The Sustainable SME

A new call to fund environmental research was published yesterday (11 June 2013)

Who is this funding for?

Most of these calls are for experienced researchers or organisations involved in environmental research. So these are not exactly relevant for SMEs unless you are an SME involved in carrying out research.

Where to apply

ONLY online applications – register on the EPA’s Grant Management System. They have a guide if you need help finding your way around this smartsimple site (don’t forget to enable your pop-ups for using this site, and click on ‘save draft’ to prevent losing your work).

How to apply

Step 1: Read the Guide

The EPA recommends reading their guide to get an idea about what they will fund, how much you can apply for and how it is evaluated.

Step 2: Get the Topic

Use the correct ‘Call ‘Topic Reference’ (these call topics are summarised below)

Step 3: Send it off – on time!

The deadline for this call is 13 July 2013

EPA make it clear that it is your responsibility to make sure this gets in on time, so make doubly sure that you have completed all the correct fields,  ticked all the right boxes, and clicked on the submit application button.

Step 4: Get organisational Approval

You must get organisation approval by research offices by the 30th July 2013 at 5pm

Step 5: The Approval Process

August 2013 EPA’s evaluation process and negotiation will take place during August and September 2013, at which time interviews could be called.

The successful applicants will be awarded grants in October/November 2013

What are the calls for?

There are three categories of calls which are:

• Climate Change
• Sustainable Environment
• Water

In brief, these are….

Call Topic 1: Climate Change

The National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS) was set up in 2007 and part of what it does is fund various types of research related to climate change. There are four themes

• Theme 1: GHG Emissions, Sinks and Mitigation
• Amethodology to establish tillage activity on organic soils
• Theme 2: Impacts and Adaptation-
• Second phase development towards a climate change information platform
• Theme 3: Socio-Economic Analysis and Technologies- Sectoral and Cross Sectoral Modelling of Greenhouse Gas Emissions” or “Integrated Assessment Modelling of Transboundary Pollutants”
• Theme 4: Air quality and trans-boundary air pollution – This theme is for experienced research specialists
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Sinks and Management Systems
  • Socioeconomic and Technology Solutions and Transition Fellowship
  • Greenhouse Gas and Transboundary Air PollutionObservation systems Site Development Fellowship

If you find any of these interesting, the EPA technical description can be downloaded here

Sustainable Environment

This is funded under the STRIVE Programme (Science, Technology, Research & Innovation for the Environment) and in summary include 7 Project-based awards (Desk studies and Medium scale projects); – 4 Research Fellowships; and – 2 Doctoral Scholarships in five areas

Area 1: Biodiversity

• 2 doctoral scholarships in the area of monitoring system for estuarine ecosystems and constructed wetlands and
• 1  research fellow ship for a National Environmental Sensitivity Mapping Tool

Area 2: Environment and Health

• 2 research fellowships on Impact on health of air quality in Ireland and air emission inventory
• 2 Medium-scale Projects on the  Composition of Particulate Matter in Rural and Urban Sites and Quantification and assessment of impact of air emissions (ammonia) from intensive agriculture installations

Area 3: Land-Use and Soils

• 1 Medium-scale Project  on Landcover Classification System and associated remote sensing detection techniques
• 2 desk studies on Soils in the EU & Irish Policy Context and Development of SEA/AA best practice approach for the energy sector in Ireland

Area 4: Socio-Economic Considerations

• 1 research fellowship on Behavioural Change for Sustainable Development

Area 5: Waste and Resource Management

• 2 desk studies on the Determination of appropriate emission factors for dioxins and furans from emission sources and waste generation models for the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors in Ireland

If you find these interesting, the EPA technical description can be downloaded here

Water

This is also  funded under the STRIVE Programme  and in summary

Area-1. Improve our Knowledge on the State of our Water Resources and Pressures

• 4 desk studies  on Eflow Methodologies, Irish Saltmarsh as a Biological Quality Element for WFD Assessment, Lake Hydromorphology, and Key National Water Quality datasets & Emerging Research Needs
• 1 Research Fellowship on River Typology
• 1 Medium-Scale Study The Development of WFD Compliant Biological Assessment Methods

Area-2. Impacts on Ecosystems & Human Health (including Drinking Water)

• 1 Research  Fellowship  – A National Pollution Mass-Balance Mode
• 1 Desk Study – Quantify the Effect of Lead Pipe Removal on Lead Concentrations in Drinking water
• 1 Medium-Scale Study – Investigation into Natural Organic Matter in Waters

Area-3. Protecting our Water Resources

• 4 Desk studies
  • Agriculture and Water Quality, with Emphasis on Mitigation Measures,
  • An Investigation and Evaluation of  the Hydrodynamics of Small Catchments,
  • A Case Study of a Major Water Quality Incident in the Past placing a Money Value on the Costs and lost Benefits arising
  • Develop a Framework for Preparing & Monitoring Large Scale Engagement Strategy to Communicate Risk based Environmental Regulation

• 1 Research Fellowship – Suitability of Municipal WWTPs for the Treatment of Leachate from Landfills in Ireland

Area-4. Governance Framework and Socio-Economic Considerations

• 2 Desk Studies A Case Study of a Major Water Quality Incident in the Past placing a Money Value on the Costs and lost Benefits arising and
• Develop a Framework for Preparing & Monitoring Large Scale Engagement Strategy to Communicate Risk based Environmental Regulation

If you find this interesting, the EPA technical description can be downloaded here

For more details

Visit the EPA’s webpage on this 2013 funding call