2050 Challenge
The 2050 Challenge seeks transformative, forward-looking solutions to Ireland becoming climate neutral and resilient by 2050.
Do you have an idea for a solution that could help Ireland become climate neutral and resilient by 2050?
The 2050 Challenge will support researchers to be part of the transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable and climate-neutral economy. 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.
It is an agile, fast-paced programme that allows research teams to work with societal stakeholders to deliver tangible impact through their research. In addition to funding, teams are provided with training and mentoring to support acceleration of an idea and to demonstrate how it can solve real-world problems. Participation has the potential to create significant career development and collaborative opportunities.
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.
The 2050 Challenge comprises of four phases: Concept, Seed, Grow and Prize Award. 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.
|
Phase |
No. Teams |
Duration (Months) |
Funding (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Concept |
12 |
6 |
50k |
|
Seed |
12 |
12 |
200k |
|
Grow |
4 |
12 |
500k |
|
Prize Award |
1 |
24 |
1M |
Ireland’s National Climate Objective commits to pursue and achieve, no later than 2050, Ireland’s transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable and climate-neutral economy. While many solutions already exist, there is an urgent need and opportunity for technological innovation to accelerate and navigate this transition to achieve this long-term ambition. This challenge is funded under Green Transition component of the National Challenge Fund.
As illustrative examples, the National Climate Action Plan and the Climate Change Advisory Council highlight the following areas where there is a need for technological innovation:
- Zero-/low-carbon fuels – scalable and sustainable alternative fuels (e.g., sustainable biofuels, synthetic fuels) for difficult-to-decarbonise areas such as freight transport, aviation and industry processes.
- Hydrogen – solutions associated with the clean generation, storage and safe usage of hydrogen to fully exploit Ireland’s potential advantage to produce and supply this clean fuel.
- Greenhouse gas removals – nature-based and technology solutions to sustainably capture, store and recycle GHGs from the atmosphere for complete decarbonisation of our society and to limit global temperature rises.
- Low-carbon construction materials – solutions to reduce the embodied carbon in the materials used in our built environment and to develop novel and sustainable alternatives.
- Energy storage – solutions to increase penetration of renewables, to enable deployment of electric vehicles and electrify difficult-to-decarbonise sectors such as aviation.
Solutions may be proposed in any sector and must demonstrate the potential for transformative impact in achieving Ireland’s transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable and climate-neutral economy.
This broad thematic call is the first of a number of calls that will seek solutions to support Ireland’s Green Transition. Applicants to this call are particularly encouraged to consider novel, forward-looking solutions that could contribute to meeting 2050 objectives.
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.