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.

Applicant Research Performing Organisations or Higher Education Institutes must be able to demonstrate at least 10 years of research activity supported by external funding awards. Any queries with respect to eligibility will be subject to a case by case evaluation.

The lead applicant will:

• Hold a PhD or equivalent qualification for at least three years (awarded 2020 or prior).

• Must be a full-time member of staff (permanent or with a contract that covers the period of the award, which is expected to commence in Jan 2026 for a max of 18 months) or

• A contract researcher with a contract that covers the period of the award, who is recognised as an independent investigator and will have allocated office and research space for which they will be fully responsible for at least the duration of the award (from application in 2025 to completion in 2027 – see previous).