Strategic research funding partnerships
SEAI provide funding through strategic and collaborative partnerships with other national and international funding agencies. Below we provide an overview of these funding opportunities.
Co-funding partnerships for SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Call
Annual Call
Since 2018, the SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Programme has established co-funding partnerships with:
- Government Departments: Department of Transport; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- State Agencies & Organisations: Gas Networks Ireland; Geological Survey Ireland; Marine Institute; Met Éireann; National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Energy Sector Partners: ESB Generation; ESB Networks
These partnerships have significantly enhanced the quality, relevance, and impact of funded research by enabling collaborative topic
development and resource sharing.
- 34 projects co-funded
- Research fields include: Bioeconomy & Bioenergy; Geothermal Energy; Transport; Offshore/Ocean Energy; Weather Forecasting; Power Generation and Biodiversity.
Clean Energy Transition Partnership Call
The CETPartnership aims to empower the clean energy transition and contribute to the EU's goal of becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, by pooling national and regional RDTI funding for a broad variety of technologies and system solutions required to make the transition.
The total available budget is more than €140million across all national and regional funding partners and European Commission (EC) co-funding. There is €0.5million available through SEAI to support Irish participants. SEAI will fund a maximum of €250,000 per project.
To cover different topics and RDI types, the Call is structured into Call Modules. They vary in thematic scope and Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).
For more information on the call please visit CET Partnerships webpage.
Please refer to the SEAI CETPartnership Joint Call 2025 Information Document to find out more.
Applicants based in Ireland should refer to the CETPartnership Joint Call 2025 funding agencies table to review the call modules supported by other Irish agencies. To apply for funding through Research Ireland, please refer directly to their respective requirements and webpage for further information.
If applying for SEAI funding, please give a brief notification of your intent to submit a pre-proposal through email to [email protected] before the submission deadline.
Within the notification, please include the following information:
- SEAI Lead Applicant
- Total Budget request to SEAI
- List of project partners
- Call Module
| Key dates | |
|---|---|
| Call open date – pre-proposals | 11th June 2025 |
| Deadline for pre-proposal submission | 14.00 (CET) Thursday 9th October 2025 |
| Opening for full proposal submission | 9th January 2026 |
| Deadline for full proposal submission | 12th March 2026 |
| National application to SEAI | 12:00 noon Thursday 19th March 2026 |
Research Ireland Funding Programmes
SEAI is proud to be a co-funding partner for energy related projects on a selection of Research Ireland programmes including:
Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme
The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme provides opportunities for independent investigators to conduct highly innovative, collaborative research with the potential to deliver impact, whilst also providing opportunities for high-risk, high-reward research projects.
Research Ireland Infrastructure Programme
The Research Ireland Infrastructure Programme supports the research community in building and sustaining essential resources to conduct high-quality, innovative research across all disciplines. This programme recognises that robust research infrastructure is fundamental to advancing knowledge that contributes to Ireland’s cultural, social, environmental and economic development.
Ulysses
The aim of the Ulysses scheme is to foster new collaborations between Ireland and France-based researchers by providing seed funding for reciprocal travel visits. The scheme thus facilitates the exchange of innovative ideas and approaches across all disciplines. Applications
meeting the eligibility criteria will be accepted from both Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Arts, Humanities and Social Science (AHSS) scholars in any discipline.
SEAI and ADEME, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, provide support to research projects exploring topics relating to sustainable energies.
Research Ireland Pathway Programme
The Pathway Programme supports talented postdoctoral researchers from all research disciplines to develop their track record and transition to become independent research leaders.
The programme welcomes research proposals from any discipline within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS). Applications of an interdisciplinary nature which draw together insights and approaches from one or more research disciplines will also be welcomed.
Research Ireland Public Sector Fellowship Programme
The Public Service Fellowship Programme is an initiative that offers researchers a unique opportunity to be temporarily seconded to Government Departments and Agencies (Host Organisations) to work on specific projects where they can add value resulting in mutually beneficial outcomes.
SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Call
The SEAI National Energy Research Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Funding Programme run an annual call which invests in innovative energy RD&D projects which contribute to Ireland's transition to a clean and secure energy future.
About the callContact us
For any queries, please email: [email protected]