Funding Overview
Programme Introduction
SFI provides grants for researchers from around the world who wish to relocate to Ireland and those already based in Ireland, for outstanding investigators, for conferences and symposia, and for collaboration with industry. The majority of SFI awards are in the fields of science and engineering underpinning three Government-prioritised industrial sectors: biotechnology (Bio), information and communications technology (ICT) and sustainable energy and energy-efficient technologies. At a smaller scale SFI also supports a broad range of disciplines in Science, Mathematics and Engineering via its Research Frontiers Programme. Proposals are evaluated in open competitions via a combination of international peer review and strategic fit with SFI’s mission. In addition to the principles espoused by SFI’s core values, SFI uses the following principles in reaching its funding decisions: value for money, strategic impact, efficient use of the peer review system, internationalisation, critical mass, cohesion with other funding streams, and availability of funding.
SFI has a flexible grants and awards portfolio and several times a year issues calls for proposals from scientists and engineers.
View a summary list of SFI's awards programmes

View Open for Submission Calls for Proposals

View Previous (Closed for Submission) Calls for Proposals
SFI Community Webinar 22 June 2011
SFI hosted a webinar on Thursday 22nd of June from 16.00 – 16.30 to inform the SFI Community of the cancellation of future calls of the Research Frontiers and Principal Investigator programmes and their replacement with a single, consolidated programme to be launched by end of 2011. For details of the webinar please click here.
To receive notification of new calls and other SFI related information please subscribe to SFI’s Email Alerts.
In general, all calls for proposals to SFI are submitted by a host Irish Research Body (typically an Irish University or Institute of Technology).
The Principal Investigator Programme (PI 2011) will receive applications via SFI’s Grants and Awards Management System, SESAME.
To view contact details for Research Bodies click here.
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) would like to formally notify its stakeholders that participation and success in international research funding competitions will become a formal evaluation criterion in the majority of SFI funding programmes.
Exact details will be provided as new programme calls are released but it is expected that marks will be awarded to proposals where applicants can demonstrate success in securing grants from international research funding competitions.
In line with national policy, SFI plans to drive up Irish participation and success in international funding programmes as it increases international collaboration, enhances international competitiveness and diversifies the research funding base. This evaluation mechanism will be introduced for calls launched from 1 April 2009 and will apply to certain programmes only. SFI will provide further information on the scope and details of the mechanism in due course.
Please click here for further information on international research grant opportunities.
In very exceptional circumstances SFI may fund ad hoc supplements to existing awards/award holders. The intention of such supplements is to capitalise on high-gain opportunities not foreseen at the time of the original grant application process. Such supplements will only be considered on a truly exceptional basis and will be processed through SFI’s Executive Committee.
Please email info@sfi.ie with any queries.
