Competitions and awards

Every year, the rector of Masaryk University issues a call for nominations for the Masaryk University Rector’s Award. This prize is awarded in several categories as established by MU Directive No. 7/2016 – Masaryk University Rector's Award (in Czech only). The winners receive an MU medal, a diploma, and a monetary award. The rector usually confers the awards during a ceremony held during Dies academicus or during other celebrations.

The award is announced in the following categories:

• Rector’s Award for Outstanding Creative Activity,
• Rector’s Award for Outstanding Artistic Activity,
• Rector’s Award for an Outstanding Sports Performance,
• Rector’s Award for Extraordinary International Grant Competition Results,
• Rector’s Award for Outstanding Research Results Achieved by Young Scientists under 35,
• Rector’s Award for Long-term Excellence in Research,
• Rector’s Award for Outstanding Teachers,
• Rector’s Award for Innovations in Teaching,
• Rector’s Award for Exceptional Students in MU Master’s Programmes,
• Rector’s Award for Best students in MU Doctoral Programmes,
• Rector’s Award for an Outstanding Doctoral Thesis,
• Rector’s Award for the Active Development of Civil Society,
• Rector’s Award for Volunteering.

The heads of MU’s constituent parts may nominate only one person in each category unless otherwise stated. The nomination form can be downloaded here; the conditions and the required appendixes are outlined in detail here. The competition for the Rector's Award for Outstanding Teachers is governed by its own rules. More information about the competition can be found here.

Nominations for the Faculty of Science should be sent to Mrs. Procházková by 20 January 2023. Nominations will be reviewed and selected by the Dean's Board for forwarding to the Rector's Office by 29 January 2023.

An overview of all award winners in the past years is available on muni.cz/en.

The Dean's Award of the Faculty of Science MU is governed by the Dean's Measure No. 7/2019 in the Terms of Scholarship Programmes of the Faculty of Science Masaryk University, paragraph A.2, letter a) and is announced annually to support the creative activities of outstanding students of Bachelor's, Master's, and doctoral study programmes.

The Dean's Award is announced in three categories:
a) the best student in the Bachelor's and Master's study programme
b) the best student in the doctoral study programme
c) the collective of outstanding students

The director of the institute can nominate 1 person for each category, up to 2 persons (students / recent graduates) for large institutes. In the nomination form, make a short evaluation of the proposed student / graduate, especially taking into account the scientific achievements, learning outcomes and significant activities in the field. No further attachments are required.

Nominations for the Faculty of Science MU should be sent to prochazkova@sci.muni.cz by 24 February 2023.

You can also nominate students nominated for the Rector's Award, in which case you only need to send the student's name, and we will use the nomination form from the Rector's Award.

An overview of all award winners in the past years is available here.

The World Cultural Council launches the Albert Einstein Prize and the José Vasconcelos Prize to recognize individuals and institutions that have achieved outstanding success in science and education.

1. The Albert Einstein Prize is awarded for work in the life sciences, such as neuroscience, biology, biochemistry, medicine, etc., and in the natural sciences, such as mathematics, physics and astronomy.
2. The José Vasconcelos Prize for Education is awarded to educators and world leaders in teaching and education. The nominated individual or team should have had a significant impact on the development of human culture.

Candidates for the award may be nominated by, for example, directors of institutes and organisations, university rectors or eminent personalities in science and culture.

The application form is available on the award website.

• Cover letter
• Candidate's curriculum vitae
• Two letters of recommendation
• One to two pages of justification for the nomination, listing the candidate's major achievements
• List of 10 most important publications
• List of all the candidate's publications with titles translated into English
• A photograph of the candidate

The deadline for submitting nominations for Masaryk University is 1 December, 2022. Nominations should be sent to Mrs. Procházková. The deadline for sending applications for the competition is 16 December, 2022.

Further information about the awards can be found at this link.

The President's Award of the Council for Research, Development and Innovation for the promotion or popularisation of research, experimental development and innovation for the year 2022 is awarded by the President of the Council for Research, Development and Innovation, who may award this award on the basis of a proposal or on her own initiative. The Chairperson's Award cannot be awarded in memoriam.

