Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme Call 2018
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Science Foundation Ireland
Discover Programme Call 2018
Guidance Document for Submission of Proposals
Deadline for Submission
Completed applications must be submitted by 13.00 hours (Irish time) on Wednesday 30th May 2018
Applications must be submitted via SESAME, Science Foundation Ireland’s online grants and awards management
system
Webinar and Informal Consultation Sessions
• A webinar on the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme Call 2018 will take at 11.30 hrs. (Irish time) on
Wednesday 11th April 2018. Please register for the webinar here. The webinar will also include a Q&A session.
• Informal consultation sessions will be organised subject to demand. If you wish to avail of these sessions, please
email discover.programme@sfi.ie by COB on Friday, 20th April 2018. Please note that these consultations should
not be scheduled in place of reading the Discover Call documents or joining the Webinar. They should be used for
any subsequent clarifications.
Terms of Reference
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this document, it is provided only for information purposes and as a
guide to expected developments. It is not intended, and should not be relied upon, as any form of warranty, representation, undertaking,
contractual, or other commitment binding in law upon Science Foundation Ireland, the Government of Ireland, or any of their respective servants
or agents. Science Foundation Ireland Terms and Conditions shall govern the administration of Science Foundation Ireland grants and awards
to the exclusion of this and any other oral, written, or recorded statement.
All responses to this Call for Proposals will be treated in confidence and no information contained therein will be communicated to any third party
without the written permission of the applicant except insofar as is specifically required for the consideration and evaluation of the proposal or
as may be required under law, including the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act, 2003 and the Freedom of Information Acts
1997 and 2003.Contents
Deadline for Submission .......................................................................................................................... 1
Webinar and Informal Consultation Sessions .......................................................................................... 1
Terms of Reference .................................................................................................................................. 1
1. Contents ............................................................................................................................................ 1
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2
2. SFI Discover Programme Call Structure and Categories ................................................................... 3
3. General Call Criteria .......................................................................................................................... 4
a. Alignment to Call Objectives. .................................................................................................. 4
b. Target audiences/Participant Groups ..................................................................................... 4
c. Space Context .......................................................................................................................... 5
d. Outputs .................................................................................................................................... 5
4. Funding thresholds ........................................................................................................................... 6
5. Eligibility ............................................................................................................................................ 7
6. Supplementary Information ............................................................................................................. 8
7. Project Evaluation Plan ..................................................................................................................... 8
8. Finance ............................................................................................................................................ 10
9. Webinar and Informal Consultation Sessions................................................................................. 10
10. Submission .................................................................................................................................. 11
a. Submission 11
b. Deadlines 11
11. Review Process ............................................................................................................................ 12
a. Process ................................................................................................................................... 12
b. Assessment Criteria ............................................................................................................... 12
12. Publicity and Progress ................................................................................................................. 12
13. Award Management ................................................................................................................... 13
14. SFI Discover Programme Call 2018 Application Submission Checklist ....................................... 15
Page | 11. Introduction
The mission of Science Foundation Ireland’s education and public engagement programme is to catalyse, inspire
and guide the best in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education and public engagement.
The ultimate goal of this effort is that Ireland will have the most engaged and scientifically informed public by
2020 as outlined in Science Foundation Ireland’s strategy Agenda 2020 link. This also aligns to the national
science innovation strategy, Innovation 2020 link. In support of this mission the purpose of the Science
Foundation Ireland Discover Programme Call is to support and develop the STEM education and public
engagement sector in Ireland by:
• investing in, developing and extending activity and ability in this area, and
• exploring and encouraging novel means of engaging the public
Science Foundation Ireland wants to help people to consider, question and debate the key issues in science and
society and in support of this, invites applications for funding through the Science Foundation Ireland Discover
Programme Call 2017. The purpose of the Call is to support projects that encourage people of all ages and from
all walks of life to be informed, inspired and involved in STEM.
