THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IS IRELAND'S LEADING BODY OF EXPERTS IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann champions research. We identify and recognise Ireland’s world class researchers. We support scholarship and promote awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. We believe that good research needs to be promoted, sustained and communicated. The Academy is run by a Council of its members. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

Read more about the RIA

Applying for a Charlemont Grant

All applications should demonstrate that Academy funds are sought for a clearly defined, discrete piece of collaborative research, which will have an identifiable outcome on completion of the Academy-funded component of the project.

Information required to apply for 2023/2024

In order to make an application for funding applicants are required to read and review the ‘Guidelines for applicants’ document which is available here.

To register interest in the scheme and receive a link to the application form click here.

Applications are accepted for the following:

  • Proposals for a clearly defined piece of research or research activity undertaken through a short international visit, which will have an identifiable outcome on the completion of the project
  • The scheme will support a short visit to any country to support primary research in any subject area
  • Applications for visits of between one week and six weeks in length will be considered
  • The key objectives of the research visit should be to: (i) initiate one-to-one collaborations, and/or (ii) explore opportunities to build lasting research collaborative networks and/or (iii) to gain access to ideas, library resources, research facilities including the use of equipment and/or (iv) receive research training not available in Ireland
  • Funds are available to facilitate initial project planning and development and to support the direct costs of research

Aim of funding:

All applications should demonstrate that RIA funds are sought for a clearly defined, discrete piece of research, which will have an identifiable outcome on completion of the RIA-funded component of the project.

Assessment Criteria:

Each application will be assessed on the following criteria:

  • The research background of the applicant and ability to undertake the proposed research
  • The strength of the applicant and partner organisation (including institution/library/archive) in the area of proposed research
  • Excellence of the research proposal
  • The mutual benefit of the international collaboration
  • Potential contribution to Irish-based research resulting from the proposed visit

Reviewers and Assessors will evaluate the ability of the applicant to undertake the proposed research, considering their track record in terms of publication and their stage of career. The primary assessment of quality will be based on the specific research objective of the proposal, and whether the research activities outlined are likely to lead to successful achievement of the objective within the stated timeframe.

Comparative judgements about value for money may be considered at the final stage of assessment.

Applicants are asked to bear in mind that that applications will be read by a non-expert panel as well as peers in their own field and to present their application content accordingly.

Who can apply:

  • Applications are open to all researchers who have obtained a PhD (viva voce must have been passed by the application deadline) and who are within seven years of receiving their PhD at the start of the term of the grant period. Applicants therefore must have obtained their PhD on or after 10th February 2017. Candidates with PhDs awarded before that date will not be eligible.*
  • Applicants can submit one application per grant round.
  • Previous Charlemont Grant recipients are eligible to re-apply, if they meet criteria.
  • Applicants should be ordinarily resident and working in Ireland (including Northern Ireland)
  • Applicants may hold a maximum of two RIA awards in any five-year period.

*See circumstances for extending eligibility within Guidelines document

Costs and activities which are eligible:

Grants may be sought to cover the direct expenses incurred in planning, conducting, and developing the research. All purchases must be supported with fully itemised and vouched expenditure. The costs incurred may include:

  • Project planning and development costs (cost of travel for discussion in Ireland and overseas; initial workshops with potential partners)
  • Travel and maintenance for grant holder incurred during international visit
  • Research assistance (not to include salaries/wages. See ineligible costs for further details)
  • Limited consumables (to a maximum of €500) to include specialist software, photocopies etc.

The only expenses payable are the costs directly related to the research being carried out, up to a maximum of €2,500.

Please note that Subsistence rates set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform can be used as a guideline to ascertain maximum allowances but only expenditure that is fully itemised and vouched can be reimbursed/considered.

A per diem rate is not offered to grantees in cases where vouched receipts are not provided.

Costs and activities which are ineligible:

  • Only one Charlemont Grant award may be held, or applied for, at any one time.
  • The remit of the call is to establish/foster new collaborations; travel to collaborate with former supervisors is not allowed.
  • institutional overheads, or any element that should properly be ascribed to institutional overheads; computer hardware including laptops, electronic notebooks, digital cameras, etc; lab / bench fees, books and other permanent resources;
  • the preparation of camera-ready copy, copy-editing, nor any other editorial task;
  • subventions for direct production costs, costs of publication in electronic media;
  • any costs which could be identified as wages/salaries (inc. replacement teaching costs);
  • travel and maintenance expenses for purposes such as lecture tours or to write up the results of research.
  • As the scheme is operative on an all-island basis, travel between Ireland and Northern Ireland is not considered international travel for the purposes of this scheme.
  • An application will not be accepted if there is a report outstanding or any outstanding funds to be returned on any previous research grant awarded by the RIA to the applicant named in the current application.

How to Apply:

Applicants are advised to take care in noting which section of the scheme (e.g. humanities/social sciences or sciences) to which their application is to be assigned as their applications will be assessed on this basis.

Applicants are required to register their interest to receive an application link, and then submit a detailed application form online, along with the following supporting material:

  • Those applying under the science section of the scheme must attach a letter of invitation from the institutions(s) or research group(s) they are intending to visit or a note explaining the present situation vis-à-vis the invitation.
  • Those applying under the humanities section of the scheme must attach a letter of invitation from the institutions(s) or research group(s) they are intending to visit, except in cases where the planned visit is to a research library or archival institution. In such cases a short note providing a general overview of the library or archival institution is required along with details of plans for access.
  • All applicants associated with a HEI must accompany their application with a signed letter of support from the head of their department or institution. If the research visit is to take place in term time, then confirmation should be included in the letter that leave of absence will be granted for this period.
  • Applications from independent scholars are welcome. If an applicant is not currently working under contract to an academic institution, they must give details of their current employment or status and include a letter of support from a relevant Academic researcher who is independent of the project and with whom they have worked.

The letter of support is an opportunity to show the support of an applicant’s institution or general recognition of the significance of the proposed research. The RIA encourages applicants to use this opportunity. An application will be made ineligible if relevant letters of support for the collaboration are not provided.

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