National Funding Calls

The Irish Cancer Society Cancer Research Seed Funding Award 2024 supports research activities that have the potential to be highly competitive and impactful, and which, without seed funding, would not have otherwise been possible. Two awards of up to €75,000 each will be available for projects of 12-24 months duration in 2024: 

• Seed funding for a survivorship research project 
• Seed funding for a translational research project focussed on children, adolescent, or young adults  

Eligibility criteria: This award is open to cancer researchers from a variety of backgrounds. Academic or clinical applicants are eligible. 

The lead applicant must: 

• be actively participating in translational, clinical or survivorship cancer research (post-undergraduate degree) in the Republic of Ireland, and  
• show a demonstrable commitment to cancer research.  

Applicants with fewer than five years postdoctoral research experience must nominate an academic mentor. Mentors must: 

• hold a permanent contract (or a contract for the duration of the research project)  at an eligible host institution in the Republic of Ireland 
• hold a PhD (or equivalent*) in  a relevant academic field 
• have a minimum of five senior author publications in peer-reviewed academic journals. 

*PhD equivalence is defined as at least three senior author publications in peer-reviewed academic journals (in addition to the above-required publications) or at least four years of full-time research experience post-primary degree.  

The call is currently open. 

Key Dates 

Key Resources 

• Cancer Research Seed Funding Award 2024 Guidelines for Applicants 
• Public and Patient Involvement in Research Guidelines 2024 
• Irish Cancer Society Budget and Expenses Guidelines 2024 
• Irish Cancer Society Research Impact Framework 2024 

The SFI and Irish Aid Sustainable Development Goal Challenge 2024 (SDG 2 – Zero Hunger) is now open.

This exciting opportunity seeks to support diverse, transdisciplinary teams to develop transformative, sustainable solutions that will contribute to addressing development challenges under the UN SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) in countries where Irish Aid works. The Challenge entails a competitive Concept, Seed, and Prize Award Phase whereby applicants progress to the next Phase based on review of performance in the previous Phase. One team will be selected for the Prize Award Phase.

Transdisciplinary teams that include expertise in STEM as well as relevant knowledge or experience in complementary disciplines, based in eligible Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) or Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) in Ireland and partner countries, may apply. The team lead should have a demonstrable track record relevant to the proposed solution. A partner country team co-lead based in an eligible HEI or RPO in an eligible partner country should also be included. Workshop grants of up to €5,000 are available to facilitate team formation and seed idea generation prior to submitting an application.

The US-Ireland Research and Development Partnership (opens in a new tab) is a unique initiative involving funding agencies across three jurisdictions: United States of America, Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland.

The overall goal of the Partnership is to increase the level of collaborative R&D amongst researchers and industry across the three jurisdictions. This collaboration aims to generate valuable discoveries and innovations which are transferable to the marketplace, or will lead to enhancements in health, disease prevention or healthcare.

The Partnership achieves its goals through tri-partite research projects in which the funding agencies fund the elements of research undertaken in their own jurisdiction. Importantly, the Partnership must add significant value to each research programme above that achievable by the PI in each jurisdiction working alone.

The current focus of the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme, as agreed by the Partnership Steering Group (opens in a new tab), is on the following seven thematic areas:

• Sensors & Sensor Networks
• Nanoscale Science & Engineering
• Telecommunications
• Energy & Sustainability
• Health
• Cybersecurity (new theme)
• Agriculture

How the Programme Operates

Each US-Ireland R&D Partnership proposal must have a minimum of one applicant from each jurisdiction and significant research participation by all three jurisdictions. The work proposed for each jurisdiction must add significant value, so that the overall programme of research goes beyond what might be achieved by any one PI working alone supported by national funding only.

The applicants from each jurisdiction will write a joint tri-partite proposal in the format required by NSF or NIH. It is the responsibility of the US investigator to submit the tri-partite proposal to the respective agency for review. Proposals are evaluated in accordance with the standard NSF or NIH review criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts of the proposed effort. The funding agencies on the island of Ireland have agreed to accept the decisions of NSF and NIH with regard to the suitability for funding of individual proposals

Notification of Intent to Submit

In order to participate in a US-Ireland R&D Partnership proposal to the NSF or NIH, NI and RoI eligible applicants must send a mandatory Intention to Submit (ITS) form to the relevant funding agencies, North and South, from the Research Institution Research Offices on behalf of the RoI and NI lead applicant respectively. The information in this form will be used for planning purposes by the agencies. For templates and deadlines please see relevant call documentation.

Draft “Tri-Partite” proposal submission

In advance of submission of the final tri-partite proposal to the NSF or NIH, RoI and NI funding agencies will evaluate the draft proposal and either approve or decline support. Therefore, a draft of the tri-partite proposal for submission to the NSF or NIH must be submitted to the NI and RoI funding agencies in advance of full proposal deadline. For specific timelines and requirements please see relevant call documentation.

