Research Ireland Cyber Security Innovation Challenge

Challenge funding is a solution-focused approach to address complex problems via research. It focuses on finding the most innovative and impactful solutions using competitive processes to direct research activities. Research Ireland’s approach to challenge funding places strong emphasis on: 

• Inter and Transdisciplinary Teams, reflecting the need to bring together experts and innovators from different disciplines to address complex challenges  

• Engagement & Validation with stakeholders to understand the nature of specific problems, to test assumptions and to co-create solutions;   
• Impact Pathways demonstrating efficient adaptation of approaches that will lead to socially and economically relevant change.  

A brief overview of each Challenge Area is provided below. Further details can be found in the Call Document. 

Challenge Area 1: Advancing National Cyber Threat Detection and Response seeks innovative approaches that strengthen Ireland’s ability to detect, analyse and respond to cyber threats across complex and evolving digital environments. Applicants are invited to propose novel tools, methods, frameworks or systems that improve cyber situational awareness, support effective threat detection and response, and enhance operational cyber resilience across organisations and sectors. 

Challenge Area 2: Securing Ireland’s Transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography seeks innovative solutions that support Ireland’s preparedness for the transition to quantum-resistant cybersecurity capabilities. Applicants are invited to propose approaches that improve understanding of quantum-related cyber risks, support migration planning, strengthen organisational readiness, or enable the secure adoption of post-quantum cryptographic systems. 

Challenge Area 3: Strengthening SME Cyber Resilience and Preparedness seeks innovative approaches that improve the cybersecurity capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Ireland. Applicants are invited to propose novel tools, services, frameworks or interventions that strengthen cyber awareness, risk management, preparedness, governance, incident response and recovery, while recognising the diverse needs and operating contexts of SMEs. 

Challenge Area 4: Enhancing Cyber Resilience of Critical National Infrastructure seeks solutions that strengthen the resilience, preparedness and recovery capabilities of Ireland’s critical infrastructure and essential services. Applicants are invited to propose innovative approaches that improve cyber risk management, infrastructure resilience, monitoring, incident response, continuity planning, cross-sector coordination or decision-support capabilities. 

Challenge Area 5: Disruptive Ideas welcomes bold, unconventional and cross-cutting proposals that may not align directly with the challenge areas above. Applicants are invited to explore emerging cybersecurity challenges and opportunities facing Ireland across technical, operational, societal, economic, behavioural, legal and policy dimensions. Particular encouragement is given to innovative proposals from the social sciences, arts and humanities, as well as interdisciplinary approaches that bring new perspectives to national cyber resilience and preparedness. 

Applicants intending to submit a proposal under the Disruptive Ideas Challenge must email challenges@researchireland.ie by 17:00 on 30th November 2026 to notify their intention to apply. This notification should include the information outlined in call document. This step will enable the Programme Team to assess the availability of a NCSC Subject Matter Expert to support both the pre-application engagement stage and, if awarded, the project. The intention to apply will not be assessed as part of the application review process. 

The Research Ireland-Cyber Security Innovation Challenge comprises three phases: Concept, Seed and Prize Award. Applications to the programme can request up to €250,000 in total direct costs over a duration of 24-months. Further information on eligible costs and funding levels is available in the Call Document.   

From application review, 8 teams progress to:  

Phase 1: Concept  

• 6 months duration  
• Award amount up to €50,000  
• Includes team formation; validation of challenge and solution concept; impact pathway  

Phase 2: Seed  

• 18 months duration, with Seed Phase review at 12 months to select Prize winner 
• Award amount up to €200,000  
• Includes team development; initial prototyping; deployment prep  

1 winning team progresses to:  

Phase 3: Prize  

• 24 months duration  
• Award amount up to €1 million  
• Includes advanced prototyping; solution deployment plan; impact assessment  

The Research Ireland-Cyber Security Innovation Challenge is intended to support interdisciplinary and collaborative research teams, including from both STEM and AHSS disciplines, committed to developing transformative and sustainable solutions aligned with the challenge areas outlined in the Call Document. Applications to the programme will be accepted from applicant teams comprising two researchers who are either members of academic staff or contract researchers at an Eligible Research Body and hold a PhD. Further details on eligibility criteria are available in the Call Document. 

Applications to the Research Ireland-Cyber Security Innovation Challenge must identify a core applicant/leadership team comprising: 

• Team Lead (Lead Applicant) will have responsibility for managing the activities of the team, will provide research leadership and have overall responsibility for delivery of research programme objectives.  

• Team Co-Lead (Co-lead Applicant) will provide leadership as part of the research programme and should bring complementary technical/disciplinary expertise to that of the Team Lead. 

Following successful application, am NCSC Liaison will be assigned to work with the team lead and co-lead. The NCSC Liaison will be an integral part of the team and will provide insights, expertise and operational context to support the team in understanding and validating the challenge, engaging with stakeholders, and developing and testing their proposed solution. 

Successful teams will have an opportunity to build a broader challenge team as the development of their solution(s) require.  

Applications must be submitted through Research Ireland’s Grants Management System SESAME. SESAME will be open for applications from 7th October 2026.  

Applicants must use the templates provided and adhere to all guidelines provided in the Call Document.  

The Team Lead and Team Co-Lead must all use the CV Template provided and adhere to Narrative CV Guidelines. 

An Information Webinar will take place on 22nd October 2026 14:00 (Irish Local Time).

Link to registerLink to register

A recording of the webinar will be available in this space.

Open Days organised by Research Ireland, and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will provide potential applicants with an opportunity to engage with NCSC stakeholders and subject matter experts and gain insights into each Challenge area covered by the call. Engagement with NCSC stakeholders is an important component of applications to the programme, and the Open Days are intended to help inform and strengthen prospective proposals.  

Two Open Days will be held, each covering a different set of Challenge areas and featuring briefings from relevant NCSC stakeholders.  

Registration is mandatory to attend the Open Days. The full schedule for each Open Day will be shared with registered attendees following registration. 

Registration deadline: To be confirmed 

Registration link: To be confirmed