Deadline: 21-Oct-22
The Science Foundation Ireland is seeking applications for Future Digital Challenge to realise transformational societal and economic impact from disruptive digital technologies.
The Future Digital Challenge will support researchers in creating disruptive digital technologies that will lead to new digital products, processes or services that will unlock transformational societal and economic impact for Ireland.
The National Challenge Fund was established under the Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The fund is coordinated and administered by Science Foundation Ireland.
Areas of Interest
- Applications that identify challenges from any sector are welcome, however, particular focus should be placed on sectors where digitalisation can bring transformational opportunity. Such areas may include (along with illustrative examples of high-level research questions):
- Science and Knowledge Creation – How can digital technologies, such as AI, be applied to accelerate how new knowledge is created? How can the democratisation of scientific knowledge and data be advanced?
- Manufacturing, Value Chains and Logistics – How can digital technologies increase the competitiveness of the Irish manufacturing sector? How can supply chains be made more adaptive and sustainable?
- Construction, Buildings and Cities – Can digital technologies increase the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the construction sector? How should buildings be designed to better suit their future needs? How can they better design cities?
- Agriculture – How can digital technologies increase the productivity and reduce the environmental impact of the agriculture sector?
- Transportation – How can route planning be optimised to reduce the emissions from transportation modes? How can public transport be made more accessible and efficient using digital technologies?
- Energy and Natural Resource Management – How can energy demands be predicted more reliably, and renewable energy integrated more efficiently and effectively? How can natural capital quantification be undertaken more efficiently using digital technologies?
This challenge is funded under the Digital Transformation component of the National Challenge Fund.
Funding Information
- Participation in the challenge will involve teams progressing through phases, each supporting further development of the challenge concept and solution, to compete for an overall Prize Award of €1M.
What are they looking for?
- The Future Digital Challenge aims to support ambitious ideas to develop cutting edge digital solutions that will unlock transformational societal and economic impact for Ireland. Examples of potential areas of interest are science, manufacturing, construction & housing, agriculture, transport, energy.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications are welcome from teams of academic researchers based at eligible Irish research bodies. Teams are strongly encouraged to consider including researchers from different and diverse disciplines, at all career stages.
- Applications should be submitted by two academic researchers who will act as team lead and co-lead. In addition, it is strongly recommended that applications identify a Societal Impact Champion to act in a non-technical leadership role. Where a Societal Impact Champion is not identified at the time of application, teams successful in their applications will be expected to have the Societal Impact Champion in place soon after their award commences.
- Postdoctoral, early career or established researchers may lead teams in the Future Digital Challenge. Teams will consist of a minimum of two academic researchers with complementary skillsets. At the application or during the first phase of the award, teams must also include a third member who will bring specific knowledge or experience of the societal challenge the team will address.
For more information, visit https://www.sfi.ie/funding/funding-calls/future-digital-challenge/