The financial award for the promotion or popularisation of research, experimental development and innovation shall be awarded to a natural person for a significant work in the field of the development of research, experimental development and innovation, including its promotion or popularisation, or to a natural person who has made a significant contribution to the promotion or popularisation of research, experimental development and innovation by publishing, transmitting or otherwise disseminating knowledge and expertise in the field of research, experimental development or innovation in a popular scientific manner.

The laureate will receive a financial award of up to CZK 500 000 together with the prize. This award is granted from the budget chapter of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic and can be granted only once per calendar year.

In selecting a candidate for the award, the Chair of the Council assesses the number, scope and quality of popularisation public appearances and the number, scope and quality of written popularisation contributions, including popularisation in the media and various public lectures, taking into account the impact on the public, especially in terms of promoting the long-term prospects of research, experimental development and innovation.

Requirements for the candidate

The proposal for the Chairperson's Award includes:

1. the name of the nominee,
2. date of birth,
3. curriculum vitae,
4. a description of the nominee's lifetime achievements and references at home and abroad (up to 5 pages).

The proposal is submitted by the Rector of Masaryk University, for this reason we kindly ask you to submit the nomination in duplicate on the form with the duly filled in details to Mrs. Procházková no later than 10 September 2022.

Proposals for the 2022 Prize should be submitted to the Ministry of Education no later than 30 September 2022. Detailed information can be found here (in Czech).

The Minister of Agriculture appreciates the creative activities of scientists leading to outstanding results of research and experimental development with a significant contribution to Czech agriculture, food, forestry, and water management and the transfer of these results into practice.

The award is given in the form of a financial prize. The total amount of the financial award for a given year is CZK 240 000 and is graded according to the order of the best-evaluated results: 1st prize = CZK 100 000; 2nd prize = CZK 80 000; 3rd prize = CZK 60 000.

A proposal may be a result that has not been published, protected under special legislation, or implemented for more than 5 years. It is not possible to submit proposals for awards for results that have already been evaluated in previous years.

Each proposal may contain only one result. Multiple (separate) proposals may be submitted by the same author. A result proposed for the competition may be:

a) Jimp, Jsc, Jost – peer-reviewed article;
b) a result protected under special legislation: P – patent, Zodru – variety, Zplem – breed, Fužit – utility model, Fprum – industrial design;
c) R – software, Gprot – prototype, Zpolop – semi-operation, Ztech – proven technology, Nmet – methodology, Nmap –​ specialised map with specialised content.

The deadline for submission of applications is March 14, 2022. Detailed information necessary to prepare and submit a proposal for the award, including information on the evaluation method and criteria, is contained in the Statutes and Rules of Procedure (in Czech) and in the related documents attached here (in Czech).

The aim is to support young scientists up to 35 years of age and their creative activity leading to excellent results of research and experimental development with a significant contribution to Czech agriculture, food, forestry, and water management.

The award is given in the form of a financial prize. The total amount of the financial award for a given year is CZK 240 000 and is graded according to the order of the best-evaluated results: 1st prize = CZK 100 000; 2nd prize = CZK 80 000; 3rd prize = CZK 60 000.

The deadline for submission of applications is March 14, 2022. Detailed information necessary to prepare and submit a proposal for the award, including information on the evaluation method and criteria, is contained in the Statutes and Rules of Procedure (in Czech) and in the related documents attached here (in Czech).

Every year the Czech Chemical Society announces the Alfred Bader Prize for Organic Chemistry. The prizes are awarded to candidates of Czech nationality up to the age of 35 years who do not have their main employment abroad (a postdoctoral fellowship is not considered such an employment relationship). The winner receives a financial award of 5 400 USD (approx. 125 000 CZK).

The usual content of the submissions is organic synthesis, but submissions may also include mechanism studies. On the other hand, the Prize does not cover work in the analytical field (including structural analysis), physical data measurements (including measurements of various equilibria and energy quantities), substitution effect studies and computational chemistry.

The application form includes:

• separates of published papers submitted to the competition
• a summary of their own results with appropriate commentary of up to 8 regular typewritten pages
• a list of the applicant's publications
• curriculum vitae (with a focus on professional development)
• references and supporting documents are welcome

In the application, the applicant should clearly define the relationship of the submitted file to the field of chemistry to which the prize relates, as well as submit a summary of his/her own results, a list of publications and a CV in hard copy as before, and provide these materials in an electronic version (PDF). In addition, he/she will include an electronic version of the separations of his/her work on a suitable medium.

