The Energise Fellowship Programme provides funding for projects of up to 24 months in duration.
- SEAI-Based Fellowships: A structured track where you collaborate directly with SEAI on specific targeted topics (ranging from EV fleet charging profiles to long-term energy demand methodology), spending time working directly with their team. The SEAI Fellowship Programme provides funding for Fellowship projects of up to 24 months in duration. Fellowship projects can be offered on a full-time, continuous period basis or on a part-time basis, located in the SEAI office of the host team.
The maximum allowable budget is €300,000.
The Fellowship Applicant will be responsible for the research activities, reporting, dissemination and other duties associated with the proposed Fellowship in-line with SEAI policies. The Academic Mentor is based within the Sponsor Organisation (In this case DCU) and will take administrative responsibility for the Fellow if the applicant is successful and take on the mentoring role.
What’s new for 2026?
The programme has introduced some massive updates this year to make it accessible to a broader pool of researchers. For the first time, teaching buyout and mobility costs are eligible expenses. This means the call is no longer just for early-career researchers; more established academic staff and postdoctoral researchers already employed at DCU can apply for part-time secondments.
Research Development and Support contacts:
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Call Manager: Christina Rushe
TORA deadline: 16 June 2026
Call deadline: 24 June 2026
RIA Disinformation Research Grant, supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport is now open for the first time. This new scheme will support nuanced, collaborative research on different aspects of disinformation, involving research across multiple disciplines and networks.
- The grant is open to academic researchers working in higher education institutions (HEI) or research institutes (RI) in Ireland. In each application the lead applicant must be employed by a HEI or RI in Ireland (not including Northern Ireland).
- Lead applicants must be on open-ended, continuing or fixed term contracts which extend beyond the end of August 2027, which is the end-date of the envisaged grant period. The grant cannot be used to extend an applicant’s contract.
- Each application must also include a named partner in an organisation to be:
- a researcher in another discipline/field in a HEI or RI (from the same institution or another eligible HEI or RI), or
- a staff member of a civil society organisation.
- Proposals are invited for a clearly defined piece of research or research activity with an output. It is expected that the output will be made freely available to the public via an Open Access publication; applicants may provide a note as to why this is not applicable in the context of their research.
- The only expenses payable are the costs directly related to the research being carried out, up to a maximum of €30,000 per project approved. All costs must be supported by evidence of payment (receipts, invoices etc.) upon completion of the project.
- Applications are invited for amounts from €20,000 to €30,000.
- All projects must be completed, and all associated reports and invoices/financial details submitted by the end of August 2027.
- Consult the RIA website for further details of the scheme.
Research Development and Support contacts:
- Call Manager: Kieran O’Dwyer
TORA deadline: 23 June 2026
Call deadline: 30 June 2026
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is Ireland's national sustainable energy authority. SEAI invest in research, development and demonstration projects associated with the production, supply and use of energy. The SEAI National Energy Research Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Funding Programme invests in innovative energy RD&D projects which contribute to Ireland's transition to a clean and secure energy future. The 2026 Call is now open for applications. The project duration is 12 to 48 months depending on the scope and structure of the proposed research. The maximum SEAI funding available per project is €1,250,000.
The Call comprises of two funding streams:
- An open strand: applicant-led, innovative energy RD&D projects, which fall within SEAI’s remit
- A thematic strand: applicants submit proposals that address one of the energy research priority areas identified in the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment’s ‘Statement of Research and Innovation Needs’.
What projects are eligible?
Accelerating transformative research to deliver Ireland's clean energy and climate ambitions will require enhanced collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders and actors. Diverse approaches and engaged research methods will be required, which may include multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary research approaches. Research proposals from all research disciplines, as well as collaborative projects involving multiple organisations subject to alignment with the overall programme objectives.
Eligible offshore renewable energy projects
SEAI recognises that suitable test infrastructure for some offshore renewable energy projects may not yet be available within Ireland. To address this, the 2026 call introduces an optional RDD+ funding pathway for eligible offshore renewable energy projects. This is not a separate funding strand.
Why you should apply
This call is a perfect match for DCU’s focus on real-world impact and sustainability. Don't count yourself out if you aren't in a traditional "green tech" field, whether you’re in STEM, humanities, or social sciences, SEAI is actively looking for multidisciplinary and creative approaches. Securing a prestigious national grant from SEAI could significantly enhance your academic profile, boost citation and publication potential in high-impact sustainability journals, and establish you as a Principal Investigator. The programme’s emphasis on multi-stakeholder collaboration allows you to build high-value networks with industry leaders, policymakers, and international partners. Securing this SEAI funding would provide the track record, and financial foundation needed to pursue European and global funding streams, such as Horizon Europe.
Information Webinar
SEAI are hosting an Information Webinar for the RD&D call on Monday, 25 May, 10am. Register for the webinar here.
Please review the information provided in the Call documentation.
Research Development and Support contacts:
- Call Manager: Christina Rushe
TORA deadline: 01 July 2026
Call deadline: 08 July 2026
The Health Research Board (HRB) Conference and Event Sponsorship (CES) scheme offers funding for health research events, workshops, or conferences on the island of Ireland.
Its objectives are to:
- Build capacity and support initiatives aligned with the HRB mission to improve health and address societal challenges.
- Promote the impact of health research and evidence for patient care and service delivery.
- Foster strategic collaboration.
- Position Ireland as a health research leader.
The CES scheme standardises HRB sponsorship, ensuring events are selected by consistent criteria. It enables the HRB and the health research community to communicate the value of health research and evidence to improve patient care and inform policy and practice.
Research Development and Support contacts:
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Call Manager: Dr Tauseef Ahmad, Research Support Officer
TORA deadline: 27 August 2026
Call deadline: 03 September 2026
The main objective of this Call is to establish transnational collaborative networks of local regional Vocational Education Training (VET) stakeholders (VET institutions, companies, social partners, authorities, higher education institutions, research institutes, etc.) These broad partnerships aim to create strong skills ecosystems that support innovation, regional development, and social inclusion.
CoVEs are intended to achieve the following:
- Innovate teaching and learning methods
- Work closely with businesses, social partners, and universities
- Develop inclusive approaches to ensure nobody is ‘left behind’
- Foster regional and local development
Awarded CoVE projects are listed on the Erasmus+ Project Results platform.
The partnership must include at least eight applicants from a minimum of four EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme. The maximum EU grant per project is €4,000,000 (funding rate 80%).
Full Call details are available on the EC Funding Portal and in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, along with a recording of the EACEA information session.
Research Development and Support contacts:
- Call Manager: Christina Rushe