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Technology Agency of the Czech Republic announces the preparation of the 17th public competition under the SIGMA Programme for the Support of Applied Research and Innovation – Sub-objective 2: Early-Career Researchers and Equal Opportunities in Applied Research Projects – Industrial Chairs.

Programme Objective

The public competition is aimed at supporting the recruitment and long-term retention of internationally recognised experts in the field of applied research within research organizations, in accordance with the conditions of the SIGMA Programme – Sub-objective 2. The purpose is to support changes within research organizations leading to greater application of research results in practice, by funding the work of a team built around an individual with international experience and professional networks abroad.

Basic Information

• Announcement date of the public competition: 24 June 2026
• Competition period: 25 June 2026 – 12 August 2026
• Announcement of results: 28 February 2027
• Project start date: March 2027   
• Project duration: minimum 60 months, maximum 84 months
• Latest possible project completion date: 28 February 2034
• Eligible applicants: enterprises (small, medium-sized, or large as additional participants) and research organizations (exactly one research organization must act as the main applicant in the project proposal)
• Estimated total allocation for the public competition: CZK 500 million 
• Maximum funding per project: CZK 42 million
• Maximum funding intensity per project: 60%
• Co-financing: 40% (20% enterprise, 20% other funding sources) 
• Additional conditions: The project team of the main applicant must include a foreign researcher (Industrial Chair) and at least three early-career researchers. After project completion, the host institution must maintain the Chair position for at least 3 years as part of its organizational structure and management system, without being tied to a specific individual.  

Important Documents