Our Shared Ocean Direct Funding Project Awards 2025 and Mobility & Travel Grants 2025
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) though Ireland’s development cooperation programme, Irish Aid, and the Marine Institute have established ‘Our Shared Ocean’ to support research, knowledge exchange and capacity building in partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The programme will run from January 2022 to December 2027 with a total investment of €4.1 million funded by the DFA, and administered by the Marine Institute.
Direct Funding Project Awards are one of a suite of competitive calls under the Our Shared Ocean Programme that will address specific ocean, climate and sustainable blue economy related challenges faced by SIDS; support the building of scientific and technical capacity to address such challenges; and promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Irish institutions and their counterparts in SIDS to underpin longer-term cooperation.
Previous calls required an Irish researcher to be lead partner but this obligation is removed here, and instead applications from suitable qualified SIDS researchers are welcomed. We believe this removes an important barrier to SIDS accessing international funding and ensures a more equitable approach to Our Shared Oceans’ Grant-Aid.
Project Awards Overview:
Proposals are invited from applicants in SIDS Public Research Performing Organisations (HEIs and other Public RPOs) with the necessary competence to carry out the research proposed in collaboration with up to two eligible partners.
3 Awards are available under this call with Max Grant-Aid available being €100,000 for Projects 12-18 months in duration.
Projects can be Desk-Based, Lab-Based or Field Based (or combinations of each).
Applications are welcome from those project teams who have completed the support and mentoring programme for future Decade Actions from Caribbean SIDS, co-funded in part by Our Shared Ocean and in partnership with UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. One award will be made available to this group.
Application Process:
Applications must be submitted via the Marine Institute's online Application System Research Information Management System (RIMS), which opens on Sunday, 9th June 2025. Application Forms are available to download from RIMS.
Please refer to the Applicant Guidelines for further information on the Project Awards, how to register for access to RIMS, and the application procedure. Applications submitted on the incorrect form or incomplete applications will be ineligible and will not go forward to the evaluation process.
Submission Deadline:
- Friday, 5th September 2025 @16:00 Irish Standard Time
Information Sessions:
Will be held online in early July 2025. Please email oursharedocean@marine.ie to register for the information sessions or for any queries on the application process.
This initiative is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs though Ireland’s development cooperation programme, Irish Aid, administered and managed by the Marine Institute on behalf of Irish Aid/DFA.
Our Shared Ocean – Mobility and Travel Grants 2025
(Note: Support under this call is primarily aimed towards the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, Pacific and AIMS (Africa, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and South China Sea).
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) though Ireland’s development cooperation programme, Irish Aid, and the Marine Institute (MI) have established ‘Our Shared Ocean’ to support research, knowledge exchange and capacity building in partnership with Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The programme will run until December 2026 with a total investment of €3.8 million funded by the DFA, and administered by the MI.
The Mobility and Travel Grants 2025 is one of a suite of competitive calls under the Our Shared Ocean Programme that will address specific ocean, climate and sustainable blue economy related challenges faced by SIDS; support the building of scientific and technical capacity to address such challenges; and promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Irish institutions and their counterparts in SIDS to underpin longer-term cooperation.
Award Categories:
Grant support is provided in the following categories:
1. Research Conferences and Workshops - Minimum grant-aid €500 and maximum grant-aid €2,000.
2. Training Courses - Minimum grant-aid €500 and maximum grant-aid €2,000.
3. Research Visits - Maximum grant-aid available €6,000.
Submission Deadlines:
• Friday, 28th February 2025
• Friday, 11th April 2025
• Friday, 13th June 2025
• Friday, 5th September 2025
• Friday, 7th November 2025 (for events up to 31st March 2026)
Application Process:
Applications must be submitted via the Marine Institute's online Application System Research Information Management System (RIMS). Application Forms are available to download from RIMS.
Please refer to the Applicant Guidelines for information on the types of initiatives supported, how to register for access to RIMS, and the application procedure. Please see the FAQ document for general questions and queries in relation to the application, award and payment process. Applicants should contact oursharedocean@marine.ie to check their eligibility to apply and register for access to RIMS.
This initiative is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs though Ireland’s development cooperation programme, Irish Aid, administered and managed by the Marine Institute on behalf of Irish Aid/DFA.
Notes:
Applicants cannot receive more than two awards in any calendar year. Awards are payable to organisations only. Applications are capped at max three applications per Organisation per event. Applications must be submitted one month in advance of the event. Applications may be submitted for events taking place up to 31st March 2026.
