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Research Ireland Empower Programme

Open

/

25 Sept 2026 / 25 Sept 2026

Deadline

6th November 2026, 13:00 (local Irish time)

Duration

72 months

Important Dates

Upcoming
Deadline
Upcoming
Notifications
Upcoming
Grant start date

The Research Ireland Empower Programme is a new initiative that provides a recurring, predictable and flexible mechanism for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to implement their institutional research and innovation strategies.

It is a new form of competitive funding offered by Research Ireland where each institution will have measurable autonomy to allocate the funding they receive in a way that they deem most appropriate to support their strategic goals and priorities. A key focus of the new Empower programme will be the support of PhD Studentships and Postdoctoral Fellowships.

This is an invited call only. The programme is open to applications from the 18 HEIs that are also eligible to apply to the INSPIRE programme. An invitation letter to apply to Empower has been issued to each relevant President/Provost/ (or equivalent) settting out the details of funding that can be applied for by their HEI. Only one application can be submitted by each eligible HEI, and this must be submitted by a Vice President for Research, Dean of Research, or equivalent authorised

The specific objectives of the Empower programme are:

  • Develop excellent research talent across all disciplines– To develop a sustainable pipeline of excellent doctoral and postdoctoral researchers across all disciplines, supporting discovery research and strengthening Ireland’s long-term research and innovation capability.
  • Strengthen institutional research and innovation capability– To strengthen the capacity of HEIs to deliver their research and innovation strategies through strategic investment in research talent, capability and research environments.
  • Enhance researcher development and research culture– To provide researchers with high-quality training, mentorship, support and research environments that foster excellence, collaboration, inclusivity and responsible research practices.
  • Build a more resilient, innovative and connected research ecosystem– To strengthen the effectiveness and sustainability of Ireland’s research ecosystem through coordinated institutional investment.

The Empower programme is open to applications from the 18 eligible HEIs listed below only:

  • Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
  • Dublin City University (DCD)
  • Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS)
  • Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT)
  • Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT)
  • Mary Immaculate College (MIC)
  • Maynooth University (MU)
  • Munster Technological University (MTU)
  • National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
  • RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences (RCSI)
  • South East Technological University (SETU)
  • Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
  • Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS)
  • Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
  • University College Cork (UCC)
  • University College Dublin (UCD)
  • University of Galway (UoG)
  • University of Limerick (UL)

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