https://www.hrb.ie/funding/funding-schemes/funding-updates/funding-news-and-updates-story/article/grant-updates-june-2022/

Each project is required to:

• Identify a lead HEI partner in Ireland that will fulfil the role of admin institution.
• Identify a primary contact in admin institution in Ireland. 
• Identify a lead HEI partner in Northern Ireland.

 Each project may (but not required):

• Identify lead HEI/organisations in Ireland and/or in Northern Ireland as partners 
• Identify partners from outside of higher education and research (welcomed but not required)
• Identify additional partners from outside of Ireland and outside of Northern Ireland 

The lead investigators and/or team lead/s applying to the North-South research Funding Programme must be, at a minimum, two years post PhD. They must have been awarded their doctoral degrees no later than 31st December 2019. For this condition, the date of graduation (conferral) should be taken into account. If the lead has not yet graduated, all the requirements for the award of a doctoral degree, including the submission of the hardbound corrected thesis, must be complete within the required timeline. Please see FAQs for further detail on eligibility.

Project Abstract (300 words max)

This should be a succinct and accurate summary of the proposed work when read in isolation.

Lay Abstract * (300 words max)

This should be a succinct and accurate summary in lay, non-technical language of the proposed work when separated from the application. It should provide a clear understanding of the objectives of the proposal and how they will be achieved. Please be advised that the lay abstract will be used for dissemination purposes and therefore please be mindful to use accessible language to engage all audiences. It will be used as the short description of the proposal in the assessment process.

Identify and outline how this project will address one or more of the key principles and the specific programme criteria for the Collaborative North-South Funding Programme 2021. *(100 words max)

Identify and outline mechanisms which will assist in the understanding of cultural diversities eg. inter community engagement /public/cross community engagement. *(100 words max)

Identify and outline how the proposed project will address and/or complement one or more of the following: - The Shared Island Initiative, - Institutional research strategy, Horizon Europe mission based approach to research, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) * (150 words max)

Define the aims of the proposal * (100 words max)

Define the objectives of the proposal * (100 words max)

Expected outputs and outcomes * (100 words max)

The potential impacts and benefits of the proposal. The outputs are clearly identified as the planned activities based on the allocation of resources. Outcomes are the anticipated short-term results of the research project and its outputs. Note: Proposals should make a commitment to making data and other types of research, open and accessible and this commitment should be evidenced in the proposal in section 3 and/or 4 or elsewhere as relevant.

Design, methodology and implementation section (3.2) of the application:

This section is uploaded as a separate file.

Define and provide details of the project design and the proposal’s implementation plan demonstrating that it will address the key principles of the programme and the specific funding criteria as set out in the Call Document. Include the following:

• A description of the proposal to include a brief literature review 
• Plan specifics including work packages with clearly identified SMART deliverables (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound)
• A clear description of the proposed project methodology which points to its credibility and feasibility.
• A GANTT chart may be uploaded to support the description.
• Specification of milestones, output measures, indicators and evidence which will be used to monitor the performance and progress of the proposal and where relevant a description of how the project’s sustainability is to be maintained.
• A clear demonstration of mechanisms which will assist in the understanding of cultural diversities. (inter community engagement /public/cross community engagement)
• A clear description of the proposal’s implementation plan for how it will contribute to achieving the goals and objectives of national and institutional research strategy and the objectives of the Shared Island initiative and national alignment with Horizon Europe’s mission-based approach and/or one or more of the United Nation’s SDGs.
• Demonstrate that proposers have given full consideration to whether there is a potential sex and/or gender dimension in their proposed research. Where applicants have indicated that there is no sex/gender dimension to their research, they must justify this assertion.

Benefits of the Proposed Collaboration * (1000 words max)

• Demonstrate how both the quality of the proposal being presented and the outcomes expected through the proposed collaboration and partnership will address the key principles of the programme and the specific funding criteria.
• Detail the external partnership to demonstrate how a deep and meaningful collaboration will be facilitated. Include details of how the project will impact on the education and research sectors North and South and on the substance, level, and quality of research collaboration including the adequacy and specificity of arrangements for formal governance, management, financial and risk management and co-ordination of the work.
• Mechanisms which will assist in the understanding of cultural diversities (inter community engagement /public/cross community engagement).
• Describe how the proposal will develop sustainable collaboration.
• Describe the project’s long-term impacts/ structures/ networks and where relevant, demonstrate plans for sustainability beyond the life of the scheme.
• In relation to the proposed research (in particular, where strategic or applied and where eligible for support under this scheme), describe plans for the use / application of the research. In addition, identify any source and amount of any additional external financial or other support being provided. Include any relevant information regarding the TRL status of the application of the research or the expected TRL status of the application of the research arising from any support that may be provided through this funding call and the identified source of external funding.

Define why this consortium is an appropriate mix of HEI(s) and partners (where relevant) to undertake this proposal. * (1000 words max)

In this section, proposers are asked to provide high-level description of a data management plan for the proposed project. 

Please provide a high-level data management plan for the proposed project. (1000 words max)

Separate Budget File to be uploaded

In this section, proposers are asked to provide a clear breakdown of the total funding being requested for the proposed projects using the draft template provided here. Clear justification for the budget must be provided.  

The objectives of the programme can be further clarified through the following specific criteria associated with the proposed programme:

• The proposal should be of a standard to be deemed of high quality on review by peers and to have merit on review by the Assessment Panel;
• The discipline/research area proposed must be an area where the lead investigators/team leads/ partnering institutions must have established, and demonstrate, some strength/track record OR capacity to perform in an associated new and emerging area;
• Proposals must have a demonstrable impact on the education sectors with regard to a) quality of research work and outputs, b) illustration of the feedback into the teaching and learning domain and c) the building up of research capabilities in specific research areas on the island as a whole;
• Proposals should support the achievement of, and deliver outputs relating to, the goals and objectives of national and institutional research strategy; the objectives of the Shared Island initiative; national alignment with Horizon Europe’s mission-based approach and/or one or more of the United Nation’s SDGs.
• Proposals should be made with reference to the strengthening of current North/South higher education collaborations or for the establishment of new collaborations with agreed joint programmes and project management processes;
• Proposals must also demonstrate the mechanisms which will be used to develop mutual understanding of cultural diversities and aid the process of reconciliation on the island as a whole;
• Proposals must demonstrate the contribution to achieving the goals and objectives of the research strategy of the lead institution.

All proposals must be signed by the President/VP/Director of Research or the appropriate office holder in this regard within the host institution(s).