Science Foundation Ireland has launched the #BelieveInScience campaign to promote the potential that science
and discovery offer Ireland, today and in tomorrow’s world. The #BelieveInScience campaign will see Science
Foundation Ireland work in partnership with the Irish research community to share a mutual passion for science
with the public; to promote an understanding of the ability of STEM to create positive change in the world and
to drive a sustainable economy in Ireland. Visit www.sciencefoundationireland.ie for more information.
Whether you work in the sciences, arts, media or education, Science Foundation Ireland encourages you to
submit your proposals for projects that build excitement, curiosity and interest around science and society and
genuinely engage with your target audience.
Science Foundation Ireland expects you to demonstrate:
• how you have evaluated the need for your activity and defined your target audience
• your objectives and how you plan to monitor the engagement, and
• how you will measure if you succeeded in your objectives
• how your programme is excellent and impactful – why will it be effective?
In 2015 Science Foundation Ireland commissioned a study carried out by Millward Brown entitled Science in
Ireland Barometer link which analysed perceptions and awareness of STEM in society amongst members of the
Irish public. In summary, the study indicates that the Irish are interested in STEM but that this positive feeling
is tempered by a lack of confidence in, and connection to, the role of science in people’s lives with71% of
respondents indicating that developments in science and technology are too specialised to understand. The
vastness, and sometimes intangible nature, of science can act as a deterrent to some who lack a direct
connection to it. They perceive it as too intellectual or specialised; they don’t feel they have a part to play in
the direction of STEM’s role in society. The Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme Call 2018 is aimed
at building a greater science culture in Ireland, providing greater access to public STEM activities and supporting
STEM education.
Page | 22. SFI Discover Programme Call Structure and Categories
The SFI Discover Programme publishes an annual call which usually opens in the Spring each year. The call is
open for eight weeks and typically closes in early summer. There are currently two categories of applications
under this call
• The first for Project Funding of up to €50,000 for a maximum of one year (in this case for 2019).
• The second category is for Projects of Regional or National Impact Funding of up to €300,000 over a
maximum of two years (2019 or 2019/2020). Total funding requests in excess of €300,000 can be
considered but applicants must provide a strong justification for this and matched funding for the full
amount requested must be demonstrated. This category (Projects of Regional or National Impact Funding)
will facilitate projects of scale that will have, at a minimum, regional, or national impact and clearly align to
SFI’s education and public engagement objectives. It is expected that broadcast projects would be funded
under this category. The requirement for multi annual funding must be clearly justified in the application.
Other initiatives under the Discover Programme include the Opportunistic Funding Mechanism which allows
SFI to provide funding for projects which, due to unforeseen circumstances, require funding within the current
calendar year. This is a two-stage process involving an expression of interest which, if satisfactory, is followed
by a full proposal. Applicants should contact discover.programme@sfi.ie for clarification on whether a project
qualifies for this mechanism – please note that simply missing the annual call deadline is not sufficient reason
to use this mechanism. In most cases applicants are advised to wait for the next annual call.
Discover Programme Science Week Call – this annual call is published early in the year to fund Science Week
Festivals, Events and a Dublin Family Day. The 2018 Science Week Call is now closed.
A new Strategic Partnerships Call is being considered but is not expected to launch in 2018. It is expected that
projects funded under this call will typically be significant, game-changing,, new initiatives in education and
public engagement, impacting at a national level which require long-term and a high level of state investment
through Science Foundation Ireland. A strong and compelling justification will be required in relation to the
need for state funding to support the strategic growth of a project under this call. It is envisaged that only a
small number of these partnerships will be in place at any one time, if and when the call launches. SFI welcomes
discussion regarding possible projects which may be funded under this call. If you are considering applying for
funding under this call, we would strongly recommend that you contact the Discover Programme Call Manager
to discuss your proposal at discover.programme@sfi.ie.
Page | 33. General Call Criteria
a. Alignment to Call Objectives.