Candidates for the Prize usually apply themselves at the Secretariat of the Czech Chemical Society (Novotného lávka 5, 11668 Prague 1), but colleagues, institutions and scientific councils and senates may also submit a proposal.

The deadline for submission with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is 28 February 2023. Nominations should be sent to Mrs. Procházková. The deadline for submission of applications is 31 March 2023.

The terms and conditions of the competition are set out in the Statutes of the Prize (in Czech); additional information can be found on the website (in Czech).

The Balzan Prizes are awarded in two general subject areas: literature and the humanities, and the physical, mathematical, natural sciences, and medicine. Four Balzan Prizes, two in each category, are awarded to scientists, artists, and researchers who have excelled internationally in their field.

This year, the prizes will be awarded in the following areas:

• World Literature
• Evolution of Humankind: Paleoanthropology
• Evolution of Humankind: Ancient DNA and Human Evolution
• High resolution images: from planetary to cosmic objects

The amount of each of the four Balzan Prizes is around 750 000 CHF (approx. 18 mil. CZK). Prize winners must destine half of the prize to finance research projects that are preferably carried out by young scholars or scientists.

The deadline for submission with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is 15 February 2023. Nominations should be sent to Mrs. Procházková. The deadline for submission of applications is 15 March 2023.

More information can be found on the website of the award.

Electricité de France and the French Embassy in the Czech Republic organize a competition aimed at rewarding the best doctoral thesis in the field of nuclear research.

The winners will receive a financial reward (CZK 65, 40, and 25,000), and the first two also receive a scholarship for an internship in France.

Conditions of participation:

• doctoral thesis in the field of nuclear research
• persons of Czech or Slovak nationality under the age of 33 (as of 1 May 2023)
• students of a PhD programme at a Czech research institution or university or young researchers who defended their dissertation in 2022 or 2023
• their doctoral studies do not conflict with their work for Electricité de France
• authorship of at least one scientific article published (or accepted) in a peer-reviewed international journal

Please send applications to Mrs. Procházková until 20 March 2023. They will be later handed over to prof. Jiří Příhoda, the coordinator on behalf of MU.

Important dates:

• 2 April 2023 – the coordinator selects the two best candidates and sends their names and contact information to the French Embassy in the Czech Republic
• 3 April 2023 – delivery of nomination proposals with a request for support by the Rector to RMU
• 23 April 2023 – candidates send their complete applications to sciences.praque@gmail.com
• 11 May 2023 – oral presentation by candidates before the selection committee
• 22 June 2023 – awarding ceremony
• until 31 December 2024 – internship of the awarded students in France

More information can be found on the competition website.

The Lundbeck Foundation awards this prize for outstanding research and breakthrough discovery in the field of neuroscience. Each year, approximately 1.3 million EUR is awarded to one or more neurologists who have a pioneering impact on brain research.

The Brain Prize is awarded at a ceremony in Copenhagen chaired by His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Denmark. The Brain Prize was first awarded in 2011 and has so far honored 34 scientists from 9 different countries.

Nominations for 2022 will open in May 2021. The application must include the full name and area of ​​research of the nominee, as well as a justification for the nomination based on his selected list of publications. Nominations are made online here.

Nomination criteria:

• The nomination itself is not accepted.
• Anyone can nominate.
• Nominees can be of any nationality and work in any part of the world.
• Nominees can work in any field of neuroscience.
• Nominees must still be actively involved in research.
• If several researchers have made a significant contribution to the success, several may be nominated.
• It is recommended to reappoint previously unsuccessful candidates.

Further information on the prize is available on the competition's website.

The Brno City Council annually awards the Brno City Award for an important activity or work that has enriched one or more areas of public life and thus contributed to strengthening the good name of the city of Brno.

The award is given in the following areas:

• technical sciences
• science
• medical science and pharmacy
• social sciences
• architecture and urbanism
• fine art and design
• music
• literary activity
• journalism and journalism
• dramatic art
• sport
• international cooperation of the city of Brno
• merits for freedom and democracy
• extraordinary contribution to the city of Brno
• in memoriam.

