€10.5 million funding for research to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland
The EPA is seeking proposals from the research community to help address climate change and other emerging and complex environmental problems. With up to €10.5 million available for new research projects, the funding will be provided under four themes:
- Addressing climate change evidence needs
- Facilitating a green and circular economy
- Delivering a healthy environment
- Protecting and restoring our natural environment.
Laura Burke, EPA Director General said:
“EPA-funded Research is essential to improving national understanding of our environment, the challenges it faces and responses to these challenges. The EPA Research Programme funds research that addresses knowledge gaps and provides the evidence base to inform policy as well as supporting the implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.”
The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This Research Call highlights the importance of a clean, healthy and well-protected environment for our health, wellbeing and quality of life. It is designed to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.
Dr Alice Wemaere, EPA Research Manager, said,
“Innovative research proposals are invited in response to 46 research topics. The new research projects are expected to start in late 2021/early 2022 and will range from 12-month to multi-annual research projects. This Research Call is competitive, and we expect to be assessing many high-quality submissions from the research community.
We are delighted to be working in partnership with a number of organisations, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Department of Transport; the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Office of the Planning Regulator, to address key environmental challenges.”
As part of its wide range of functions the EPA manages an environmental research programme that delivers essential scientific support for environmental policy development, implementation and broader decision making. The EPA has been funding research in Ireland since 1994 and is currently funding more than 200 on-going research projects. Further details about the 2021 EPA Research Call are available on the EPA website.
Notes
The 2021 EPA Research Call is the first call under the EPA Research 2030 Framework, the new 10-year EPA research programming framework covering the period 2021-2030, which is designed to be agile, responsive and flexible. Further details about the EPA Research Programme are on the EPA website.
Supporting environmental policies: The Research Call is designed to support the implementation of environmental policies in Ireland including: the Climate Action Plan, National Climate Adaption Framework, Circular Economy Action Plans and Strategies, Biodiversity National Action Plan and National Peatlands Strategy, as well as the forthcoming Clean Air Strategy, UN Sustainable Development Goals Implementation Plan and National River Basin Management Plan.
Research applications: EPA Research Calls are open to all types of organisations, within and outside Ireland. To apply for EPA funding, you must be registered on the EPA’s online Grant Application and project Management system. Research Proposals must be submitted in response to one of the topics included in the Call Descriptions.
The call timeframe is outlined below:
- Call opening: 19th May 2021
- Call submission deadline: 14th July 2021 (5pm)
- Call authorisation deadline: 21st July 2021 (5pm)
- November/December 2021: award of new projects
- January 2022: Publication of the 2020 awards
Queries relating to the call: research@epa.ie
Further funding: Other EPA funding opportunities this year include Fulbright-EPA Scholarships and Fellowships; as well as scholarships, as part of the Irish Research Council-EPA Postgraduate Scheme (due to open later this year).