All applications must clearly outline how the project will address Science Foundation Ireland’s goal to have an
engaged and scientifically informed public in Ireland. An engaged public feels confident to:
• understand the role of STEM in our lives
• can judge between competing STEM arguments / engage in informed debate on STEM issues
• encourage young people to study and work in STEM
• feels engaged with STEM research
In all cases projects should clearly demonstrate how they are informed by best practice in the field.
SFI Discover programme objective is to support projects that address one or more of the following:
• increase the general public’s engagement with STEM and its importance in society.
• stimulate interest, excitement and debate about STEM through accessible and entertaining
interactions with the public.
• engage and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds with STEM.
• promote engagement with STEM through proven, robust methods or pilot novel methods to test
proof of concepts.
• reach participants not normally engaged with STEM, as well as continuing to target existing
audiences
• have considered their target participant group in the design of the project.
• inspire curiosity, and confidence in the scientific method.
• Promote and support STEM education and career pathways.
• provide experiential opportunities to design, create and make while exploring and experiencing
STEM.
b. Target audiences/Participant Groups
Recent research indicates that the following groups are most disconnected from STEM and therefore special
consideration will be given to projects which specifically target these groups/areas:
o socially, economically or educationally disadvantaged groups
o adults, in particular ages 30 - 55
o women
o localities/areas with limited access to SFI funded STEM activity1. Proposals that cover a number of
these counties will be welcomed.
1
The following counties have been identified as having low levels of STEM intervention (related to their population size) through
Science Foundation Ireland education and public engagement funded initiatives: Carlow, Cavan, Donegal, Dublin, Laois, Longford,
Louth, Meath and Wexford.
Page | 4c. Space Context
Applicants are advised that projects with a space context are encouraged under this Call and will be reviewed
in association with the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) Ireland.
The ESERO objectives are to use Space as a context:
• to enhance the literacy and competence of young people in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM)
• to motivate and enable young Europeans to pursue a career in the STEM field, in the space domain in
particular
• to increase young people’s awareness of the importance of space research, exploration and applications
in modern society and economy
The key mechanism for delivery of ESERO related objectives is through Teacher Continuous Professional
Development (Teacher CPD).
d. Outputs
Projects' activities and outputs may include:
• broadcast or media including TV, film, animation or radio
• creation of classroom activities, teaching materials or development of teaching methods. Note that all
formal education related projects must demonstrate evidence of a clear link to the relevant curriculum.
This should include references to the curriculum and relevant partnerships or support e.g. DES, NCCA,
PDST, ISTA. Details of how these outputs will be disseminated must also be provided
• digital content (on pervasive platforms) with high audience reach including websites, social media
campaigns and multi-platform projects, for example, a project supported by an app, website etc.
• exhibitions, theatre and museum outreach
• citizen science projects
• games or apps
• workshops, events, debates and discussions
• informal learning activities that encourage children and young people to engage with, and participate
in, STEM activities outside the formal education system. These projects must aim to increase the uptake
of STEM options at third level and beyond
• novel projects that encourage general public engagement with STEM – to create dialogue with the
public and introduce STEM into the community to create these conversations
• projects that embrace wider partnership from the arts, social sciences and humanities, as well as STEM,
are encouraged.
• activities that support national STEM festivals (Science Week, Tech Week, Engineers Week, Maths
Week, Space Week), in particular in regions where there is little, or no STEM outreach activity as
identified in section 3 (b) of this document. (note: regional or county Science Week Festivals are
excluded from this Call)
Page | 54. Funding thresholds
SFI Discover Project Funding SFI Discover – Regional or National Impact Project Funding
Up to a maximum of €50,000 Up to a maximum of €300,000 over a maximum of two
years (2019/2020) OR
Projects must be completed within 2018 Projects may request single or multi-annual funding (for
2019 or 2019/2020)
If an applicant wishes to request more than the maximum
allowable budget of €300,000 over a maximum of two
years, a strongly justified case for exceeding this limit,
including evidence of matched funding for the full amount
requested, must be submitted in the application form.
