Research Newsletter - Issue 78: Funding Opportunities
Click on the call name below to find out further information:
The IRC CHIST-ERA call for research proposals in two new topics of emergent scientific importance is open for submission. IRC coordinates the submission from the Irish partners.
In the 2022 Call, two separate topics are addressed, namely:
- Security and Privacy in Decentralised and Distributed Systems (SPiDDS)
- Machine Learning-based Communication Systems, towards Wireless AI (WAI)
Information webinars are planned for 21st November 2022 and 11th January 2023. The application portal will also be launched on 21st November. The call deadline is on the 2nd February 2023.
Contact: sumona.mukherjee@dcu.ie
Applications are now open for the next challenges under the SFI National Challenge Fund (closing date 10th February 2023).
Challenge Funding is a solution-focused approach to research funding that uses prizes, phases, defined timelines, teamwork, mentorship, and competition to direct research activity towards addressing pressing societal and economic problems.
These calls will fund 12 successful research teams per call with up to €250k over 18 months to develop their ideas. Under each challenge stream, a number of those teams will then be awarded follow-on funding of up to €500k before going on to compete for prizes between €1-€2m.
Impactful challenge solutions are expected to require contributions of more than one discipline and perspectives, so teams are strongly encouraged to consider including researchers from different and diverse disciplines, at all career stages. While the overall solution should have a strong STEM underpinning, Humanities and Social Science researchers are encouraged to co-lead or participate where relevant to provide relevant expertise to help to deliver an effective challenge solution.
Call Overviews
OurTech Challenge The challenge provides researchers the opportunity to explore how digital technologies could enhance government processes and functions, create new value for the public through people-centric digital-first public services, and new ways to strengthen the connections between people, their communities and with government (both local and national). [Short summary of Our Tech Challenge]
Healthy Environment for All Challenge, Challenge of restoring and maintaining a resilient environment that ensures clean and healthy air, water and soil for humans, animals and plants. Solutions may be proposed in any sector but must demonstrate the potential for transformative impact in achieving Ireland’s transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable and climate-neutral economy. [Short summary of Health Environment for All Challenge]
Energy Innovation Challenge, Challenge of developing solutions that will accelerate Ireland’s transition to a clean and secure energy system. [Short summary of Energy Innovation Challenge]
Digital for Resilience Challenge, The Digital for Resilience Challenge provides researchers with the opportunity to explore development of new digitally enabled methods, models, and tools that will help gain deeper insights and better understanding of the origins and potential impacts of future environmental, social, or economic scenarios, and allow Ireland to prepare better for future shock events. [Short summary of Digital for Resilience Challenge]
Who can apply?
Applications should be submitted by two academic researchers who will act as team lead and co-lead. It is strongly recommended that applications also identify a Societal Impact Champion to act in a non-technical leadership role.
Eligibility criteria are broad, including contract researchers with a contract that covers the period of the award (contract may be subject to receipt of the award), as well as academic staff. Academic applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent. Note: Postdoctoral researchers based in any eligible research body who are acting as team lead or co-lead may include up to 100% of their salary as part of the budget request in line with their time commitment to the project.
Research Development (RD) Resources for these calls
The RD team will provide support and guidance for this call including:
- Access to successful SFI challenge call application example from the grant repository
- Support and advice on aligning challenge ideas to the SFI call objectives
- Support with partner identification and matching
- Review of applications
All researchers with any interest in this call should confirm their interest by completing this short form. This will allow the RD and RS teams to provide researcher tailored support including partner matching where possible.
RSO Contact: ecaterina.mcdonagh@dcu.ie
RDO contacts: Faculty RDOs or dara.dunican@dcu.ie
The Co-Centre Programme is a €74M research fund established in partnership between Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) that will support collaboration between academic researchers across Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, co-funded by industry, to support a competitive economy and address societal and environmental challenges.
The new ‘Co-Centre Programme’ will open on the 24th November to proposals focused on high-quality research and innovation within the areas of climate, and sustainable and resilient food systems.
More information will be available on the SFI website in the coming weeks.
Contact: ecaterina.mcdonagh@dcu.ie