Applications are welcome from teams of academic researchers based at eligible Irish research bodies. Teams are strongly encouraged to consider including researchers from different and diverse disciplines, at all career stages.  

In addition to two academic researchers, core teams must also include a third member who will bring specific knowledge or experience of the societal challenge the team is proposing to address. Over the course of the challenge, teams will evolve and expand to further support the project development.  

The 2050 Challenge comprises of four phases: Concept, Seed, Grow and Prize Award. Participation in the challenge will involve teams progressing through phases, each supporting further development of the challenge concept and solution, to compete for an overall Prize Award of €1M. 

Phase	No. Teams	Duration (Months)	Funding (€)
Concept	12	6	50k
Seed	12	12	200k
Grow	4	12	500k
Prize Award	1	24	1M

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ireland’s National Climate Objective commits to pursue and achieve, no later than 2050, Ireland’s transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable and climate-neutral economy. While many solutions already exist, there is an urgent need and opportunity for technological innovation to accelerate and navigate this transition to achieve this long-term ambition. This challenge is funded under Green Transition component of the National Challenge Fund.

As illustrative examples, the National Climate Action Plan and the Climate Change Advisory Council highlight the following areas where there is a need for technological innovation:   

• Zero-/low-carbon fuels – scalable and sustainable alternative fuels (e.g., sustainable biofuels, synthetic fuels) for difficult-to-decarbonise areas such as freight transport, aviation and industry processes.  
• Hydrogen – solutions associated with the clean generation, storage and safe usage of hydrogen to fully exploit Ireland’s potential advantage to produce and supply this clean fuel.   
• Greenhouse gas removals – nature-based and technology solutions to sustainably capture, store and recycle GHGs from the atmosphere for complete decarbonisation of our society and to limit global temperature rises.    
• Low-carbon construction materials – solutions to reduce the embodied carbon in the materials used in our built environment and to develop novel and sustainable alternatives.    
• Energy storage – solutions to increase penetration of renewables, to enable deployment of electric vehicles and electrify difficult-to-decarbonise sectors such as aviation.    

Solutions may be proposed in any sector and must demonstrate the potential for transformative impact in achieving Ireland’s transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable and climate-neutral economy.   

This broad thematic call is the first of a number of calls that will seek solutions to support Ireland’s Green Transition. Applicants to this call are particularly encouraged to consider novel, forward-looking solutions that could contribute to meeting 2050 objectives. 

The National Challenge Fund was established under the Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The fund is coordinated and administered by Science Foundation Ireland.

The deadline for submission of applications to this call will be 21st October 2022 (13:00 Dublin Local Time). 

Applications must be submitted through SFI’s Grants Management System SESAME. The SESAME system will open for applications in the coming weeks. Please subscribe to SFI e-alerts to be kept up to date.

Applicants should carefully review the following call documentation including eligibility information before preparing an application. Applicants must use the templates provided below and adhere to all guidelines.   

2050 Challenge Call Document

Application Form Template 

References Template 

CV Template 

Do No Significant Harm Guidance and Template (to be made available at a later date)