Deadline: 25-May-2026
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland has launched its 2026 Research Call to support policy-relevant environmental and climate research addressing key sustainability challenges in Ireland. The call offers up to €10.5 million in total funding, with medium-scale projects typically funded between €330,000 and €660,000 depending on the topic, and proposals are due by 28 May 2026 at 16:00 Irish Standard Time.
What is the EPA Research Call 2026?
The EPA Research Call 2026 is a major funding opportunity under Ireland’s long-term environmental research programme, designed to support innovative research projects that generate evidence for policy, regulation, and decision-making.
The call aims to strengthen Ireland’s capacity to respond to urgent challenges across:
- Climate change
- Environmental health
- Green and circular economy
- Natural ecosystems
- Governance and regulation
The EPA specifically encourages multi- and trans-disciplinary teams to address complex environmental issues with practical, policy-relevant outcomes.
Funding Information
Total Funding Available
- Total call budget: Up to €10.5 million
Typical Project Funding
Based on the call themes described, individual projects are generally funded at:
- Up to €330,000
- Up to €660,000
Depending on the topic and research scope. The EPA has publicly highlighted 2026 as a call for larger-scale projects compared with some previous rounds.
Project Duration
Your summary indicates projects may run for 2 to 4 years, which aligns with the EPA’s established model of medium-scale projects and its emphasis on larger, more ambitious projects in 2026. The EPA announcement confirms larger-scale project support, though exact topic-by-topic durations should be checked in the official call documents.
Research Themes
The 2026 call invites proposals across the following broad areas:
- Policy Implementation, Effective Regulation and Innovative Governance Models
- Addressing Climate Change Evidence Needs
- Delivering a Healthy Environment
- Facilitating a Green and Circular Economy
- Protecting and Restoring our Natural Environment
Examples of Priority Topics Mentioned by EPA
The EPA has highlighted research opportunities such as:
- Bringing mitigation and adaptation together
- Improving cross-sectoral governance in climate adaptation
- Understanding antimicrobial resistance in the environment
- Accelerating the transition to a circular economy
- Supporting environmental protection while improving infrastructure delivery and regulation
Who Can Apply?
The EPA states that its research calls are open to all types of organisations within Ireland. This generally includes:
- Higher education institutions
- Research-performing organisations
- Private companies
- Non-governmental organisations
- Other eligible bodies able to carry out the proposed research
Applicants must be registered on the EPA’s online Grant Application and Project Management system before submitting.
Co-Funding Opportunities
The 2026 call includes co-funding partnerships, notably with:
- Met Éireann
Projects aligned with shared priorities may receive co-support under these partnership arrangements.
Important Dates
Confirmed Timeline
- Call opening: 2 April 2026
- Proposal submission deadline: 28 May 2026 (16:00 Irish Standard Time)
- Award of new projects: November/December 2026
- Publication of 2026 awards: February 2027
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the EPA’s online Grant Application and Project Management system.
The EPA also notes that proposals must be submitted against one of the themes/topics included in the official call documentation, so applicants should carefully review:
- Technical description documents
- Guidelines and terms and conditions
- Evaluation process
- FAQs
- Portal user guidance
The EPA’s official research call page and portal are the right starting points for submission preparation.
What Makes a Strong Proposal?
A strong EPA Research Call application should clearly show:
- Strong alignment with a specific call topic
- Direct relevance to Irish environmental policy needs
- Clear contribution to evidence-based decision-making
- Interdisciplinary or cross-sectoral approach where relevant
- Strong methodology and realistic delivery plan
- Practical policy or implementation value
- Potential to address major knowledge gaps in:
- Climate mitigation and adaptation
- Environmental health
- Circular economy systems
- Soil, peatlands, water, biodiversity, or governance
Because the EPA emphasizes policy impact, proposals should not be purely academic—they should show how findings can support real-world regulation, planning, or sustainability outcomes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common issues:
- Applying without closely matching a specific theme/topic
- Writing a proposal that is too broad and not clearly policy-relevant
- Ignoring topic budget caps
- Missing portal registration or submission steps
- Failing to explain how the research addresses Irish environmental priorities
- Not showing implementation or evidence-use potential
- Overlooking co-funding alignment opportunities (such as Met Éireann)
FAQ
1. What is the EPA Research Call 2026?
It is a major Irish funding call from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supporting environmental, climate, and sustainability research that informs policy and decision-making.
2. How much funding is available?
The total available budget is up to €10.5 million.
3. How much can one project receive?
Depending on the theme and topic, projects are typically eligible for up to €330,000 or up to €660,000. Your summary reflects these topic-based caps, and the EPA confirms the 2026 round supports larger-scale projects.
4. Who can apply?
EPA Research Calls are open to all types of organisations within Ireland, including universities, research organisations, companies, and NGOs, provided they meet the call requirements and submit through the EPA portal.
5. What are the main research themes?
The call covers:
- Policy and governance
- Climate change evidence needs
- Healthy environment
- Green and circular economy
- Natural environment protection and restoration
6. What is the application deadline?
The proposal submission deadline is 28 May 2026 at 16:00 Irish Standard Time.
7. Is there any co-funding support?
Yes. The EPA has confirmed Met Éireann as a co-funding partner for relevant projects in the 2026 call.
Conclusion
The EPA Research Call 2026 is a significant opportunity for researchers and organisations in Ireland to secure funding for high-impact, policy-relevant environmental and climate research.
With up to €10.5 million available, support for larger-scale projects, and a strong focus on evidence that can shape Irish environmental policy and sustainability outcomes, this call is particularly valuable for applicants working at the intersection of science, governance, and practical environmental action.
For more information, visit EPA.