EPA Research projects funding call 2014 *now open*

EPA Research Projects Call 2014 is now open
Call deadline is 5pm on Tuesday the 5th August 2014

This year’s EPA research call with a budget of approximately €7,000,000 for new projects is under 3 pillars of research relating to:

  1. Climate change;
  2. Water;
  3. Sustainability

This research call is aimed at larger research projects involving research institutions (in partnership with business or solo) which will support positive and pragmatic research into the issues that affect us and our environment. The EPA research programme will run to 2020 and will involve as many as 600 researchers and industrial innovators over its lifetime.

A combination of projects will be funded through the programme ranging from short desk studies to large multi-annual capability development projects involving several organisations. New aspects to the proposed research programme include:

  1. Funding for bottom-up research ideas aimed at environmental issues;
  2. Piloting of innovations in the area of citizen-centric public services;
  3. Innovative use of social networks to influence the behaviours needed to enable Ireland to become a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy and society;
  4. Greater use of co-funding with national and international partners on shared research priorities.

Climate research is about informing actions on, and improving engagement with, the diverse challenges posed by climate change under four areas: (i) Management of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks; (ii) Ireland’s Future Climate, Its Impacts and Adaptation Options; (iii) Socio-economic and Technological Solutions; and (iv) Air Science. It also aims to identify and advance opportunities that arise from addressing these challenges.

Water research is about supporting relevant water policy and protecting our water environment, contributing to achieving excellent water quality in Ireland, and is organised under five areas: (i) Safe Water; (ii) Ecosystem Services and Sustainability; (iii) Innovative Water Technologies; (iv) Understanding, Managing and Conserving our Water Resources; and (v) Emerging and Cross-cutting Issues.

Sustainability research is about achieving a high quality of life in a resource-efficient Ireland, and is organised under four areas: (i) Resource Efficiency; (ii) Health and Wellbeing; (iii) Socio-economics; and (iv) Natural Capital and Ecosystems.

Applications for all calls must be made using the EPA grant application and project management portal (Smart Simple) : https://epa.smartsimple.ie/s_Login.jsp

Please note that application is a two-step process:

  1. Submission of proposals by applicants before the Call Deadline: Tuesday the 5th August @ 5pm;
  2. Once submitted, your proposal must be authorised by the relevant person in your company/organisation (i.e. Managing Director, Financial Controller etc.) to be valid and the deadline for Authorisation of Proposals by Managing Directors/ Financial Controller etc. of companies is: 15th August 2014 (5pm).

More information can be found on the EPA website: funding opportunities

Monday, 30 June 2014