A Regional or National Impact Project is a project of significant scale and considerable impact and is directly
aligned to the Science Foundation Ireland education and public engagement programme’s objectives. These
projects require longer-term investment to allow for their further development and delivery and increased
impact. This longer-term commitment from Science Foundation Ireland should also facilitate greater leverage
of funding from other partners which will help with future planning and sustainability. Applicants are advised
to consider carefully and provide strong justification for this type of funding.
Projects can include the expansion of proven projects to a national scale or development of new projects.
Evidence should be provided to support the argument to expand the project including track record to date and
a summary of evaluation, highlighting the key points.
Page | 65. Eligibility
The Call is open to a wide range of people and organisations. Applicants are encouraged to make considerable
effort to establish partnerships between varied stakeholders including:
• mediators and practitioners of science communication
• STEM festival organisers
• universities and institutes of technology
• science centres
• museums and other cultural attractions
• artists
• educators
• industry professionals
• academics in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)
• arts agencies
• production companies
• schools
• local authorities (libraries, city/county councils etc.)
• youth clubs
• community groups
• research institutes
Partnership projects (between different people and organisations, e.g. scientists and ethicists, educators and
artists) are welcomed and encouraged.
Proposals must be explicitly aimed at engaging audiences in the Republic of Ireland, however the subject matter
can be international. Applications are welcome from organisations not based in the Republic of Ireland;
however, they must demonstrate in their application how the project will explicitly engage with their target
audience in the Republic of Ireland.
Applicants are required to apply through or partner with an organisation, such as an academic institution,
charitable body, not-for-profit organisation or commercial company and supply the required background and
financial information requested in the application form.
Science Foundation Ireland has a list of Eligible Research Bodies (which includes universities, institutes of
technology etc.) – check the list of Eligible Research Bodies here.
If your organisation is included on this list, then your application must be signed off by the appropriate officer
(typically the Research Office) within your organisation using the Eligible Research Body Cover Sheet available
on SESAME.
Application are also welcomed from Non-Eligible Bodies (i.e. any organisation not included on the above list).
There are two categories of Non-Eligible Bodies
(a) Non- Eligible Bodies – State Body (e.g. city or county council) are required to complete, sign, stamp and
upload the Non- Eligible Body State Cover Sheet available on SESAME. A senior executive within the
organisation is required to sign the cover sheet indicating the organisation’s support for the application.
(b) Non- Eligible Bodies – Other Organisation (i.e. not an Eligible Research Body or a State Body) are required
to:
1. complete the Non-Eligible Body – Other Organisation Cover Sheet available on SESAME, providing
details of the organisation’s status, registration number, auditors, solicitors and bankers
2. provide details of the organisation structure detailing positions and names of post holders
3. provide a copy of the most recent annual report (if appropriate, i.e. if your organisation is required
to publish an annual report)
4. provide a signed copy of the most recent Audited Financial Statements (if applicable) 2
2
If your organisation is not required to produce audited accounts, management accounts signed off by an accountant will be accepted.
Please contact discover.programme@sfi.ie if you have any queries in relation to this requirement.
Page | 7This information must be compiled into a single PDF file and uploaded onto SESAME.
If you have any doubt about your organisation’s status, please email discover.programme@sfi.ie for
clarification. This must be done in good time before the closing date (minimum three days) to ensure that your
application is completed and submitted before the deadline as no exceptions can be made in relation to the
submission date for this, or any other, reason.
Applications will not be accepted from individuals and/or sole traders.
No employee or board member of Science Foundation Ireland may apply.
Applicants may submit more than one grant application under the Call to Science Foundation Ireland at any
one time, provided the proposals are clearly differentiated.
Regional or county Science Week Festivals are not eligible to apply for funding under this Call.
Film, animation or broadcast projects are eligible to apply for funding under this Call. These projects should
clearly indicate the STEM collaborators or experts contributing to the development of the project and outline
the role these collaborators will play. Proposals should also clearly identify how they will be scheduled (shown
to the audience) in the proposal, including support from a broadcaster or distribution partner.
