Smart D8 has launched its sixth Call for Pilots, continuing its objective of improving community health and well-being through meaningful collaboration, innovation, and real-world testing in Dublin 8.
Since its launch in 2020, Smart D8 has supported 19 impactful pilot projects, helping innovators develop and validate solutions directly with citizens, community organisations, healthcare partners, and local networks. This year’s call for pilots invited innovators to propose solutions across three priority themes shaped by ongoing engagement with residents, workers, schools, and community groups:
- Nutrition
- Social Connectedness
- Workplace Wellbeing
Up to three pilots will be selected, each receiving up to €10,000 in funding, along with access to community networks, expert partners, and real-world settings to test and assess their impact. The goal is to support health innovations that deliver clear results locally and can scale to broader national use.
Over the last 5 years, Smart D8 has built strong roots within the Dublin 8 community. Through pilot programmes, local workshops, and collaboration with established networks, the initiative has engaged with more than 21,500 people, almost half of the area’s 45,000 residents. The community-first model has helped ensure that the selected pilots address real needs and reflect lived experience.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ray McAdam, said:
“I am proud to see our city continue to lead with purpose, placing community wellbeing, innovation and sustainability at the centre of how we shape Dublin’s future. Smart D8 represents the very best of civic collaboration, bringing together innovators, researchers, public services and citizens to test ideas that improve everyday life. By grounding innovation in evidence and in lived experience, it is building a model for healthier communities that can be scaled across our capital and beyond. I strongly encourage innovators with bold, practical and evidence-led ideas to step forward and partner with us. Together, we can demonstrate how place-based collaboration delivers real change for Dublin 8 and sets a standard for cities everywhere.”
Speaking on the opening of pilot applications, Smart D8 Ecosystem Manager Jack Lehane, said:
“As Smart D8 moves into its sixth year, we take great pride in the scale of engagement so far and are especially motivated by the opportunities that lie ahead. In 2026, we will continue to build on this momentum by focusing on themes that have the greatest potential to identify and validate population health solutions, including nutrition, social connectedness and workplace wellbeing.
The partnership provides changemakers with a chance to connect their innovations with citizens in real-world community settings and demonstrate their ability to scale to wider populations. We strongly encourage organisations from any sector that have population-scale innovations in these areas to apply and look forward to seeing more projects deliver measurable impacts and outcomes across the Dublin 8 community and beyond in the year ahead.”
Ana Coughlan, Smart D8 Community Coordinator, added:
“At Smart D8, our mission is to improve community health and wellbeing through meaningful collaboration and innovation while amplifying the efforts of those already committed to making a difference in people’s lives. We have built a strong network of community-centred initiatives that involve residents, workers and students to support healthier lifestyles, and this year’s themes are chosen based on this outreach. We will continue to expand our impact by welcoming pilot proposals that focus on innovative approaches to illness prevention, helping to create a stronger, healthier and more connected Dublin 8.”
Applications for the 2026 pilot call are now open and will close on Thursday, 26 March at 11 pm. Organisations from all sectors, such as start-ups, SMEs, academia, community services and beyond are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about Smart D8 or to submit an application, visit:
https://smartd8.ie.