Slides of the Webinar for Applicants - EPA Research Call 2022 (4th May 2022)

1. Webinar for Applicants
EPA Research Call 2022
4th May 2022
The webinar will start at 11.30am

2. Webinar for Applicants
EPA Research Call 2022
4th May 2022
Presenters:
EPA Research: Alice Wemaere, Kevin
Woods & Lisa Sheils
Smith & Williamson: Damien Kealy

3. Webinar Agenda
❖ Introduction to EPA Research 2030
❖ Overview of the EPA Research Call 2022
❖ Application Process and Timeline
❖ Application Guidance
❖ Financial Rules and Eligibility
❖ Q&A
Use the Chat
function to post
your Questions

4. Housekeeping
❖ This event is being recorded
❖ Recording will be made available after the event
❖ Attendees are muted with Cameras off
❖ Questions will be answered during the Q&A. Use the Chat
function to post your questions.
❖ Chat messages are visible to all

5. EPA Research 2030 is…
A Framework for EPA Research
Programming 2021-2030
Focused on achieving environmental
objectives, informing policy and
bringing together researchers and
research users
Designed to be agile, responsive and
flexible
Introduction to EPA
Research 2030

6. To Deliver Impactful Research
Introduction to EPA
Research 2030

7. With an Integrated Approach
Introduction to EPA
Research 2030

8. https://www.epa.ie/our-services/research/epa--research-funding/
Introduction to EPA
Research 2030

9. Overview of the EPA
Research Call 2022

10. Co-Funders
Overview of the EPA
Research Call 2022

11. https://www.epa.ie/our-services/research/epa--
research-funding/epa-research-call/
Overview of the EPA
Research Call 2022

12. 2 Open Topics
Select most appropriate project type, duration and budget
within the maximum duration and budget indicated in call
technical documentation
Our understanding of the environmental dimension of AMR
(Delivering a Healthy Environment 2022 Call Topic 11)
Use of data - Copernicus for environmental monitoring &
assessment (Protecting and Restoring Our Natural Environment
2022 Call Topic 6)
Overview of the EPA
Research Call 2022

13. Step-1: Read the call documents!
Application Process &
Timeline

14. https://www.epa.ie/our-services/research/epa--
research-funding/epa-research-call/
Application Process &
Timeline

15. Choose the correct Call Topic
Reference on the EPA’s Grant
Application system to create a
Draft Application – Eligibility
Criterion
Context, policy relevance
and research/knowledge
gaps that the project aims
to address
Indicate the
project type
Maximum budget which can
be requested and Maximum
duration of the project -
Eligibility Criteria
Scope to be addressed by the
project
Your proposal must clearly
demonstrate how your project will
build on existing/past
research/activities
Application Process &
Timeline

16. Terms and Conditions for
Support of Grant Awards
• Funding
• EPA Requirements for
Grantees
• Adjustment to Costings
• Reporting, Monitoring and
Accounting
• Payment of the grant
• Project
Completion/Termination
• Notices
• Transfer and Assignment
• Indemnity
• Data Protection
• Other
Guidance for Applicants
• Overview of the
Application Process
• Summary of Project Types
and Funding Scales
• Budget & Financial
Eligibility Rules
• Grant Award
Guidance for Grantees
• Payment of the Research
Grant
• Project Management
• Deviation from the Original
Proposal
• Project Outputs and
Deliverables
Application Process &
Timeline

17. Terms and Conditions for
Support of Grant Awards
• Funding
• EPA Requirements for
Grantees
• Adjustment to Costings
• Reporting, Monitoring and
Accounting
• Payment of the grant
• Project
Completion/Termination
• Notices
• Transfer and Assignment
• Indemnity
• Data Protection
• Other
Other Information
• Intellectual Property
• Research Integrity
• Freedom of Information Act
• Personal Information
• Open Access of Publications
and Data
• Ethical and Gender Issues
• Further Information
Appendix I – Glossary of
Terms
Application Process &
Timeline

18. Application Process &
Timeline
Do not “recycle”
old templates as
they may have
changed

19. Process
Submit
Proposal
Approve
Proposal
Eligibility Check
Evaluation
Step-1:
Scientific
Evaluation
Evaluation
Step-2:
National
Overview
EPA Board
Approval
Notification Negotiations Award
Authorise
Reject
Send for revisions
Application Process &
Timeline

20. Timeline
Date Deadline Type
Thursday 14th April 2022 at 11:00 Call opening
Wednesday 25th May 2022 at 17:00
Deadline for queries relating to the
technical contents of this call
Wednesday 1st June at 17:00 Submission deadline
Wednesday 8th June 2022 at 17:00 Approval deadline
June/September 2022 Evaluation process
September/October 2022 Notification of Applicants
October/November 2022 Negotiation
November/December 2022 Grant award of successful projects
By 31st March 2023 Start of successful projects
Application Process &
Timeline