Any previously unsuccessful projects are not eligible to apply for funding under this Science Foundation Ireland
Discover Programme Call unless fundamental changes or developments have been made to the proposal and
are clearly outlined. Please consult with the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme Call Manager in
advance if you have any queries in relation to eligibility (discover.programme@sfi.ie).
The Project Lead is the person who has the main intellectual input into, and ownership of, the outcomes if the
application is successful. This is the individual with whom Science Foundation Ireland will correspond about the
application and who takes legal and fiduciary responsibility for the project. The Project Lead is normally
considered by Science Foundation Ireland to be the grant holder.
6. Supplementary Information
In certain circumstances (e.g. when a pilot has been funded by SFI in the year previous to application or a project
evaluation is underway and sufficient evidence to support the application at the time of submission is not
available) SFI will allow the applicant to submit such information at a later date. The applicant must obtain
written confirmation in the format of an email from the SFI Discover Pre-Award Manager in advance of the
application process and must:
1. Indicate on the SESAME application that they will be sending this information,
2. Indicate on the SESAME application what the nature of the supplementary information is,
3. Indicate why this information cannot be submitted at the time of the application,
4. Upload the email from the SFI Discover Manager (at the time of submission) which permits this
supplementary information to be sent
5. Send the supplementary information in the format of a two-page PDF (max) by email to
discover.programme@sfi.ie by Friday 10th August 2018 at 13.00 hrs. (Irish time). Information received
after this date and time will not be reviewed.
7. Project Evaluation Plan
The Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme Call 2018 will be evaluated against the Science Foundation
Ireland Agenda 2020 Objective 3: To have the most engaged and scientifically informed public.
Applicants will be required to outline how their project is clearly aligned to the Call objectives as outlined in
Section 3a above. The applicants are required to outline in the relevant sections of their application for funding
the expected outcomes of the project and to detail their plan for evaluation. It should be clear from the plan
how the project will measure if the proposed outcomes have been achieved, as opposed to a measurement of
project outputs only. For example, the plan should allow the project to demonstrate not just that it delivered
five workshops to 100 people but that some outcome occurred such as a change in attitude or a learning
outcome.
Page | 8Applicants should demonstrate their plan to formatively evaluate the project by establishing clear goals which
can be assessed pre and post project, for example engaging with members of the target audience to gauge
interest and determine specific needs and expectations. The proposal should incorporate how the proposed
activity will ensure the project is appealing and beneficial to the target audience, for example by demonstrating
how the proposal has been reviewed or co-designed with the target participant.
The Evaluation Plan should detail the following:
• how the evaluation plan feeds into the planning of the project;
• impact evaluation questions – what is it you want to achieve by delivering this project? Outline the
questions which will be answered by the evaluation; they should relate to evidence that can be collected.
Evaluation should be appropriate to the target audience;
• if the project has been running for a longer period of time (i.e. greater than two to three years), emphasis
should be placed on the long-term impact of the project and this should be reflected in the impact
evaluation plan;
• methodology – detail how and when the data will be gathered (please note a mixed method approach
with methodologies appropriate for the different target audiences is recommended;
• data analysis – highlight how the raw data will be analysed and presented;
• dissemination – identify how the results of the evaluation will be disseminated among key stakeholders.
Refer to the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Evaluation Toolkit here
A recording of the webinar on evaluation conducted by Dr Eric Jensen of the University of Warwick, which was
held on 12 June 2017, can be found here.
Further resources in relation to evaluation are available from the National Science Foundation funded Centre
for Advancement of Informal Science Education (CAISE) website here.
Project applicants will be required to submit annual and / or final reports in relation to their project (a sample
reporting template is available on the SFI Discover Programme Call page on the www.sfi.ie website) outlining
the impact and outcomes of the project, including demonstrating how the project has been a success or not.