Submission of Final Tri-Partite Proposal to NSF

Once eligibility of the proposal has been confirmed by the RoI and NI funding agencies and the draft tri-partite proposal approved, the RoI and NI PIs are permitted to submit the tri-partite proposal to the NSF or NIH via their US partner, as it is the US partner who takes the lead on submission of the full proposal, including all necessary documentation, to the US funding agency via their Research Institution. 

Each of the RoI and NI funding agencies will write a Funding Commitment Letter outlining their level of budget commitment subject to NSF or NIH approval of the tri-jurisdictional proposal. Funding Commitment Letters are sent to the applicant by their funding agency and must be included in the final NSF or NIH submission.

Who can apply?

A US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme application must have a minimum of one academic applicant from each of the three jurisdictions. Significant participation by researchers in all three jurisdictions must be demonstrated in the application.

Researchers should be at mid-stage or senior stage in their career. For specific eligibility criteria please refer to relevant call documentation.

Express your interest through Pure 

If you are preparing a funding application in adherence with SETU Waterford policy, please log your Expression of Interest via our internal record system Pure to receive guidance and support from the research office, TTO, and research finance team members.  Log in under your profile here, identify the fund opportunity and create your draft application. 

Other guidance/Notes you may like to weave in for guidance on Pure  

• We have a detailed Help & FAQ Guide on the Research Office website on Pure - SETU Waterford Campus | formerly Waterford Institute of Technology (wit.ie)  
• All applicants/PIs will need a Pure Profile to log an application for funding. If you haven't yet set up your Pure profile, please email [email protected] and they will set you up and give some guidance.  
• Please note the system does not submit to the funder/agency it just tracks what stage the proposal is at. The PI/Applicant or the RO must follow the individual guides for submission as provided by the agency/funder or funder.  
• Pure is our tracking and record system internally and has a shared view of application progress, submission, and outcome of awards across key stakeholders in the organization.  

The Royal Society-SFI University Research Fellowships 2025 are highly competitive Fellowships to support excellent early-career scientists based in eligible research bodies in the Republic of Ireland by providing up to eight years’ funding including salary and research expenses. Fellowships are awarded in all fields of natural sciences, including but not limited to, biological research, biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics.

Salary will be provided based on the SFI Research Fellow scale (Level 3) for the first five years and the Senior Research Fellow scale (Level 4) for the remaining three years. The basic salary will be provided at a level commensurate with the applicant’s skills, responsibilities, and experience. Research expenses at up to €90,000 per annum and institutional overheads at 30% of the value of the award (less equipment) are also provided.

The University Research Fellowship provides for maximum flexibility for awardees and may be held part-time. It also allows for sabbaticals, secondments, or international experience. 

Eligibility criteria: Applicants must hold a PhD, have between three and eight years post-PhD research experience, and not be a permanent staff member in a university or a not-for-profit organisation.  They must also not currently hold, or have previously held, a nationally competitive fellowship that offers an opportunity to establish an independent research group. Candidates of all nationalities may apply.

The call is currently open and a webinar about the Fellowship will be held on Wednesday 17 July 2024 at 12.30 pm.

Key Dates

Key Resources

• Royal Society-SFI University Research Fellowship Information Webinar Zoom link
• Royal Society-SFI University Research Fellowships Scheme Notes
• Royal Society-SFI University Research Fellowships Conditions of Award
• Frequently Asked Questions 2025

The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million challenge-based fund established under Project Ireland 2040, managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and administered by Enterprise Ireland. The fund is open to clients of Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, IDA Ireland, and research performing organisations engaged in collaborative industrial research and/or experimental development towards a common objective in one of the six National Research Priority Areas (ICT, health and wellbeing, food, energy, climate, action and sustainability, manufacturing and materials, and services and business processes).  

Projects that will potentially alter markets, the way business operate, or involve the creation of new products or contribute to the emergence of new business models are suitable for DTIF funding. 

Eligibility criteria (non-exhaustive):  

• Project must be seeking a minimum funding of €1.5 million over three years 
• Project must include at least three independent partners seeking DTIF funding, or which at least one must be a SME and one other enterprise partner 
• RPOs can claim up to 100% of eligible costs but no more than 50% of the total DTIF grant aid per project 
• the type of research to be carried out must include ‘industrial research’ or ‘experimental development’ 

Other eligibility criteria also apply, please contact the Technology Transfer Office (email [email protected]) if you wish to clarify the eligibility of a project for funding under the DTIF. 

The call is currently open. An information webinar will be delivered by Enterprise Ireland on Thursday, 25 July at 09:00 Irish time. Applications can be submitted at any time before the deadline specified below. 

Key Dates 

Key Resources 

• Webinar link 
• Guide for applicants 
• Indicative application form 
• Consortium agreement template