In each of these areas, only one prize can be awarded each year, per individual, pair or team. Written proposals for the Award to a specific candidate in a specific field may be submitted by citizens, authorities of the Statutory City of Brno and city districts, members of the Brno City Council and city district councils, organisations, institutions, companies, societies and associations, universities, scientific institutes and other entities. The winner will receive a diploma of the Brno City Award and a sculpture by Miroslava Šobrová "Brno City Award". As part of the award, each of the laureates will receive a financial gift from the budget of the Statutory City of Brno in the amount of CZK 20,000.

The proposal must include the name of the candidate, the field in which the award is proposed, a proper justification of the proposal and the contact details of the proposer. It is advisable to title the written proposal 'Proposal for the Brno City Award'. The proposal may be supplemented by additional documents in an annex, which may supplement the justification of the proposal.

The nomination can be supported on behalf of the MU Rector. In case of interest in this possibility, it is necessary that the nomination be approved in advance by the Dean of the Faculty or the HS Director. In case of interest in such support, please contact Mrs. Procházková well in advance. The deadline for submission of complete application proposals is August 10, 2022. Proposals for the Brno City Award should be submitted to the Brno City Hall by August 31, 2022.

Detailed information and instructions for submitting a proposal can be found on the website of the statutory city of Brno (in CZ).

Brno Ph.D. Talent is a competition for students of doctoral study programmes that offers long-term financial support and career development support to 25 talented doctoral students in the form of a scholarship of CZK 100,000 per year for three years.

The competition is funded by the Brno City Council and administered by the South Moravian Centre for International Mobility. The scholarship will be awarded to the 25 best applicants who convince of the excellence of their achievements and the quality of their proposed research project.

Conditions for registration

• full-time student (indicate in the application form the date of admission to doctoral studies and enrolment)
• commencement of the first or second semester of the first year of study in the autumn semester 2022
• be under 32 years of age at the time of registration
• majoring in a technical or natural science discipline

Application structure

The application consists of three parts: a professional CV of the applicant, a description of the research project and definition of the team, and a description of the professional background that will be used to tackle the project.

CV of the applicant

• educational background and qualifications for the proposed project
• practical experience, internships, projects undertaken
• results and awards

Scientific project

• objectives and original contribution
• theoretical framework, methods and techniques, references
• timetable and major milestones
• motivation for the project

Project background

• supervisor and expert consultants
• departments and collaborating institutions
• other relevant information

The entire application must be written in English and submitted in one PDF file. The maximum length of the application is 12 A4 pages of original text. For a more detailed description of the application form and the competition process, please refer to the Guide for Applicants 2021. You can also take inspiration from successful projects from previous years.

Registration is open during September 1–30, 2022. To register, you will need to enter your details at this link to create your own account, into which you will upload your application electronically.

All applications are assessed by two external assessors, with the applicants with the highest scores going forward to the final round of the selection process. The finalists will then present their projects to the expert panel in a final presentation during December 2022. In addition to assessing the applicant's expertise and the project proposal in a broader context, the panel members will also assess presentation skills, ability to explain the benefits of the project and defend the project proposal, personal motivation, reaction time, assertiveness, etc. After listening to all presentations and discussing with the finalists, the committee will propose the final ranking.

More information can be found on the JCMM website.

The Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic announces the third year of the Industry 4.0 Award competition. The Association will award companies that gain competitive advantages and become an inspiration in their industries by using Industry 4.0 technologies and approaches. By their example, such companies also help to create an environment for the wider introduction of Industry 4.0 elements into Czech industry.

The aim is to popularise Czech industry and profile it as a "modern and innovative industry" among the public. The examples of the selected projects will bring inspiration to companies and motivate them to follow trends and implement modern technologies, elements of Industry 4.0.

The competition is open to companies/entrepreneurs with an interesting innovative project related to the overall digital transformation of the company or the deployment of individual elements of Industry 4.0 in different areas of the company's operation, such as production and technology, logistics, energy, customer relations, human resources or research and development. The condition is that the project is carried out in 2021 or 2022, and the winner will receive CZK 50,000.

Evaluation criteria:

• innovative solutions,
• complexity of the project,
• impact of the project on the results and development of the company,
• impact of the project on the company's employees,
• contribution to digital transformation.

To enter a project in the competition, you need to fill in a form with basic information and attach a PDF with a narrative description of the project according to the structure (in Czech). Please send the mentioned information to Mrs. Procházková. After checking, they will be forwarded to the Rector's Office, which will process the nominations collectively for the whole MU. The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the competition is May 31, 2022. More information can be found on the competition website (in Czech).

