Irish Research Council/French Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Ulysses Research Programme

Ulysses Research Programme

You will receive up to 5,000 EUR to cover travel and living expenses over a period of 2 calendar years. The funding serves as seed funding to establish a research collaboration between Ireland and France and covers the costs of reciprocal visits: the team based in Ireland will travel to France and the team based in France will travel to Ireland. Both partners may each apply for up to 5,000 EUR at the same time. Research Ireland and the French Embassy in Ireland (in collaboration with Campus France) jointly manage the programme. Since 1997, it has funded over 700 projects across all academic disciplines.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a postdoctoral researcher or an independent researcher. PhD students are not eligible to lead a proposal, but may participate in a funded project.
• Where you are based: You work at a research organisation in Ireland and have a research partner based in France. Both parties must submit an application.
• Contract: On the Irish side, your post must cover the entire funding period of 2 years.
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines, from the humanities and social sciences to engineering and the natural sciences. Projects focusing on renewable energy, smart grids and the energy transition may receive additional support from strategic partners.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality may apply. The key requirement is that you are resident in Ireland (and your partner in France), not the nationality stated in your passport.
• Early career member: Your team must include at least one early-career researcher: a current PhD student or someone who has submitted their PhD thesis within the last 5 years.
• Past funding: If you have received an Ulysses Prize in the last 5 years, you will need a new French partner or a new research topic in order to apply again.

How to apply

The partner based in Ireland submits their application to Research Ireland by email, whilst the partner based in France submits their application to Campus France at the same time. If either party fails to submit their application, the application will not be considered. The deadline is 28 May. The applications are then assessed by experts, and a panel draws up a ranking list.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not an open scholarship scheme for students. You must have an existing research collaboration with a partner in France, a suitable post in Ireland and a early-career researcher on your team, meaning that only a few people meet the criteria. If you have already established this French collaboration and meet the conditions, your prospects are good. Projects on energy and climate issues have an additional funding opportunity. Ensure that your French partner submits an application at the same time, as the absence of a second application will immediately ruin your chances.