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EPA Research Fast-Track to Policy Funding

Overview

Research plays an important role in generating evidence to inform the design and implementation of effective and robust environmental policy. Fast-Track to Policy Funding aims to deliver rapid-turn-around evidence reviews to address policy questions.

The EPA’s Research Framework, EPA Research 2030, is designed to be agile, responsive and flexible to support research projects that will provide timely evidence for policy- and decision-making. While most projects will be funded through the EPA’s annual competitive research call, it is recognised that environmental policy is rapidly developing with new and important issues emerging. Fast-Track to Policy Funding is employed to deliver short-term, evidence-based research studies (e.g., evidence synthesis, review of policies and best practices), where an urgent policy need is demonstrated.

Research Project Proposals

Project proposals may be suggested by Departments and Agencies of the Government of Ireland and must be submitted using the template, which is available upon request from ftp@epa.ie. Project proposals will be required to demonstrate their suitability for inclusion in the scheme.

Research Project Funding

Fast-Track to Policy Funding will be issued to deliver selected research projects in line with public procurement guidelines. Project funding will be limited to supporting short-term, evidence-based research studies.

Fast-track to Policy Funding
Type of Project Short-term evidence-based research study
Indicative Timeline 3-9 months (maximum 12 months)
Indicative Budget Up to €49,500 (excl. VAT)
Outputs Short Summary Evidence Report, published by the EPA, and any other specific deliverables included in the request.

 

Ongoing Fast-Track to Policy Projects

Project Title Lead Researcher Lead Organisation
Optimising land use outcomes: the role of private finance 

Thomas Ball 

 KPMG
Landowners’ behaviours & attitudes to incentives and interventions for multifunctional land use outcomes biodiversity, water, and air quality outcome Tracy Bradfield University College Cork
Role of public lands in delivering on the Government’s objective of improving socioeconomic, climate, biodiversity, water, and air quality outcomes David Styles University Of Galway 
Ireland’s Urban Bioeconomy – Opportunities for Climate Action Sarah Zimmerman Rediscovery Centre
EXAMINE NRMM (Exploration of Market surveillance and type approval of internal combustion engines emissions for non-road mobile machinery). Aoife Donnelly Technological University Dublin
Behavioural science knowledge to policy guidance Pete Lunn ESRI
Modelling particulate matter contributions from natural sources Aoife Donnelly Technological University Dublin
Radiological waste management - exploration of the implementation of Article 8 of the Waste Directive in other non-nuclear EU Member States and the UK. Bojan Tomic ENCONET Consulting
Impacts and opportunities of the Clean Industrial Deal in Ireland J.Andrew Kelly EnvEcon Decision Support

Doughnut Economics – a Framework for the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s Bioeconomy

 Luke Kelleher  EnvEcon Decision Support

Refining the EPA’s NMVOC emissions inventory

 Dr Chris Dore Aether UK Ltd

Completed Fast-Track to Policy Projects

The following Fast-track to Policy projects have been completed and final reports are available.