CRYTUR, spol. s r.o. in cooperation with CareerMarket.cz announces a competition for the best diploma thesis in material sciences. The aim of the competition is to reward the authors of the best theses with a focus on material sciences, thus encouraging their efforts to apply the acquired knowledge in practice and highlighting innovative practices. Prizes are also intended for thesis supervisors.

Prizes for the winners:

1. place: 40 000 CZK for the student + 10 000 CZK for the thesis supervisor
2. place: 30,000 CZK student + 5,000 CZK thesis supervisor
3. place: 20,000 CZK student + 5,000 CZK thesis supervisor

The competition is open to Master's students at Czech and Slovak universities focusing on materials science (study of physical and chemical properties of materials, technology of processing and preparation of materials, application of materials in physical fields). The thesis must be submitted for defence between 1 October 2021 and 30 September 2022. The thesis must be written in Czech, Slovak or English.

Qualification criteria:

• professional quality
• contribution to the current state of knowledge
• applicability, applicability of the topic to practice
• innovative approach to the problem

Those interested in taking part in the competition must deliver a completed and signed application form with the required attachments (affidavit, statement of the supervisor on 1 A4 page, 1 copy of the thesis in a ring binder) to the address of the competition organiser – MEDICOMP s.r.o., CRYTUR Award, Prouskova 1724, 511 01 Turnov by 30 September 2022.

The submission of the diploma thesis can be extended by agreement until 15 October 2022. The application form and attachments together with further information on the competition rules are available on the competition website (in CZ).

ČEPS operates in the Czech Republic as the operator of the electricity transmission system. The competition for the best diploma thesis is a great opportunity for students to establish cooperation and start their careers.

If you have written a diploma thesis on one of the topics offered here (in CZ) or yours is closely related to the transmission system, you can enter your thesis in the Diploma Thesis of the Year competition. The winner will not only receive CZK 20,000, but will also have the opportunity to spend a day with selected experts from the ČEPS Group and have lunch with the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Martin Durčák. The winner will be selected by a jury of company experts.

The deadline for entries is 30 September 2022. Information on the competition can be found on the company's website (in CZ).

To enter the competition, please send your thesis in PDF format, the opinion of the thesis supervisor and the opinion of your opponent to: kariera@ceps.cz.

The award is given to 14 young researchers – one for each country that is part of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Romania, and Ukraine) – with the intention to honor persons with extraordinary achievements in their scientific activity and output in relation to the Danube region.

The award seeks to highlight the scientific work and talent of young researchers and enhance the visibility of the scientific community in the region. Moreover, the award encourages young scientists to engage in the scientific examination of the multifaceted issues and questions specifically related to the Danube region. Each winner will receive, in addition to the visibility of their work, an amount of EUR 1,350.

Award Criteria:

• Scientific excellence and innovative approach of the academic work
• Thematic relevance of the scientific work for issues/problems of the Danube Region
• Relevance of the scientific work beyond the national borders
• Potential of the candidate (for example integration in international networks, participation in scientific projects, publication history, experience in teaching, etc.)
• Participants who received their Master/PhD max. 5 years ago (after 1 January 2018)

Candidates for the Danubius Young Scientist Award can come from all scientific disciplines. The number of nominations per organization is limited to a maximum number of 5. However, the five candidates have to come from different faculties or departments, institutes or research groups within the organization.

NEW: For the attribution to the country, the nominating institution is the determining factor. Meaning, if for example, a Czech institution would nominate a researcher for the award, the citizenship of the researcher itself is irrelevant, the price will be attributed to Czechia. With that, the organizers want to open the nomination process for all young researchers from an institution within the EUSDR and thereby contributing to the Danube Region research landscape.

Proposals for the competition are submitted by the Rector. Please send complete documents in electronic form until 1 April 2023. The nomination will be assessed by the Dean and then sent to the Rector's office (by 5 April). Proposals on behalf of the Rector must be submitted to the competition by 5 May 2023.

More information can be found on the website of the award.

Every year, the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) awards a gold medal to young scientists for outstanding research in the life sciences.

