Research Ireland – Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge

Two overarching challenge areas will guide the collaborative engagement and research activity under this Call:

• The Energy System Integration Challenge will support the development of solutions to accelerate the optimisation and integration of renewable sources in Ireland’s energy system under two themes:
  • the integration of renewable gases at a local and regional level, and
  • the development of Artificial Intelligence-based solutions for intelligent gas network performance diagnostics.
• The Biomethane and Biohydrogen Challenge will support the development of solutions which improve the efficiency, efficacy and commercial viability of biomethane and biohydrogen production, including extraction and utilisation of the byproducts.

The solutions, and the underlying technologies proposed, should be innovative and advance the state of the art, and they should be informed by the current needs of the industry. The programme is intended to support pre-commercial/pre-deployment activities only, and as such development of existing products is not permitted.

Funding will be available for collaborative research teams based in eligible research bodies in Ireland. Successful teams will be awarded up to €200,000 and will work through a series of phases to develop their idea. An overall prize award of €1 million will be available to the team that demonstrates the highest potential for transformative impact. The prize will enable the winning team to continue development and explore deployment of their solution.

• To promote the development of new technologies that support the renewable gas industry; in the delivery of National and EU policies to achieve Ireland’s targets for carbon neutrality;
• To accelerate development and demonstration of technologies that have broad potential for utilisation by the renewable gas industry, and delivery of a positive impact nationally;
• To foster collaboration between Gas Networks Ireland, researchers and Research Bodies.

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 incentivise innovators. Research Ireland’s approach to challenge funding places strong emphasis on:

• Inter and trans-disciplinary teams reflecting the need to bring together experts and innovators from different disciplines to address complex challenges;
• Engagement and validation with stakeholders to understand the nature of specific problems, to test assumptions and to co-create solutions;
• Acceleration through efficient adaptation of approaches based on iterative engagement with stakeholders.

This Challenge will implement the challenge funding framework of the Research Ireland Future Innovator Prize Programme model. This model uses a combination of phase-gated grants, competition, an incentive prize, and strict timelines to direct research activities.

The programme comprises three phases: Concept, Seed and Prize Award with different durations and level of funding. Applications to the programme can request up to €200,000 in total direct costs over a duration of 18-months, 5 teams will be awarded for the initial Concept Phase. Further information on eligible costs and funding levels is available in the Call document.

From application review, 5 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
  • 12 months duration
  • award amount up to €150,000
  • includes team development; initial prototyping; deployment prep

1 winning team progresses to:

• Phase 3: Prize
  • 24 month duration
  • award amount up to €1 million
  • includes advanced prototyping; solution deployment plan; impact assessment

Applications to this Challenge Call must align with at least one of the specific challenge themes outlined below. Further detail and guidance on each theme are provided in the Call Document that should be considered in project design.

Under the Energy System Integration Challenge

• Theme 1: Optimisation of Energy System in Irish Context – To develop innovative approaches for optimisation of the energy system at either local or regional level with a focus on integration of renewable gaseous fuels such as biomethane or hydrogen.
• Theme 2: AI for Intelligent Gas Networks Performance Diagnostics – To develop AI techniques for intelligent gas network performance diagnostics to improve the performance, efficiency and flexibility of gas network systems and equipment.

Under the Biomethane and Biohydrogen Challenge

• Theme 3: Biomethane Production – To develop innovative technologies, methods, and approaches to improve the efficiency, efficacy, and commercial viability of biomethane production in an Irish context.
• Theme 4: Biohydrogen Production – To develop novel and innovative means of sustainable biohydrogen production in an Irish context.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to get in touch with GNI to discuss the alignment of their proposal ideas with the Challenge remit. Contact GNI at innovation@gasnetworks.ie

The Research Ireland – Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge is intended to support interdisciplinary and collaborative research teams, including both STEM and AHSS disciplines, as appropriate for the solutions proposed. It is expected that teams will encompass a range of technical and non-technical skills to address activities associated with problem understanding and solution development. Applications to the programme will be accepted from applicant teams comprising two researchers who are either at an established or a postdoctoral (incl. research fellowship) career stage and are based at an eligible research body. The core applicant team must comprise:

• Team Lead (Lead Applicant) will have responsibility for managing the activities of the team, will provide technical leadership and have overall responsibility for delivery of research programme objectives.
• Team Co-Lead (Co-Applicant) will provide research leadership as part of the research programme but may not have the same disciplinary background as that of the Team Lead.

Following successful application, a GNI Liaison will be assigned to work with the Team Lead and Co-Lead to provide organisational and operational insights as well as to support the team in understanding and validating problems, and the development of a 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 SESAME, grants management system.

Applicants should carefully review the call documentation including eligibility information before preparing an application.

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

Please note that the Team Lead and Team Co-Lead must all use the CV Template provided.