Conference and Event Sponsorship Scheme

Conference and Event Sponsorship — Cycle 2

Supports Health Research Board sponsorship grants for conferences and workshops on the island of Ireland.

The Health Research Board (HRB) Conference and Event Sponsorship Scheme provides small grants to support health research conferences, workshops, and events on the island of Ireland. The scheme operates on two cycles in 2026: the first cycle closed in January 2026, and the second cycle opens on 9 June 2026 with funding decisions expected in mid-September 2026. The scheme is one of several recurring mechanisms through which the HRB supports capacity building and strategic collaboration within Ireland's health research ecosystem, alongside its approximately €50 million annual research investment.

Awards are up to €5,000 per event, covering events with a duration of up to 12 months. Eligible applicants include institutions, registered charities, and HRB-recognised Host Institutions with a health-related remit based on the island of Ireland. For-profit entities are explicitly excluded, and individual applicants are ineligible. There is no minimum team size requirement. Events must be health research-related and physically held on the island of Ireland. The scheme's stated objectives are to build research capacity, promote health research impact, foster strategic collaboration, and position Ireland as a leader in health research.

Applications are submitted through the HRB Grant E-Management System (GEMS) at grants.hrb.ie, and the programme is administered by Project Officer Guillaume Thuéry (ces@hrb.ie). With the cycle opening on 9 June 2026, organisers of summer or autumn conferences should submit early in the window to allow adequate processing time before the mid-September decision date. Given the modest award ceiling, proposals are typically assessed on the event's scientific quality, relevance to HRB strategic priorities, expected attendee reach, and the applicant organisation's track record in health research.