Eligible candidates are life scientists who are currently working in one of the EMBC Member States and who are under the age of 40 years, or within ten years of having obtained their PhD or equivalent on the day of the deadline for nominations. The winner receives a medal and a scholarship of 10,000 Euro.

EMBO Members and EMBO Young Investigators are invited to nominate candidates for the medal every year. To be considered, a nomination must be supported by one proposer (EMBO Member or Young Investigator) and two sponsors (EMBO Members), and must include:

1. Nomination form
2. CV of the proposed candidate
3. Individual statements (letters of support) from the proposer and the two sponsors, indicating why they believe the candidate should be considered for the medal

The deadline for submitting nominations with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is 9 January 2023. Nominations should be sent to Mrs. Procházková. The deadline for nominations is 1 February 2023.

Detailed information about the competition can be found here.

The Eppendorf Award for Young European Investigators was first established in 1995. It acknowledges outstanding contributions to biomedical research in Europe based on methods of molecular biology, including novel analytical concepts. The Award winner will, among other things, receive a prize money of 20,000 EUR for personal use.

The application is in English and must include:

• your personal data
• your curriculum vitae
• a title describing the subject of your research
• an essay of max. 2,000 characters (incl. spaces) summarizing your research
• a short description of your major discovery
• your publication list
• PDF files of your published papers (min. 3, max. 5)

The papers submitted will be evaluated with respect to the following selection criteria:

1. Independent scientific work
2. Creativity (independent of instructions from head of institute)
3. Successful practical application of research approach
4. Significance of research results for the field of medicine
5. Achievement of candidate in relation to his/her age

The main focus is on investigating the molecular biological mechanisms of the human organism and then translating this research into practical findings. The long-term goal is the diagnosis and therapy of those diseases which have yet to be treated successfully.

For this competition, please send all submissions in electronic form to Mrs. Procházková until 15 December 2022. Deadline for submissions to the competition: 15 January 2023. For more information, please visit the competition website.

The prize is awarded annually by the European Parliament together with the Charlemagne International Prize Foundation in Aachen for projects promoting understanding at European and international level, helping to develop a common sense of European identity and integration, setting an example for young people living in Europe and providing practical examples of Europeans living together as one community.

The deadline for submission with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is 9 January 2023. Nominations should be sent to Mgr. Procházková. All details can be found here. The deadline for submissions is 2 February 2023.

The Neuron Foundation announces a new grant, Expedition Neuron, in which Czech scientists can receive up to one million crowns for field research. The Neuron Expeditions build on the era of the Hanzelka and Zikmund explorers and are open to scientists and researchers of all disciplines.

The online application (in Czech) must include contact information, an attached presentation and a link to your video.

The Expedition Neuron Grant is accepting applications until October 31, 2022, and the Expedition Board, led by Peter Hot, will announce the winners in January 2023.

Prizes are awarded for originality of research, contribution to world science and contribution to the next generation of scientists. So far, the Neuron Foundation has sent ten expeditions to the most diverse places in the world and has paid out CZK 4.5 million from patronage donations to carry them out.

More information about the terms and conditions of the competition on the competition website.

The Experientia Foundation provides young scientists up to 35 years of age with a one-year postdoctoral fellowship in organic, bioorganic or medicinal chemistry and related disciplines.

All you need to do is to come up with an original project, approach your dream institute and apply for an award. Selected candidates will be invited to a joint meeting of the Grants Committee and the Board of Trustees of the Experientia Foundation, where they will have the opportunity to present their project in more detail. This meeting is usually held at the end of May.

The deadline for submission with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is 15 February 2023. Nominations should be sent to Mrs. Procházková. The deadline for submissions is 15 March 2023.

Detailed information is available here.

Falling Walls Lab, the National Technical Library in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague, xITEE, the Czech-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic and the CzechInvest agency announce another year of the international Falling Walls Lab competition.

The aim of the competition is to bring together the next generation of great scientists and innovators to come up with a breathtaking idea – a scientific project, business plan or social initiative that will break down all walls and barriers. The winner of the national round will receive a cash gift of EUR 1,000 and will represent the Czech Republic at the global finale in Berlin, which is regularly held on the eve of the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (November 7–9, 2022).

The presentations are in English in a "pitch-talk" format that is no longer than three minutes. It doesn't matter whether the topic is computing or medicine, economics or engineering, philosophy, robotics, chemistry, art or agriculture – the competition is open to anyone who is convinced of their idea and can convince others of it. Students of all levels are welcome, even PhDs and postdocs.

