SFI Funding FAQs
1. What areas of research does SFI support?
SFI provides grants 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.
2. How are proposals evaluated?
Answer: 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.
3. Who decides which proposals receive funding?
SFI holds authority for final decisions on awards.
4. Who chooses the reviewers
SFI Technical staff select reviewers. In cases where programmes allow the applicant to exclude individuals who should not review the application. SFI will not share proposals with those individuals. Otherwise, SFI holds the final decision on who reviews proposals. Please refer to the relevant call documentation for details on the review process for each programme.
5. Who may apply for an SFI grant?
The eligibility criteria are specific to each programme. Please refer to the relevant call documentation.
6. May an SFI-funded research programme be conducted outside the Republic of Ireland?
The research programme must be conducted within a host research body in the Republic of Ireland. Recipients of SFI awards, however, may actively collaborate with researchers worldwide. Under appropriate circumstances, a PI can support his/her staff to work in a lab in another country to learn specific new skills or to use specialized equipment.
7. Does a researcher have to work full time on an SFI project?
No. A researcher will be able to vary the proportion of their time spent on an SFI programme. The intended amount of time to be allocated must be stated in the application. Team members other than the principal investigator should usually work full-time on the programme, but in circumstances where it is appropriate to have part-time team members, the salary paid must be commensurate with their time commitment to the project. SFI does not permit its funding recipients to receive duplicate funding. That is, funding from any other agency for the same research programme.
8. How will members of the research team be selected?
The principal investigator selects the team members, and all employment/engagement should be carried out in line with the relevant host institution’s guidelines.
9. What is the optimum team size?
The team size should be designed to best achieve the research programme proposed. This will vary for each proposal.
10. May postgraduate students be members of the research team?
Yes, SFI expects postgraduate students to be trained during the course of the research programme.
11. How long does an SFI-funded research programme last?
The length of the research programme will vary based upon the type of award received. Please refer to the relevant call documentation for details of programme duration.
12. What happens to a research programme if a grant recipient gives up the award during the course of a research programme or moves to a different research body?
If the grant recipient wishes to continue their research they may write and request that SFI consider moving his/her grant to a new eligible institution within the Republic of Ireland. If such permission were not granted, SFI would terminate its funding of the programme. All aspects of such a process are described in SFI's Terms and Conditions.
13. May a researcher with an SFI grant hold or obtain funding from other research funding agencies?
Yes. Furthermore, for programme calls launched as of 1 April 2009 participation and success in international research funding competitions will become a formal evaluation criterion in the majority of SFI funding programmes. Researchers covered by SFI's Terms and Conditions should note that SFI does not permit duplicate funding from another agency of an SFI-funded research programme. SFI expects award recipients to note in their annual report/census to SFI any additional funding acquired by SFI researchers during the period of their SFI grant.
14. May a researcher with a SFI grant apply for a second SFI award?
Please refer to SFI’s Second Grant Policy.
15. Can the expiration date of a SFI grant be extended?
SFI may authorise a one-time extension of the expiration date of a grant. Please refer to the SFI No Cost Extension Policy for further details. SFI No Cost Extension Policy for further details.
16. May a researcher make reallocations on their SFI Budget?
SFI may authorise a budget reallocation to assure successful completion of the original scientific objectives of a funded programme. Such reallocations only require authorisation by the Foundation in cases when the amount of funds to be moved exceeds that allowed in the Letter of Offer. Please refer to the SFI Budget Reallocations Policy for further details.
17. Are the costs of publishing or of depositing in an Open Access repository allowable as an Eligible Cost?
Yes, these costs are allowable as an Eligible. Cost under SFI awards and should be charged against the Miscellaneous budget line.
18. Are equipment maintenance charges allowable as a direct cost on SFI awards.
Equipment Maintenance Charges are allowable as a Direct Cost on SFI awards subject to certain conditions.
19. Does SFI fund clinical trials?
SFI does not fund clinical trials for the purposes of product development or optimization. This includes clinical trials designed to test the safety and/or effectiveness of drugs, devices or treatments.
However, SFI recognises that certain fundamental explorations, which do fall under the Foundation’s remit, may require use of human volunteers and/or human samples. Funding of such work will be considered on a case-by case basis, and must have received formal ethical approval from the applicant’s institution in all circumstances.
All research funded by SFI should advance the fields of science and engineering which underpin Biotechnology; Information, Communication and Emergent Technology; or Sustainable Energy and Energy Efficient Technologies.
