Deadline: 27 May 2020
The ‘Innovate Together’ Fund starts as a €5 million Fund which will focus on supporting innovative responses to the Covid-19 crisis that will also be part of the “new normal”.
They believe that innovation holds the key to addressing emerging social, economic and environmental needs in a sustainable manner. And as they begin to build a path to recovery, now is the time to come together to build an Ireland that they all want to work and live in. A country that is inclusive, equal and focused on sustainable solutions.
‘Innovate Together’ is a collaboration between Government, philanthropists and social innovations. The Fund is supported by a commitment of €5 million from the Department of Rural and Community Development through the support of the Dormant Accounts Fund. Social Innovation Fund Ireland pledges to raise additional significant philanthropic funds for this initiative.
What does the Fund offer?
- Cash grants starting at €20,000
- A business supports package
- A place on an online Accelerator Programme, which will be conducted through webinars
- Project performance management
Projects that are not eligible to apply are:
- Research projects.
- Projects seeking funding for capital assets (such as buildings, vans or equipment).
- Projects promoting or aligned with a political party.
- Projects that only accept participants of a particular faith or religious denomination.
- Projects based outside the Republic of Ireland.
- Projects led by people under 18 years of age.
- Projects that are an idea (only) and that have not yet started.
- Projects in receipt of other Government crisis funding.
Eligibility Criteria
The Fund will seek applications from projects achieving impact in:
- Enabling online education: providing primary and post-primary school students with access to technology hardware and any other necessary supports.
- Youth mental health interventions: delivering services in new ways or offering new types of services (intervention and prevention).
- Circular economy: solutions for the efficient re-use and recycling of materials.
- Improving food security: increasing independent food production for Ireland and reducing food imports.
- New ways of working remotely: The new ways of working are here to stay and innovations are needed to smooth the transition from office to working at home.
- Community outreach: finding new ways to reach and support vulnerable and marginalised groups.
- Re-skilling the workforce: with the shift in the economy and the potential closure of businesses, there is a need for re-training and re-education of workers.
- Physical health: online medical and physical health innovations.
Criteria
Projects must meet the criteria, outlined below, which are set by both Social Innovation Fund Ireland and the Innovate Together Fund.
- Social Innovation Fund Ireland Criteria
- The project must address a critical social or environmental issue.
- The project must be innovative in an Irish context.
- The project must be based in the Republic of Ireland.
- The project must have the potential and desire to scale or replicate in Ireland (it may also have potential internationally, but this is not a requirement).
- The project must provide evidence that it is up and running, or has been tested at least in a minimal way.
- Applicants must come from an entity that has a ‘not for profit’ legal form for example, a charity or voluntary organisation.
- Innovate Together Fund Criteria
- Innovations that are relevant to solving an emerging need arising from the current Covid-19 crisis and the recovery phase. This can mean either
- Meeting an increase in demand for an existing innovative service or product (for example extending a service from young people to older people as well)
- An alteration of an existing innovative service or product (for example taking a service online)
- An offering of a new innovative service or product.
- The innovation must work to effect change beyond our current experience of crisis, and can demonstrate that it should be part of the “new normal” in Ireland.
For more information, visit http://www.socialinnovation.ie/innovate-together/