You can apply via the international Falling Walls website. The deadline for applications is June 30, 2022.

For more information, please visit the Falling Walls Lab Czech Republic website.

FameLab is an international science communication competition developed in 2004. Since 2022 FameLab is realized by Charles University. FameLab is a stand-up competition when a contestant has three minutes to explain his/her scientific phenomena in an understandable and amusing way.
Feel you want to try it?! Read more!

Eligibility

• You must be working or studying in the field of natural sciences, technology, medicine, mathematics or humanities
• You must be over 21 years old
• You must study or work at Czech-based university or research institution
• You must attend a MASTERCLASS training

Talk

• The talk must not be longer than 3 minutes
• The talk must be on a scientific subject and scientifically correct
• You cannot use a projector (i.e. electronic presentations, videos, etc.)
• You must carry any props on and off stage by yourself and they must be safe

By submitting your video to famelab@cuni.cz by 31 May 2023, you will enter a preliminary round where an expert jury will select the 10 best videos based on criteria (content, clarity and charisma). These will then receive the prestigious MASTERCLASS training and then measure their strength in the national final at the end of September in Prague. The winner then goes on to become one of the best in the participating countries. The content of your video and competition entry does not have to be identical, but should be on the same topic. Quality of your video is not evaluated. You may modify your presentation before the contest after attending a Masterclass.

Dates

• until 31 May 2023: deadline for application
• June 2023: 10 finalists announcement
• 16–17 September 2023: Masterclass national (Prague)
• 26 September 2023: National final
• October 2023: Masterclass international (online)
• November 2023: finale (online live)

More information can be found on the competition website.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports announces the František Běhounek Award for the promotion and popularization of Czech science and the dissemination of the good name of the Czech Republic in the European Research Area (ERA).

The prize is awarded to a scientific figure who meets the following conditions:

• operates in basic or applied research, development or academia,
• graduated from a Czech university or works in a research or educational institution in the Czech Republic and
• over the last five years, through his active and successful participation in European cooperation projects in the field of research, experimental development and innovation, he has contributed to the promotion and popularization of the scientific field and to spreading the good name of the Czech Republic.

The award is accompanied by a financial reward of CZK 250,000. The prize is awarded by the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports on the basis of a proposal from an expert committee, which will evaluate the nominations. The prize is not awarded in memoriam.

The candidate may be proposed by a university or research institution, the editors of a professional impacted scientific journal or a person who holds the academic title of professor obtained or recognized in the Czech Republic or in another country of the EU.

The proposal must contain: the contact details of the proposer and his signature, the name of the proposed personality and his contact details, proper justification and references to foreign scientific sources in which the candidate's work is mentioned and evaluated. The nomination form and detailed information on the Award, including the statutes (in CZ), are available on the MŠMT website.

The nomination is made under the auspices of the Rector. Submissions for the competition should be emailed to Mgr. Procházková no later than 1 August 2022. Proposals for the Prize will be accepted at the MŠMT no later than 4 pm on 31 August 2022.

The GAMU program recognizes scientists for their excellence and significant achievements in research at Masaryk University. The aim is to strengthen the motivation of the University's outstanding researchers and to spread the reputation of MU in the scientific community and the public.

Nominations are internal and are coordinated by the RMU Research Department. Nominations, including justification, are made by the RMU Research Department upon invitation:

• Vice-Deans for Science and Research of the faculties and Masaryk University Research Centres' officers.
• Director of the Centre for Technology Transfer
• Vice-Rector for Research and Doctoral Studies
• Head of the RMU Research Department

Nominations are collected until 15 October 2022.

More information about the competition can be found on the competition website.

Contact person for the competition Iveta Daňhelová, RMU Research Department

The announcement and awarding of the prize will take place at the final GAMU conference on 23 November 2022.

In accordance with the relevant regulations, the Council for Research, Development and Innovation is launching a call for nominations for the Government's Gifted Student Award 2022. The award for outstanding research, development and innovation is being extended to include the possibility of awarding the Government's Gifted Student Award to a gifted student from a secondary school or university who has shown talent and interest in research or scientific work – in order to promote research activities more widely and in an effort to attract young promising candidates for a future career as a scientist.

