Research funding institutions

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a statutory role in  coordinating environmental research. EPA Research has a strong focus on policy and has been driven by national regulations and European Directives.

EPA Research consists of three key pillars:

• climate
• water
• sustainability.

A series of research calls are being announced periodically over the course of the EPA Research programme.

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the national foundation for investment in scientific and engineering research. SFI invests in academic researchers and research teams who are likely to generate new  knowledge, cutting edge technologies and competitive enterprises in the following three broad areas:

• biotechnology
• information and communications technology (ICT)
• sustainable energy and energy efficient technologies (energy).

Teagasc is the leading organisation in the fields of agriculture and food research in Ireland, undertaking innovative research in:

• animal and grassland research and innovation
• crops, environment and land use
• food
• rural economy and development.

The annual research portfolio comprises some 300 research projects, carried out by 500 scientific and technical staff in research centres throughout Ireland.

The Irish Research Council manages a suite of inter-linked research schemes, funding scholars at various career stages, from postgraduate study to senior research project-based awards. For early stage researchers there are a number of funding opportunities operated  by open, peer-reviewed funding competitions.

These include the following: 

• Government of Ireland Post-Graduate Scholarships and Government of Ireland Post-Doctoral Fellowships fund research at pre- and post-doctoral levels.
• The Enterprise Partnership Scheme is an innovative initiative whereby the Irish Research Council links with private enterprise and eligible public bodies to award co-funded postgraduate scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships to the most promising researchers in Ireland.
• Irish Research Council’s Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme is an initiative providing postgraduate researchers with an employment-focused educational experience. More specifically, this programme offers researchers the opportunity to undertake a Master’s or PhD degree while employed by a private company or public organisation based in the Republic of Ireland.