Presentation on Interacting with EPA Research, A two-way Process given by Marc Kierans, EPA Research at School of BEES Research Day, University College Cork, Friday 9th June 2017

1. Interacting with EPA Research
A two-way Process
School of BEES Research Day
University College Cork
Marc Kierans, EPA Research – Friday 9th June 2017

2. EPA
Research
2017 EPA
Funding
EU Funding
(Horizon
2020)
Interacting
with us

3. EPA Research
A research programme that addresses knowledge gaps
and helps identify solutions to emerging and complex
environmental problems

4. Funding Research
EPA responsible for development, co-ordination & management
of environmental research in Ireland (Section 71 of EPA Act)
R&D
94-99
(€7m)
ERTDI
2000-06
(€55.6m)
STRIVE
2007-13
(€74.3m)
EPA
Research
2014-20
(€30.9m
to-date)
c. €8.5m / yr

5. Research for…
Identifying Pressures
Informing Policy
Developing Solutions

6. EPA Research 2014-2020

7. Research Themes 2014-2020:
 Resource Efficiency
 Health & Wellbeing, incl. Radiation Protection
 Natural Capital, incl. Soils and Biodiversity
 Socio-Economic Aspects of a Sustainable
Environment
Sustainability

8. Research Themes 2014-2020:
 Safe Water
 Ecosystem Services and Sustainability
 Innovative Water Technologies
 Understanding, Managing and Conserving our
Water Resources
 Emerging and Cross-cutting Issues
Water

9. Research Themes 2014-2020:
 Carbon Stocks, GHG Emissions, Sinks and
Management Options
 Ireland’s Future Climate, its Impacts, and
Adaptation Options
 Climate Solutions, Transition Management and
Opportunities
 Air Science
Climate

10. Annual Competitive Calls for Research Proposals
 Desk-Study
 6 - 12 months, €50-€100K
 Medium-Scale Project
 24 - 36 months, €100- €350K
 Large-Scale Project
 36-48 months, €350K- €1m
 Research Fellowship
 24-36 months, < € 250k
 Green Enterprise
Events Support (up to €3k)
Types of Awards
1 PI and/or Post doc Researcher - 1
organisation
1 PI and Post doc Researcher and/or PhD
student - 1 + organisation(s)
1 PI and Post doc Researcher (s) and/or PhD
student(s) - 1+ organisation(s)
1 Research Fellow (& supervisor) – 1
organisation

11. Pre-Award
1. Submission of proposals in response to a specific topic
(Call Technical Description) via Online submission
platform (SmartSimple)
2. 2-step Submission Process:
a. Submission by Applicants
b. Authorisation by Organisation
3. 2-step Review Process:
a. Technical Evaluation
b. National Overview
4. Negotiation
5. Award of projects

12. Post-Award
 Steering Committee
 Interim Reporting
 Technical Progress Reports
 Costs Statements
 Steering Committee Meetings
 Final Reporting
 Final Technical Report
 EPA Research Report
 End of Project Questionnaire
 Project Resources on SAFER
 Open Access / Open Data

13. 2016 Highlights
Number of researchers
supported: > 800
Number of research
institutions supported: 33

14. Timeframe:
 5th May 2017: Call Open
 3rd July 2017 (5pm): Deadline for submission
 14th July 2017 (5pm): Organisation Approval Deadline
 July/September 2017: Evaluation Process
 October 2017: Negotiation
 November 2017: Grant Award of Successful Projects
Call FAQs:
www.epa.ie/researchandeducation/research/epafunding/researchcall2017/frequentlyask
edquestions/
2017 Calls

15. Some Changes…
New fields in the Application Form:
 Impacts Statement
 Research Integrity
 Gender Balance & Gender Contents
 Communication Plan

16. 2017 Funding
 Green Enterprise Scheme (Closing today 09/06/17)
 EPA/HSE Tender (e-Tender) on Priority Settings in the
Environment & Health Research Area (Closing on 22/06/17)
 TBC: Additional Call on the UN SDGs (June/July 2017)
 Transnational Funding:
 BiodivERsA Joint Call (EPA/MI cofunding) – September 2017
 Water JPI Joint Call (UN SDGs) – August/September 2017

17. Strategic Partnerships
National Level
 Irish Research Council (Scholarships)
 Science Foundation Ireland (Investigator Programme)
 Co-funding (as part of EPA or other funders calls)
 ESAI/EPA Grassroots Workshop Support
International Level
 Horizon 2020
 Climate JPI (next call in 2018)
 Water JPI (upcoming call in June 2017)
 BiodivERsA (upcoming call in 2017)
 Fulbright Awards

18. Where do we fit?
Demonstration/Pre-Commercialisation Research: Horizon 2020
Applied/Demonstration Research: EPA Green Enterprise Scheme,
SFI-EPA Investigator Programme, Joint Transnational Calls
Basic/Applied Research EPA Research Calls(policy-driven), EPA-
Fulbright Awards
Basic Research: IRC-EPA Scholarship Scheme

19. Three Priorities
Excellent
science
Industrial
leadership
Societal
challenges

20. Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw
materials
Objective:
"to achieve a resource– and water– efficient and climate change
resilient economy and society, the protection and sustainable
management of natural resources and ecosystems, and a sustainable
supply and use of raw materials, in order to meet the needs of a
growing global population within the sustainable limits of the planet's
natural resources and eco-systems."
Societal Challenge 5

21. 2016 Highlights

22. Next Calls: 2018-20
(in preparation)
Call: "Building a low-carbon, climate resilient future:
climate action in support of the Paris
Agreement"
Call: "Greening the economy in line with the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)"

23. How to interact with us
Submit a
Research
Proposal (Q2)
Suggest future
research ideas
(Q4/Q1)
Contribute to
our Research
Newsletter
Attend our
events (e.g.
Info. Day)
Request
support/advice
re EU Funding
(H2020)
Subscribe to our
Newsletters,
Follow us on
Twitter
Contribute to
our Survey on
Communication
Tools

24. Call Topics Selection Process
EPA Research Calls
Consultation
(Government Depts.,
EPA staff and RCGs)
Research
Community
Suggestions
2013 Public
Consultation,
Projects
Recommendations,
Latest SoE

25. More Info
 EPA Research Newsletter
 @EPAResearchNews
 EPA Research on web
 EPA Research Reports
 Searchable Projects Database
 SAFER-data (Project outputs, datasets)
 DROPLET (Water research in Ireland)
 Catalogue of Irish Expertise in Env. Research

26. research@epa.ie