Sustainability Research (SURE) Award

The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) is proud to announce the inaugural Sustainability Research (SURE) Award, designed to support and encourage innovative research into sustainable practices in ophthalmology. With climate change and resource depletion becoming urgent global concerns, the SURE Award seeks to drive high-quality translational research that can reduce the carbon footprint and enhance the circularity of global cataract, refractive, and corneal practices.

Purpose and Scope

The SURE Award fosters research excellence in sustainability by funding projects that investigate impactful, practical ways to promote environmental responsibility in ophthalmic care. From reducing surgical waste to analysing life-cycle efficiencies in clinical workflows, we aim to support research that aligns with ESCRS’s commitment to long-term sustainability in ophthalmology.

 

Who Should Apply?

The award is open to:

• Ophthalmologists and researchers (MD and/or PhD)
• Experienced ophthalmic nurses
• Applicants must be active ESCRS members at the time of application

Applicants must hold a current full- or part-time clinical or research position at a clinical or academic institution. We especially encourage early-career researchers and young ophthalmologists to apply and contribute their fresh perspectives to this vital field. Applicants must be current members of ESCRS at the point of application (this will be verified in the review process). Please note that applications from current ESCRS Research Committee members, as well as the Executive, Trustees, Council Members and co-opted Council Members will not be accepted. This abstention extends to submissions from their respective departments and/or clinics. Please check with the Head Office (escrs@escrs.org) if you are unsure of your eligibility.

Award Details

• Number of Awards: 2
• Award Amount: Up to €10,000 per project
• Project Duration: 12 months
• Application Period:
  Opens: 28 July 2025
  Closes: 01 November 2025
• Expected Outcomes: An article needs to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal within 6 months after the research period concludes. The article should be made Open Access if accepted and submitted to JCRS in the first instance. Evidence of this submission should be shown on request to the Research Committee in order to release the final instalment of funding.

 

Review Process

All submissions will undergo a robust, blinded peer review process:

• Applications are anonymised and reviewed by subject matter experts who will also be anonymous to the applicant. Please therefore ensure that your application contains no identifiable information. If there is any identifiable information the administration team will redact it before sending to review
• Top-ranked applications are submitted to the ESCRS Research Committee for final approval.
• This is to maintain fairness, transparency, and scientific integrity in award decision-making.

 

Evaluation Criteria

Applications should contain and will be assessed based on:

Criterion	Details:
Research Question:	Well-defined, addresses a gap in sustainability literature, appropriate for proposed methodology
Methodology:	Strong design preferred (e.g., RCTs, systematic reviews, life-cycle analyses)
Feasibility:	Realistic scope for a 12-month project
Finance:	Clear, justified and feasible use of award funds
Dissemination Plan:	Includes publication, conference presentation, and novel dissemination (e.g., podcasts/webinars)

 

Get Inspired

Applicants are encouraged to explore current sustainability work in ophthalmology via:

• EyeSustain
• ESCRS Young Ophthalmologists for Sustainability (YOFS) activity
• ESCRS sustainability content
• ESCRS sustainability report

 

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the form linked below  by 01 November 2025.

If you have any questions, contact the ESCRS Head Office at  escrs@escrs.org.

Please read the ESCRS Grant Agreement Template  prior to submitting your application and indicate that you understand the terms within the form where asked.