Trinity researchers to receive Grow Phase funding under the National Challenge Fund

Posted on: 31 July 2024

Trinity researchers are among the first nine teams that will receive a total of €4.5 million in Grow Phase funding under the €65 million National Challenge Fund – a competitive programme aiming to deliver solutions for major environmental and societal issues. 

The Trinity teams, announced today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, are as follows:  

• Prof. Aonghus McNabola, Professor in Energy and the Environment at the Dept of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, co-lead Prof Mary Kelly Quinn, University College Dublin, for SubScrewHydro - low-cost fish-friendly micro hydropower energy storage. 

• Dr Séamus O’Shaughnessy, Mechanical Engineer, Trinity College Dublin, co-lead Dr Daniel Trimble, Trinity College Dublin, for DRIVE – improving thermal management of batteries in electric vehicles. 

Funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Fund calls on researchers to identify problems related to Ireland’s Green Transition and Digital Transformation and work directly with those most affected to solve them. 

Minister O’Donovan said “I am pleased to announce the first cohort of the National Challenge Fund project teams that are now finalists in this competition-based funding programme. This innovative, solutions-focused programme is a key driver in delivering research and innovation that makes a real and positive impact across society, the economy, and the environment – not just here in Ireland, but across Europe and around the world.” 

“I look forward to following the progress these teams of leading researchers make over the next 12 months as they continue to progress their projects that will unlock the transformational potential of digital technologies and support Ireland’s commitment to becoming climate neutral. I am working to ensure continuity on funding calls previously run by SFI and IRC over the coming months, as Research Ireland – Taighde Éireann commences its operations.” 

Since its launch, 96 teams have been funded through the National Challenge Fund, and today’s announcement sees the first nine teams become finalists in this competitive funding model. The nine teams selected today will have the opportunity for additional funding in the final phase of the programme, where prize funding of €1 million will be on offer to the most competitive teams under both the 2050 and the Future Digital Challenges. 

The National Challenge Fund supports academic researchers to work with government, enterprise, public sector organisations and societal stakeholders to address national priorities for Ireland. This fund is coordinated and administered by Science Foundation Ireland The initiative addresses key national challenges in the areas of Green Transition and Digital Transformation and consists of eight challenges (five Green and three Digital). 

ENDS 

• Tags:
• Awards and Funding
• Innovation
• Research
• Science
• Sustainability