Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

2694. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding sources available for individuals or companies working on development new and innovative sources of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45063/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Multiple funding streams and support mechanisms are available for developing innovative renewable energy solutions.

Research Ireland offers an extensive portfolio of competitive funding programmes supporting researchers across the spectrum of their research careers. Many programmes specifically support renewable energy research, including PhD and early career programmes, Challenge funding, EU-specific funding calls and large-scale funding awards for Research Centres. Below is an overview of the most relevant of these:

- Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme and Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme.

- Research Ireland Investigators Programme.

- Research Ireland – Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge.

- EU Clean Energy Transition Partnership.

- EPSRC – Research Ireland Joint Funding of Research.

- New Foundations.

- Research Ireland Pathway Programme.

- Research Ireland Enterprise Fellowships.

The following Research Ireland Centres may also provide PhD and Principal Investigator Opportunities:

- MaREI Research Ireland Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy hosted at UCC.

- BiOrbic Research Ireland Centre for the Bioeconomy hosted at UCD.

In addition, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, through Enterprise Ireland, provides targeted support for indigenous enterprises engaging in research, development and innovation activities.

The Enterprise Ireland RDI programmes offer comprehensive assistance to companies developing new products and services. A number of these programmes, whether direct RDI grants to Enterprise Ireland clients, or funding for collaborative RDI activity between industry and academia, may also be applicable.