Page | 98. Finance
Projects applying for SFI Discover Project Funding may request funding up to €50,000. Partner contributions in
terms of funding or otherwise (in-kind) should be demonstrated and all costs must be justified and will be
subject to cost scrutiny. The project must be completed within 2019.
Projects applying for SFI Discover Regional or National Impact Project Funding of up to €300,000 over one
(2019), or a maximum of two years (2019/2020). Total funding requests in excess of €300,000 can be considered
but applicants must provide a strong justification for this and matched funding for the full amount requested
must be demonstrated. Partner contributions in terms of funding should be demonstrated and all costs must
be justified and will be subject to cost scrutiny.
The schedule of funding will be set out in the Letter of Offer.
Other sources of funding (including In-Kind support) must be clearly identified on the application form including
any income to be derived from the project.
Costs requested can include:
• personnel and project management costs directly related to the project
• production costs, including venue hire, AV, catering etc.
• equipment and materials
• project travel costs
• project administration costs where these are not already covered by other funding
• project publicity costs, including launch event costs, website etc.
Ineligible costs:
• core overheads of the applying organisation not related to the project e.g. heating, rent, etc.
• expenses incurred in submitting an application
• academic courses or research such as Masters degrees or PhDs’ costs
9. Webinar and Informal Consultation Sessions
• A webinar to support the SFI Discover Programme Call 2018 will take place at 11.30am (Irish time) on
Wednesday 11th April 2018.
• Please register for the webinar here. The webinar will also include a Q&A session.
• Informal consultation sessions will be organised subject to demand. If you wish to avail of one of these
sessions, please email discover.programme@sfi.ie by COB on Friday, 20th April 2018. Please note that
these consultations should not be scheduled in place of reading the Discover Call documents or joining
the Webinar. They should be used for any subsequent clarifications.
Please ensure that you have read the documentation and listened to the webinar (either live or recorded) in
advance so that you are familiar with the Call. The purpose of the informal consultation sessions is to discuss
your proposed project and / or ask questions related to your project.
Page | 1010. Submission
a. Submission
Applications must be submitted via SESAME, Science Foundation Ireland’s Grants Award System. Log-in
details are required to access SESAME.
• If you are already registered on SESAME you can log in using the same email address; if you have forgotten
your password, you can use the Forgot Password functionality to re-set it.
• If you have not previously been registered with SESAME, please email the following information to
discover.programme@sfi.ie:
✓ Project Lead Name
✓ Email address
✓ Registered Company Name
✓ Legal Status: (e.g. company limited by guarantee, limited company, charity etc.)
✓ Trading Name
✓ VAT Number
A SESAME profile will be created for you and log-in details will be emailed to the email address provided.
Science Foundation Ireland’s grants and awards management system, SESAME, is accessed using the Internet;
no additional software needs to be installed. You can access SESAME online from any location. The
configuration of some browsers and internet infrastructure (pop-up blockers, firewalls, etc.) can restrict an
individual’s access to the internet and as a result to the SESAME system. If you are having any such difficulties,
please contact your organisation’s IT support team.
A User Guide for SESAME for applications under the SFI Discover Programme Call 2018 is included on the SFI
Discover Programme Call page on www.sfi.ie.
Draft applications may be amended as many times as required but once submitted no further changes can be
made.
Once submitted, applications cannot be withdrawn and subsequently modified for re-submission in the same
Call.
Early submission in SESAME is strongly recommended. Applicants who wait until shortly before the close of the
call take serious risk of encountering submission issues. The submit button will cease to be active at the
indicated deadline.
Please note that SESAME will only accept applications until 13.00 hours (Irish Time) on Wednesday 30th May
2018.
No applications can be accepted after that time or by any other means.
A checklist of requirements is provided at the end of this document.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that eligible proposals are received by Science Foundation
Ireland on, or before, the deadline indicated. To safeguard against ineligibility, applicants are reminded to
adhere rigorously to the guidelines in the Call documentation and to review the proposal document prior to
submission.
b. Deadlines
Completed applications must be received by 13.00 hours (Irish time) on Wednesday 30th May 2018.
