(Updated April 21, 2026)
On April 20, 2026, the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GA ČR) closed the call for project proposals for the Standard Projects, International Projects, POSTDOC INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIP, Return Grants, EXPRO, and Junior STAR competitions. Palacký University submitted a total of 180 project applications to these calls. The majority of these, 66, were prepared by researchers from the Faculty of Science, followed by the CATRIN Research Institute (31) and the Faculty of Arts (30). You can view a clear summary of the submitted projects in the attached graphic.
GA ČR Projects Submitted by UP (as of April 20, 2026)
As is customary, the largest share of submitted projects falls under the Standard Projects category (130), through which excellent basic research in all fields is supported. Other programs—international projects (+LEAD Agency projects), return grants, postdoctoral fellowships, EXPRO, and Junior STAR—make up a smaller but strategically significant portion of the portfolio of submitted projects. Compared to the previous year, we have recorded a decline in the number of proposals submitted in the category of international projects, including those evaluated under the Lead Agency principle.
After a one-year hiatus, the EXPRO competition has been relaunched for experienced researchers whose projects aim to achieve a major breakthrough in their respective fields. Palacký University is applying for funding for a total of five projects in this competition (2 from the Faculty of Science, 2 from CATRIN, and 1 from the Faculty of Education), which, if successful, will have the opportunity to carry out a five-year project with funding of up to 50 million CZK. Successful completion of the project then leads to the submission of a project proposal to the European Research Council (ERC).
Another positive development is the increased interest in competitions under the POSTDOC INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIP program, which is designed to support the international mobility of early-career researchers after they have completed their doctoral studies. Palacký University submitted a total of 11 applications for an incoming grant (INCOMING), which enables Czech researchers to return from abroad or allows foreign researchers to begin their careers at UP. Another 4 applications are for the OUTGOING option, which enables researchers to carry out their own research projects through a long-term international internship combined with the completion of research at their home institution.
GAČR Projects Submitted by Program (as of April 20, 2026)
GAČR Projects Submitted by Faculty (as of March 31, 2026)
