Irish Aid SDG Challenge 2022 for Innovative Solutions to SDG13
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22nd September 2022
The SDG Challenge 2022 is an opportunity for research teams to develop innovative solutions relating to challenges associated with climate, biodiversity and the environment. Under this call, in partnership with Irish Aid, applications are invited that contribute to the interconnected areas of SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 15: Life on Land.
Funding is available for collaborative research teams based in Ireland and Irish Aid partner countries (see below). Teams will receive up to €300k and will work through a series of phases to develop their idea. An overall prize award of €1M will be awarded to the team that demonstrates the highest potential for transformative impact.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call to action for all countries, in partnership, to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Achieving the SDGs lies at the heart of Ireland’s international development policy, A Better World, as well as being part of SFI’s strategy, Shaping our Future, to deliver tangible benefits for society. With these common goals, Irish Aid (Department of Foreign Affairs) entered a partnership with SFI in 2021 to establish the SDG Challenge.
Entrepreneurship
The SDG Challenge is intended to support highly motivated, transdisciplinary teams committed to developing transformative, sustainable solutions that will contribute to addressing development challenges under the UN SDGs in Irish Aid’s partner countries. It is expected that teams will encompass a range of technical and non-technical skills to address barriers associated with challenge definition and solution deployment, and that they will represent collaborative and equitable partnerships between researchers in Ireland and the partner country.
Teams must include expertise in the STEM research area underpinning the proposed solution, but should also include knowledge or experience in areas such as, for example, international development, development economics, or behavioural or social sciences, in order to inform the adoption and impact of novel interventions.
Applications to the prize must identify a core applicant/leadership team comprising a minimum of three or maximum of four members:
Applicants should refer to the call document for detailed eligibility information for each team member.
Eligible partner countries for this SDG Challenge Call are: South Africa, Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Vietnam, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Sierra Leone.
Remote
Not specified
Teams will receive up to €300k and will work through a series of phases to develop their idea. An overall prize award of €1M will be awarded to the team that demonstrates the highest potential for transformative impact.
The SFI Future Innovator Prize consists of three phases: Concept, Seed and Prize Award, as summarised below. Funding should be allocated to the Team Lead/Team Co-Lead based in an eligible HEI in Ireland and also the Partner Country Team Co-Lead based in the partner country. Information on eligible costs and funding levels is available in the call document.
Applications must be submitted through SFI’s Grants Management System, SESAME. If accessing SESAME for the first time, researchers should contact their local Research Office to get access to the system.
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.
Please note that the Team Lead, Partner Country Team Co-Lead and Team Co-Lead must all use the CV Template provided below. The Societal Impact Champion may use a CV format of their choosing.
This post was last modified on August 8, 2022 5:55 pm