On submission of your completed application an auto-generated receipt and proposal ID number will be sent
to you via email.
Page | 1111. Review Process
a. Process
Projects must be technically sound and have clear STEM content, either through direct collaboration with a
qualified STEM professional (e.g. scientist, engineer) leading or acting in an advisory role.
Applications considered ineligible or uncompetitive for the programme, for example if the subject area
addressed is not related to STEM, will not be reviewed.
All eligible applications will be subject to review by independent experts based on the criteria set out below.
Results will be notified in Quarter 4 of 2018.
The decision of the Science Foundation Ireland International Review Panels will be final. Every effort has been
made to develop a thorough and informed assessment process. Science Foundation Ireland reserves the right
not to enter into any correspondence about the assessment process and/or any subsequent monitoring
procedures.
b. Assessment Criteria
Reviewers of applications will be asked to comment on, but are not limited to, the following aspects of a grant
proposal:
• The project team (suitability of the project lead and any partners and whether the skills required to deliver
the project successfully are evident)
• The project details (clarity around the project details, goals and objectives, audience and delivery
methodology, timing and location of proposed project including whether it specifically targets audiences
outlined in the Guidance Document)
• Budget and funding (project costs, value for money and leverage of funding from other partners, benefit
of SFI funding to the project)
• Evaluation plans (outputs and impacts, evaluation methodology, dissemination of learnings, strategic
planning approach and appropriate exit strategy).
12. Publicity and Progress
Science Foundation Ireland will appoint a Project Coordinator from within the education and public engagement
team to work with each Project Lead as the project progresses and to guide successful applicants through the
process to ensure that the following elements are successfully delivered.
Funded organisations will be required to acknowledge Science Foundation Ireland support on all
marketing/publicity materials relating to the project. Science Foundation Ireland should be appropriately
acknowledged in press releases, promotional / marketing materials, at events etc. Branding guidelines and the
Science Foundation Ireland logo, will be made available to successful applicants with the Letter of Offer.
Applicants should indicate how Science Foundation Ireland will be promoted / acknowledged within the
marketing / promotion section of the application. In cases where SFI is the primary funder, Science Foundation
Ireland may require more substantial acknowledgement of the role of the agency in supporting the project
which may include naming rights as appropriate. Applicants should consider how this might be addressed in
the marketing / promotion section of their application. Failure to do so may delay the issuing of Letters of Offer.
All funded organisations will be required to submit annual/final reports via SESAME indicating findings and
impact from the project. The guidelines for this report will be issued in due course. For large scale projects or
projects with greater longevity interim reporting may be required. This will be outlined in the Letter of Offer.
Page | 1213. Award Management
There are stringent requirements for the reporting on SFI awards. Individuals who hold the primary
responsibility for reporting and who fail to comply with reporting requirements, run the risk of having their
grant payments suspended and their eligibility to apply for funding in forthcoming SFI calls affected.
SFI Discover Programme Grant Holders must:
• Within 45 days of the completion of the project, a Final Report including an expenditure report shall be
submitted. The Report should set out in detail the nature, amount of all expenditure transactions and
the total funding for the project identifying both SFI's contribution and non-SFI funding, as well as
verifying any partner or other sources of funding. The Final Report should list the major accomplishments
of the programme and provide a breakdown of target audience participation, direct or indirect audience
reach, how impact was evaluated etc.;
• Ensure that Science Foundation Ireland is credited and acknowledged in all promotional material in a
prominent place in line with Clause 17 of the General Terms and Conditions. In addition to Clause 17:
✓ Science Foundation Ireland should be acknowledged in all press materials (in the first paragraph),
web site (at the top), collateral (on the front) and branding for event etc. Acknowledgement should
indicate applicable Science Foundation Ireland support for specific events, speakers, lectures, etc.