21. Eligibility Check
✓All applications must be created and submitted by the Lead Applicants
✓Lead Applicant is from an organisation located on the island of Ireland
✓Correct Call Topic Reference used
✓Correct templates used
✓Maximum Budget
✓Maximum Duration
Application Process &
Timeline

22. Step-1: Scientific Evaluation
3 Criteria
1) Excellence (Threshold: 600/1000)
2) Communication, Dissemination and Knowledge
Transfer to Deliver Impact (Threshold: 600/1000)
3) Implementation (Threshold: 600/1000)
Total Score Threshold: 2,100/3,000
Application Process &
Timeline

23. Step-2: National Overview
National Overview Criteria:
• Added value, expected impacts and knowledge transfer of
the proposed research project and how the outputs will
provide evidence to inform environmental policies and
considerations
Past Performance:
• Past performance of Principal Investigators on EPA-funded
research projects, including compliance with reporting
requirements, is considered for this criterion
Application Process &
Timeline

24. Submit on time
Application Guidance
Queries
All queries MUST be submitted to research@epa.ie

25. Your application is composed of:
Completed templates
Application Guidance

26. AND Online Fields
• Abstract for Publication
• Is gender dimension in the scope of this project?
• Does your project require ethical approval?
• Is the proposed research multi/trans-disciplinary?
• Does the proposed research involve Citizen Science?
• Explain how your proposal addresses the specific challenge and scope of the
call topic
• Demonstrate the relevance to the EPA Research Hubs
• Demonstrate how your proposal will meet the expectations of the EPA
Research Programme and fulfil some or all of its aims and objectives.
• Demonstrate how your project will leverage existing resources, data and
knowledge systems to build on past/on-going research and build national
research capacity
Application Guidance

27. Online Fields ctd.
• Work Package Summary Table
Expected Outputs:
• Provide list of all expected outputs from your proposed research.
• Describe the innovation potential of your proposal
Impacts and Impact Delivery:
• Impact Statement
• Demonstrate how this project will support the implementation of the UN
SDGs.
• Knowledge Transfer
Application Guidance

28. Changes will invalidate your
application
Proposals are evaluated and selected based on the details submitted
at the time of application
Changes to details (including changes of Lead Applicant, Lead
Organisation, Co-Applicants, Co-Applicant Organisations, and scope
of the proposed research and associated tasks) before the award of
the project will invalidate your application
Application Guidance

29. Financial Rules and Eligibility

30. EPA Research Call 2022
Guidance for Applicants

31. Questions we hope to address this morning …..
1.
• Who can apply for funding ?
2.
• What level of funding can I apply for ?
3.
• What types of expenditure are eligible for funding ?
4.
• Are there specific costs which are not eligible ?
5.
• Are there any changes from the 2021 call ?
6.
• Are there any lessons to be learned from 2021 call ?
31

32. Who can apply for
funding ?

33. 33
Project Type Typical
funding
Typical
Duration
(Months)
Lead Applicant-
Host
Organisation:
Location
Co-
Applicants
Permitted
Lead Applicant- Host
Organisation: Type
Desk Studies Up to
€120,000
6-12 Located on
Island of Ireland
Yes HEI, RPO, SML
Company, NGO, PBE,
Charity
Medium Scale
Studies
Up to
€500,000
24-48 Located on
Island of Ireland
Yes HEI, RPO, SML
Company, NGO, PBE,
Charity
Large Scale
Studies
Up to €1m 36-48 Located on
Island of Ireland
Yes HEI, RPO, SML
Company,
NGO,PBE,Charity
Capability
Development
> €1m 48-60 Located on
Island of Ireland
Yes HEI, RPO, SML
Company, NGO, PBE,
Charity
Doctoral
Scholarships
Up to
€110,000
48 Located on
Island of Ireland
No HEI Only
Research
Fellowships
Up to
€300,000
24-36 Located on
Island of Ireland
No HEI or RPO

34. What level of funding
can my organisation
apply for?

35. 35
* Company Size Criteria = A plus one of B or C
** Definitions for each of these organisations can be found in the Glossary of
Terms section of the Guidelines and Terms & Conditions
Nature of
Organisation **
No. of
Employees
A
Turnover
B
Balance Sheet
C
Max Funding Rate
Available
Publicly Funded HEI N/A N/A N/A 100%
Public/State Body N/A N/A N/A 100%
RPO N/A N/A N/A 100%
Private Small*
Company /
Enterprise
1-49 < €10m < €10m 80%
Private Medium*
Company
50-249 < €50m < €43m 75%
Private Large*
Company
>=250 >= €50m >=€43m 65%
NGO,PBE,Charity N/A N/A N/A 95%

