This page provides a list of frequently asked questions and answers that relate to the EPA Research call and Green Enterprise call.
Can researchers from outside Ireland apply?
A core principle of the funding provided under the EPA Research Programme is that it promotes the development of research capacity on the island of Ireland. Therefore, applications for funding will only be considered where the lead applicant organisation is located on the island of Ireland.
Whilst co-applicant organisations located in other jurisdictions may participate in projects funded by the EPA Research Programme (as Co-applicants), they are restricted in terms of the categories of expenditure considered eligible for funding. Further details are provided in the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 Guidelines and Terms & Conditions
Do I need to be registered with an organisation to create an application?
Yes. When registering as an applicant on the EPA's Grant Management and Application Portal you will need to include the details of your organisation. Organisations must be approved by the EPA – if your organisation has not been approved by the EPA you will not be able to submit an application.
Can I apply for more than one project?
Yes, you may submit more than one proposal but you may only submit one application for any one Call Topic Identifier, as stated in the Technical Description Document. Please note that if you submit multiple applications, they must be distinct in terms of the content of the application and you must have the capacity to deliver should multiple projects be successful.
I am on a temporary contract. Is it possible to submit an application that includes my salary?
Applicants do not need to be permanent members of staff to submit an application but do need to have a contract with the lead organisation at the time of application. Additionally, at the point of award, they will need to confirm that they have a contract for duration of the project. Only salary costs that can be demonstrated as being used for the specific purpose of performing relevant work packages of the proposed project are eligible. For publicly funded Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) and other Public / State Body Organisations, buy-out of time for salaried staff members is not permitted.
Those on a temporary contract should consult their Organisation’s policy on whether those on temporary contracts are permitted to apply for Research funding as a lead applicant. This should include confirmation that they will have access to the necessary resources, e.g., equipment, office space, research space, etc., to conduct the project, if funded.
If a Lead Applicant has been awarded a grant under a previous call can they submit an application under the new call?
Yes
Can a Lead Applicant be the lead on more than one live project?
Yes
Is it possible to have two Lead Applicants on one project?
No. For the purposes of applying using the EPA's Grant Management and Application Portal only one person can complete the online application form and be listed as the Lead Applicant. All other applicants should be invited and listed as Co-applicants.
Can I submit or participate in a proposal for a call topic which my organisation is co-funding?
No. Researchers may not apply for or participate in projects which are to be co-funded by their organisation, even if their organisation would not be in receipt of funding.
Are all activities listed in the Project Scope for each Call Topic expected to be addressed?
Innovative research proposals are invited to address the scope of the topics included in the call. Proposals should therefore cover/address (but are not limited to) all aspects as listed in the Topic Scope.
If an applicant has not previously been funded by the EPA, how will their past performance be taken into account in the evaluation process?
In the evaluation process, all applicants will be assigned a past performance score of 1.0, unless they have not met the EPA’s reporting requirements. As such, applicants who have not been previously funded by the EPA will receive a 1.0. This is detailed in the Evaluation Process document.
Does the call allow partnership with NI?
Yes. Organisations from Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for funding as a lead applicant. They can also be funded as a co-Applicant on applications submitted by another organisation located on the island of Ireland.
Does an application require engagement from TTO?
No. Given the focus of EPA Research on providing evidence relevant to the development and implementation of environmental policy, this is not usually necessary. However, if your application includes information where management of intellectual property rights may be relevant or important, you may wish to engage with your TTO. You should also review the EPA’s intellectual property and open access policies, as detailed in the EPA Research Guidelines and Terms & Conditions document.
Where can I find out more about the application process and eligibility requirements?
Full details are provided in the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 Guidelines and Terms & Conditions
Where can I find more information on budget and financial eligibility rules?
Full details are provided in the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 Guidelines and Terms & Conditions
Can a 4-year PhD student participate as part of a 3-year project?
This is possible, however it must be noted that funding related to the PhD will only be reimbursed in relation to the period that they are working on the project. For example, if the project is of 3 years duration and the PhD student is not recruited until the end of month three, funding will only be reimbursed for 2 years and nine months.
For universities, should requests for salary costs include the pension contribution?
In respect of DPER Circular 28/2016 the EPA recognise the confusion in regard to pension in the Higher Education and wider Public Sector and understand there is ongoing dialogue between DPER and representative bodies of Public Service employers on the matter. In recognition of this fact the EPA will allow HEIs to budget for pension in accordance with IUA pay scales, however funding in respect of all such budgeted amounts and the associated overhead will be ringfenced and will only be eligible for inclusion on claims for reimbursement when revised and specific guidance on the matter has been issued from DPER to the EPA. Should revised guidance not be issued prior to the completion date of affected projects then the funding allocated to pension (and associated overhead) based on the budget submission for the project will be decommitted. Reallocations of such funding will not be permitted under any circumstances.
Please refer to the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 Guidelines and Terms & Conditions
Can salary costs or buy-out hours be requested for permanent staff?
No. Salary costs or buy-out hours for permanent staff are not eligible costs.
For a small company, such as a start-up, who is the appropriate person to authorise submission of an application?
For a small company this would normally be the Managing Director or equivalent.
How can I access the portal?
The EPA's Grant Management and Application Portal can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://epa.smartsimple.ie/s_Login.jsp
I can't find my organisation on the portal, what do I do?
If your organisation has made an application previously, it should appear when you start typing in the ‘Organisation Name’ box.
If not, clear your internet history and refresh your application. If the problem still persists try moving to a different browser.
If your organisation is not registered on our system you will need to submit a registration request – click on the Applicants Register Here button on the portal login page.
Before registering please refer to the User Registration Guide and the instructions at the top of the registration page.
Where can I find guidance on using the portal?
Guidance on using the EPA's Grant Management and Application portal can be found on the Grants Management page of the EPA Website, or accessed when logged into the portal.
Invalid session message or frequent time-outs - I can't access the system.
The system will automatically log you out after 60 minutes of inactivity. If you are experiencing invalid session messages, or are frequently being logged out of the system after less than 60 minutes of inactivity please follow these steps to try and resolve the issue:
If the above actions do not resolve the issue please contact your IT support team.
Invalid username or password
If you have attempted to login several times using incorrect login details you will be temporarily locked out of the system - please wait at least 10 minutes before trying again. If invalid username or password messages continue to appear on the screen, before attempting to login again please:
Clarification on Themes and Topics
For the purposes of the Application Portal, the term “Call Topic Reference” is used to identify submissions under both Themes and Topics. Please refer carefully to the “Call Topic Reference” provided in Technical Description document when creating your application. For example, submissions under the “Theme: Advancing Climate Science for Ireland” will use the Call Topic Reference “Addressing Climate Change Evidence Needs - Topic 3” to create the application (as specified on p. 10 of the Technical Description Document). While there is overlap in the nomenclature used, careful reference to the Technical Description Document will ensure that the correct Call Topic Reference is used by applicants.
Please note that the correct Call Topic Reference must be selected for an application to be considered eligible and that this cannot be changed after an application has been created.
How many projects will be funded under each of the Themes in the EPA Research Call 2023?
It is envisaged that 3 projects will be funded under each of the Themes (i.e., a total of 15 projects), subject to the outcome of the review process and available budget. The EPA may elect to fund additional proposals deemed fundable if sufficient budget is available.
What if my query is not listed as an FAQ?
All queries which are not covered in the Call Documents or the User Guides should be directed to research@epa.ie.