The Research Ireland – Defence Innovation Challenge supports innovative research projects that address existing and emerging defence, national security, and emergency response challenges in Ireland. Key Challenge AreasThe Defence Innovation Challenge is organized around five core areas. Projects should demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed research and a meaningful defence, security, emergency response, or resilience challenge. It is a research and innovation programme that connects Irish research teams with Defence to develop solutions addressing defence, national security, emergency response, and societal resilience challenges. ConclusionThe Research Ireland – Defence Innovation Challenge provides a structured pathway for Irish interdisciplinary research teams to develop innovative solutions to real-world defence, security, emergency response, and resilience challenges.