36. What categories of
expenditure are eligible
for funding?

37. Eligible Expenditure- Some Basic Principles
37
Welcome to Smith & Williamson
Actual
Reasonable &
Wholly Necessary
Incurred & Paid
During Project
Solely to Advance
the Project
In Accordance with
Usual Accounting
Principles
Recorded in Your
Accounts
Exclude Any Profit
Margin
Not Otherwise
Available/Accessible
Be of a Type
Normally Charged
to Research
Projects

38. Categories of Eligible Expenditure
38
* Co-Applicants from Organisations not located on the Island of
Ireland cannot claim for costs in any of these cost categories.
Staff Costs Travel & Sub. Consumables
Other facilities
Overheads-30%
of Modified
Costs
Equipment *
External
Assistance *
Communication
costs *

39. Staff Costs- Things to Bear in Mind
39
HEI’s, Public/State Body,
RPO
(Located on Island of
Ireland)
• Only cost of additional staff are eligible for
funding
• Salary costs plus employers PRSI plus
statutory employer pension contributions
(where relevant)
• Permanent staff costs are not eligible for
funding
• Rates of pay in accordance with IUA payscale
• Should be based on payroll records of host
organisation
• Where not available use IUA rates as basis of
budget
• Max amount for post grad student stipend is
€18,500 per annum
• Max amount for post grad fees is €5,750
Welcome to Smith & Williamson
All Organisations Not
Located on Island of
Ireland
• Only cost of additional staff are
eligible for funding
• Training costs, stipends, post-doc
salaries, student fees, pension and
social costs are all excluded and
cannot be funded.
Private Entity
Organisations Located on
Island of Ireland
• Costs associated with permanent
staff directly involved in the project
are eligible for funding all be it at
reduced rates.
• Salary costs of admin & supervisory
staff (not included in indirect costs)
may be eligible for funding
• All costs must be based on actual
salary as per payroll records and not
based on chargeout or consulting
rates
• Average salary levels cannot be
used
• Pension contributions not eligible

40. Ineligible Expenditure- Some Specific Examples
40
Any Interest paid or
owed
Provisions for
Possible Future
Costs incl. Bad
Debts
Sick pay or
Redundancy
Overtime
Resources Received
For Free
Unnecessary or Ill-
considered
Expenditure
Market, Sales,
Distribution Costs
Entertainment or
Hospitality (unless
wholly and
exclusively
necessary)
Vehicle motor tax
and insurance
On-going Service &
Repair of Equipment
/ Vehicles
Subscriptions
(unless wholly,
exclusively
necessary)
Miscellaneous
expenses
Be of a Type
Normally Charged
to Research Projects
Costs Associated
with Recruitment
Contributions to
Private Pension
Schemes
Bonus payments or
other perks paid in
cash or in-kind

41. Some changes from the
previous call?

42. Some Changes from 2021 Call
42
Sig. Equip Capped @
50k Individual & Per
Project
Distinction between
lead applicant and
co-applicant and
eligible costs
Location of lead/co-
applicant is
significant
HEI & RPO Defined
Fellowship and
Scholarship
restricted to certain
types of organisation
(HEI/RPO)

43. Lessons Learned form
Previous Call ?

44. Learnings from 2021 Call
44
Changes in applicant or co-
applicant for whatever reason
will invalidate an application
Cost of presenting at
conference are
Communication Costs. Cost
of travel to/from conference
are travel.
Company size where part of a
group is based on the overall
size of the group not just the
entity applying.
Company Limited by
Guarantee is not by default a
PBE/Not-For-Profit/Charity
Even where salary costs are
provided as in-kind
contribution they will have to
be vouched to payroll records
Sole-trader / Self-employed
can participate as co-
applicant (small enterprise)
once can demonstrate
registered business name and
appropriate tax registrations
Changes to rates quoted for
external consultants as part
of budget negotiations will
not be considered
Year on year increments over
and above IUA Payscale
increases cannot be funded.
Salary costs cannot be based
on consulting or charge out
rates
Funding rates as defined
based on organisation type
and size are fixed and cannot
be altered.
Changes to salary costs
quoted and changes to
research team cannot be
made as part of budget
review process
It is expected that Research
Fellows will be located at
their Host Organisation for at
least part of the working
week.

46. Q&A
We will also update our Q&A after the Webinar
Use the Chat
function to post
your Questions

47. Recap
https://www.epa.ie/our-services/research/epa--research-funding/epa-
research-call/
Call Documentation
• EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 EPA Research Call 2022 –
Technical Description
• EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 Guidelines and Terms &
Conditions
• EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 Evaluation Process
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Strategies and Policies
Application Process
• User Guidance and Grant Application and Project Management

48. Thank You
Any queries: Please email research@epa.ie