The AIB Trinity Climate Hub Seed Funding Programme aims to support climate and nature research, infrastructure or research enhancing activities within Trinity College Dublin. There are three sizes of grants available:
- Sprout – Up to €10,000 – ongoing call
- Seedling – €10,000 – €50,000 – ongoing call
- Sapling – €50,000 – €150,000 annual call October – December
These funds specifically support proposals that might not be funded elsewhere. We welcome applications from all members of staff or post-graduate students. We encourage proposals that that are cross-college and build capacity for transdisciplinary research in Trinity.
Please see more information on the application process below, including the timeline for the Sapling fund.
Sprout
Single Stage
Ongoing call
Up to €10,000
1-2 weeks turnaround
€25,000 cap per quarter
Seedling
Single stage
Ongoing call
€10,000 – €50,000
3-4 weeks turnaround
€100,000 cap per half year
Sapling
Stage 1: Expression of Interest
Open to all
Confirms eligibility
Deadline: 2nd November
Result: 9th November
Sapling
Stage 2: Full application
Invitation only
€50,000 – €150,000
Deadline: 26th November
Result: 11th December
- Who can apply: All Trinity staff (academic, administrative and professional) and postgraduate research students.
- Academic link: Every application must be linked to an academic staff member (not necessarily the lead applicant) whose contract exceeds two years and covers the full project.
- What is funded: Activities or infrastructure that supports climate and nature research in Trinity. Research, equipment, events, staff time, training, communications, engagement and more. We are open to all types of proposals so please get in touch if you feel you wish to get feedback on an idea.
- Ethics: Approval is not needed to apply but must be in place before the grant agreement is signed.
- Reapplying: No limit on applications. Any previous unsuccessful application or Hub award does not affect your score (prior funding is a tiebreaker only).
- Co-funding: Occasionally available for applications to other schemes. This is offered sparingly on a case by case basis. Email Amanda.Mathieson@tcd.ie
- Sprout (small): up to €10,000, reviewed by AIB the Climate Hub team.
- Seedling (medium): €10,000–€50,000, reviewed by reviewers from within Trinity and beyond the Hub.
- Sapling (large): €50,000–€150,000, reviewed by external reviewers after an Expression of Interest.
Budgets and awards:
- Sprout (small): €100,000 a year; at least 10 awards; spending cap €25,000 per quarter.
- Seedling (medium): €200,000 a year; 4–20 awards; spending cap €100,000 twice yearly.
- Sapling (large) €300,000 a year; 2–6 awards; spending cap €300,000 per year.
Budgets are committed for 2026–2027 and may change in later years, with advance notice.
Sprout (small) and Seedling (medium) grants:
- Open all year round.
- Small grants: decision within 5–10 working days, where possible.
- Medium grants: decision within 15–20 working days, where possible.
- If a period’s spending cap is reached, your application rolls over automatically to the next period.
Sapling (large) grant:
- One annual call, October to December 2026.
- 2 November 2026: Expression of Interest deadline
- 9 November 2026: Invitations to submit a full application
- 26 November 2026: Full application deadline
- 11 December: Final result
Every tier uses the same five criteria, scored out of 100:
- Interdisciplinarity, Team & Capacity Building: 15 marks
- Strategic Fit with the AIB Trinity Climate Hub: 20 marks
- Quality, Innovation & Feasibility: 30 marks
- Potential Impact & Dissemination: 25 marks
- Future Sustainability & Value for Money: 10 marks
Our application form is intentionally extensive to cover all types of proposals. Make any sections that don’t apply with N/A. You won’t lose marks. If you are unsure about any section, please get in touch to discuss.
Each application will be assessed by two reviewers:
- Two reviewers score each application independently.
- If their scores are within 10 marks of each other, they are averaged.
- If the scores are further apart or fall in different bands, they are reconciled or a third reviewer is brought in.
Scoring bands:
- 95–100: Fund – Outstanding
- 85–94: Fund – High Priority
- 75–84: Fund if Resources Permit
- 60–74: Not funded; one-to-one application support offered
- Below 60: Not funded; application support if capacity allows
Funding:
- Sprout and Seedling applications scoring 75+ are funded in score order until the period’s cap is reached; those that miss out roll over to the next period with their score, or applicants may refine and resubmit if they wish.
- Sapling grants must go through an EOI first. Applicants are then invited to complete a full application which will go through a full external review. The Hub team makes final decisions based primarily on reviewer scores and secondly on funding available.
Lottery:
A lottery system is used only when fundable applications at the funding line are within 3 marks of each other and the budget runs out. The draw is anonymized, independently witnessed and recorded. Applicants are informed if a lottery has decided their outcome.
Only the Hub team and reviewers see applications; reviewers declare no conflict of interest.
Unsuccessful applicants receive reviewer’s comments and may reapply; resubmissions are assessed as new.
Email your application to the AIB Climate Hub with the subject line – [Sprout / Seedling / Sapling] Application. This ensures your application will be processed in a timely manner.
Please make sure both Mona Soroudi (soroudim@tcd.ie) and Amanda Mathieson (Amanda.Mathieson@tcd.ie) are included on your submission email.
An FAQ can be viewed here. Please check this first to see if your question has been answered.
All other enquiries can be sent to Mona Soroudi (soroudim@tcd.ie ) and Amanda Mathieson (Amanda.Mathieson@tcd.ie).