A new €5m fund is being set up to help develop innovative solutions to help with the response to the Covid-19 crisis.
The money for the "Innovate Together Fund" is coming from the Department of Rural and Community Development through the support of the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Funding will be open to non-profit organisations involved in social innovation with ideas for tackling long-term social, economic and environmental challenges.
"I believe that social innovation holds the key to addressing emerging social and economic needs in a sustainable manner and will be essential to creating an inclusive, and sustainable recovery in a post-Covid-19 world," said Deirdre Mortell, the CEO of Social Innovation Fund Ireland.
"With the launch of this new fund, we are looking to support innovative community-based organisations across the country who are coming up with impactful solutions to the problems posed by the Covid-19 pandemic that will become the 'new normal'," Ms Mortell said.
Social Innovation Fund Ireland has pledged to raise further money for the project through philanthropic donations and is seeking contributions from firms, foundations, families and individuals.
Businesses are being asked to donate additional money to the fund. Medtronic Foundation, the charitable arm of the medtech firm, is among the organisations that has already put funding forward, pledging €70,000.
"We know this pandemic is disproportionately affecting underserved populations around the world, including in Ireland where Medtronic is headquartered," said Paurvi Bhatt, President of the Medtronic Foundation.
"We are proud to support the Innovate Together Fund to help fund local organisations delivering critical services to those in need," she added.
Among the list of the types of projects that can apply for funding are those that enable online education, as well as those involved in youth mental health intervention and the circular economy
Projects looking at improvements to food security, re-skilling the workforce and new ways of working remotely will also be considered.