The Science Foundation Ireland logo and brand guidelines are available to download from the
www.sfi.ie website. It is essential that the Science Foundation Ireland team is kept informed of any
promotional activity, project progress and media plans;
✓ Any printed materials e.g. brochures, reports, promotional materials, banners etc., must include the
SFI logo in a clear and visible position in accordance with the SFI brand guidelines;
✓ The Principal Investigator shall notify SFI at least 10 days in advance of any media activity (including
but not limited to) photocalls, press releases, press briefings etc. pre-arranged by the Principal
Investigator or their Research Body.
Child Protection
All terms and conditions will be outlined in the Letter of Offer; however, attention is drawn to all applicants
that they shall comply with all applicable child welfare law. To the extent the project organisation is a
provider of a relevant service within the meaning of section 2 of the Children First Act 2015 as amended,
supplemented or replaced from time to time (the “CFA”), the Organisation shall comply with the requirements
of the CFA. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/act/36/enacted/en/pdf
Data Protection
SFI will collect, use and disclose personal data provided in the Application and otherwise obtained under or in
connection with the application for processing the application and for the performance of its statutory powers
and functions and for the general activities of SFI. Further details regarding SFI’s collection, use and disclosure
of personal data and individuals’ rights in respect of personal data relating to them which is held by SFI are
available elsewhere in this Call Document, in the privacy statement on the SFI Website and in reports,
documents and other bulletins published by SFI.
During the application process or at any time following the termination of the application process and decision,
SFI may contact the Research Body, the Principal Investigator or any member of the Research Team concerning
funding opportunities, SFI activities or any events, or for the purposes of monitoring and evaluation including
but not limited to collecting scientific data and data related to the applications process. SFI may choose to
authorise a third party to contact the Research Body, the Principal Investigator or any member of the Research
Team on its behalf.
For the purpose of peer review, information may be sent to external experts in countries outside the European
Economic Area, including countries which are not recognised by the European Commission as having adequate
data protection laws. By submitting an application to SFI, the Research Body and members of the Research
Team are agreeing that they consent to the processing and transfer of personal information in this way.
Page | 13The Research Body must ensure that it has obtained the permission of any other person on the Research Team
or otherwise participating in the Research Programme (for example any Co-Investigators or industry partners)
for the provision of their personal information to SFI and the processing of their data by SFI for the purposes set
out above.
Any learning, toolkits or research developed as part, or as a result of, the project must be made available to
the public through the Science Foundation Ireland portal/website
Page | 1414. SFI Discover Programme Call 2018 Application Submission Checklist
To allow Science Foundation Ireland to fully evaluate completed applications, you should:
a. Complete all sections of the application form via SESAME, Science Foundation Ireland’s online grants
and awards management system.
b. Upload a one-page (max) CV for the project lead and each of the project team members written with
relevance to this project.
c. Eligible Research Bodies should complete, sign, stamp and upload the Eligible Research Body cover
sheet (i.e. if your organisation is listed here ).
a. Non-Eligible Bodies – State Body (e.g. city or county council) – complete, sign, stamp and upload the
Non-Eligible Body State Cover Sheet available on SESAME.
b. Non-Eligible Bodies – Other Organisation (i.e. not an Eligible Research Body or a State Body) complete,
sign and upload, as a single PDF document, relevant cover sheet (Non-Eligible Body – Other Organisation
Cover Sheet) and all required corporate / financial information as outlined in the Guidance
Document/on SESAME.
d. Non-Eligible Bodies Only: Complete, sign and upload the Declaration of Bona Fides (available to
download from SESAME).
e. Upload a description of your track record in STEM Education and Public Engagement (max 4 pages) (if
applicable).
f. Upload any letters of support / commitment to the project from partners if appropriate. Letters of
support are only required from relevant organisations whose contribution is a key element to the
delivery of the project.
The above checklist is for guidance purposes only and Science Foundation Ireland will not accept any
responsibility for omissions from this checklist or in an application. Applicants are advised to read all the
documentation in full in order to provide a comprehensive submission.
Page | 15You can also read
