On 26 August 2026, the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA ČR) launched the fourth public call for proposals under the THÉTA 2 Programme to Support Applied Research and Innovation. The call supports research, development and innovation projects in the field of energy and is organised under three sub-programmes with a total estimated allocation of over 1.17 billion CZK. The deadline for submitting project proposals is 21 October 2026.
The THÉTA 2 programme’s open call for proposals builds on the vision for the transformation and modernisation of the energy sector in line with approved strategic documents. Funding is directed towards projects that will contribute to improving the management of the energy sector by public authorities, to the development of new technologies with rapid practical application, practice, and to the development of technologies with a longer-term application outlook.
TA ČR has announced its fourth public call for proposals across three sub-programmes (PP):
-
Sub-programme 1 (PP1) – Research in the public interest
– focuses on topics reflecting fundamental and interlinked trends in the energy sector, namely decarbonisation, decentralisation, digitalisation and democratisation, from the perspective of the public interest. It will also emphasise interdisciplinary technical areas, i.e. the interaction and interconnection of the energy sector with other sectors. -
Sub-programme 2 (PP2) – Energy technologies for competitiveness
– focuses on the development of technologies and solutions that can be rapidly implemented in practice. The supported technologies and technological solutions should contribute to the achievement of the Czech Republic’s climate, energy and environmental objectives, particularly in the short and medium term. Support will focus on both new and traditional areas in which research and development in the Czech Republic is already at European and global levels or can make significant use of competitive advantages. -
Sub-programme 3 (PP3) – Technologies to ensure the long-term sustainability of the energy sector
– focuses on supporting projects developing technologies and solutions which, at the time of project proposal, are at a lower technology readiness level (TRL, typically 3 to 5). These projects are not expected to be implemented in practice in the short term; rather, they are intended to support new solutions in industrial innovation that may, for example, help meet the Czech Republic’s climate, energy and environmental targets or promote energy security and ensure affordable energy prices, in the medium to long term.
Funding
- PP1: allocation of 120 mil. Kč, maximum support per project 15 mil. Kč, maximum aid intensity 90 %, minimum beneficiary contribution 10 %.
- PP2: allocation of 500 million Kč, no upper limit on the maximum amount of support per project, maximum aid intensity 60 %, minimum beneficiary contribution 40 %.
- PP3: allocation of 550 mil. Kč, no upper limit on the maximum amount of support per project, maximum aid intensity 85 %, minimum beneficiary contribution 15 %.
The call for proposals also includes a specific allocation amounting to 8 per cent of the projected allocation for structurally disadvantaged regions (RE:START) – 4 % for the Ústí and Karlovy Vary Regions (NUTS II North-West region) and 4 % for the Moravia-Silesia Region (NUTS II Moravia-Silesia region). This allocation will be used to support project proposals in which the lead applicant is based in one of the regions listed.
Research organisations and enterprises (small, medium and large) may apply for funding. In sub-programme 2, at least one enterprise must be involved amongst the applicants, which will subsequently apply the project’s results in practice. The lead applicant must be an entity with its registered office, place of business or branch in the Czech Republic; other participants may include entities with their registered office in another EU Member State, in the European Economic Area or in the Swiss Confederation.
Priority research objectives and application guarantor
In sub-programmes 1 and 3, applicants are required to commit to one of the priority research objectives (PROs), a list of which is contained in Annex 1 of the tender documentation; in sub-programme 2, a PRT is not required. In sub-programme 1, applicants are also required to secure an external application guarantor – primarily the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the State Office for Nuclear Safety or the Energy Regulatory Office, or, where agreed with the relevant contact person, another central government body or local authority.
This open call for proposals is announced on the TA ČR – SISTA shared information system.
In order for an applicant to create and submit a project proposal, they must meet the system’s new technical requirements – for example, register their organisation and designate its administrators. Without registering the organisation and adding its administrators, it will not be possible to submit a project proposal or draw down public funds for applied research projects. We have covered all the new technical requirements in detail at this article, so we recommend that you pay particular attention to it.
-
UP is already registered in the system. Any queries or issues regarding UPOL’s involvement in SISTA are handled by PSUP. Please contact me by email: ludmila.hrabakova@upol.cz, or by telephone on 585 631 404.
-
For project registration purposes, please note that it is necessary to make the project proposal available in SISTA by email to: ludmila.hrabakova@upol.cz. Without this step, it will not be possible to ensure adequate cooperation from UPOL when submitting the project proposal. Projects in which UPOL acts solely as a partner must also be made available.
The tender period begins on 27 August 2026 at 9.00 am and ends on 21 October 2026 at the time specified below:
- 16:29:59 hours. – is the latest possible time for submitting a project proposal via the SISTA information system;
- 23:59:59 hours. – is the latest possible time for submitting documents proving eligibility, which each applicant must submit separately.
All documents relating to the 4th public tender, including the tender documentation and its annexes, are available on the tender page here.
Source: TA ČR