About Irish Aid SDG Challenge
Applications are now open for the 2024 Irish Aid SDG Challenge.The SDG Challenge supports transdisciplinary teams in developing sustainable solutions to address development challenges under the UN SDGs in Irish Aid’s target countries.
Solutions must demonstrate context-specific expected impact in one of Irish Aid’s partner countries, but applicants are encouraged to consider broader opportunities where solutions can have a greater impact and foster learning for regional and sub-regional use.
Funding is available for collaborative research teams based in eligible research institutions in Ireland and partner countries.
Successful teams will be awarded up to €300k and will work through a series of phases to develop their idea. An overall prize award of €1M will be available to the team that demonstrates the highest potential for transformative impact.
Irish Aid SDG Challenge Requirements
The Irish Aid 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 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 relevant knowledge or experience in complementary areas such as, for example, international development, economics, behavioral science or others, in order to inform the development, translation (incl. adoption) and impact of solutions.
As part of the Irish Aid SDG Challenge
application, two academic researchers (at least one from a relevant STEM discipline) must be identified as part of the core-team.
Funding should be allocated appropriately to reflect the various contributions to the team.
Phase Funding & Duration
The SFI Future Innovator Prize consists of three phases: Concept, Seed and Prize Award, as summarized 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.
| Phase | Funding (Direct) | Duration (Months) |
| Concept | €50k | 6 |
| Seed | €250k | 12 |
| Prize | €1M | 24 |
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