The Government Award can only be awarded to recognise outstanding achievements in research, experimental development and innovation. It is therefore not possible to award e.g. exceptional academic achievements or the results of other activities in this way. The awarding of the Prize is decided by the Government on the proposal of the Council for Research, Development and Innovation. The laureate will receive a financial award of CZK 50,000 together with the prize. This award is provided from the budget chapter of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic and can be awarded only once per calendar year.

Requirements for the candidate
The proposal for the Government Award for a gifted student includes:
(a) the name and surname of the candidate,
b) date of birth,
c) residential address, telephone, fax, e-mail,
d) curriculum vitae,
e) a description of the candidate's achievements, highlighting the excellence and quality of the results (up to 3 pages),
(f) a certificate from the secondary school or university at which the candidate is studying, attesting to the accuracy of the information given in the application form,
(g) a letter of recommendation from two professional or scientific staff on the importance and contribution of the work of the candidate (no older than the previous calendar year).

Submission of complete applications is possible no later than 14 September 2022 to the hands of Mrs. Procházková. Proposals must be received at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic no later than 14 October 2022. Further information on the conditions is available on the website (in CZ) of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic.

The Gratias agit Award of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for spreading the good name of the Czech Republic abroad was established in 1997 to honour leading personalities and organisations for their exemplary activities in the non-governmental sphere.

The Gratias agit Award, granted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, may be awarded to persons, regardless of their nationality and citizenship, irrespective of their country of origin and current residence, who, through their long-term activities beyond the scope of their professional duties or through a significant act, have purposefully contributed or are contributing to the dissemination of the good name of the Czech Republic abroad.

Anyone may submit a proposal for the award either directly to the Public Diplomacy Department or through any embassy of the Czech Republic. The proposal must be submitted in writing and must include:

(a) if a person is nominated for the award:
- the name, surname, title, date of birth, nationality and permanent address of the proposed natural person,
- a brief curriculum vitae of the proposed natural person,
- a justification for the proposal,

(b) if an organisation is proposed for the award:
- the basic details according to its statutes,
- a brief description of the organisation,
- the history of its existence and an overview of its activities,
- a justification of the proposal.

Deadline for submission with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University: 1 December 2022. Deadline for submission of applications for the competition: 31 December 2022.

Further information on the prize is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (in Czech).

According to Kokoza's sources, up to 45 kg of ready-to-eat food and leftovers are thrown away daily in gastroprojects. In UGO Salaterias, this is over 100 kg of bio-waste and UGO wants to reduce this amount. Work with us to find innovative solutions to use the leftover organic waste from juice and salad production so it doesn't end up in landfill!

What will the challenge look like?

• In suitably matched teams, you will choose which area within organic waste you want to tackle.
• Over the course of five weeks, you will attend educational and work sessions in interesting company.
• Each team will have a mentor and you will be given plenty of input as you work.
• You will promote the sharing of know-how and experience between the commercial, academic, research and consumer sectors.

Who can apply?

You can apply as a team or as an individual. The only condition for participation is to have enough time for the whole course of the challenge. We close on 25 November and until then we recommend you set aside 2-10 hours per week.

• Students, graduates (food science, hygiene, etc.)
• SMEs, startups
• Researchers, economists
• Experts in the food industry

What are you looking for?

• Cooperation in a team
• Visit to UGO site
• Expert workshops and Q&A sessions with representatives from UGO
• Own mentor and individual expert consultation
• The winning team will receive a financial reward of 50 000 CZK
• Meeting people from the industry, new contacts and know how

Applications can be submitted until 17 October 2022 via the form on the event website (CZ), where you will also find the full schedule and complete information. The event is held under the patronage of UGO and EIT Food with the support of the EU and expert partners.

The French Embassy in the Czech Republic organizes a competition, the aim of which is to support the best doctoral research work in the field of chemistry.

The winners will receive a financial reward (CZK 65, 40, and 25,000), and the first two also receive a scholarship for an internship in France.

Conditions of participation:

• doctoral thesis in the field of chemistry
• persons of Czech or Slovak nationality under the age of 33 (as of 1 May 2023)
• students of a PhD programme at a Czech research institution or university, or young researchers who defended their dissertation in 2022 or 2023
• authorship of at least one scientific article published (or accepted) in a peer-reviewed international journal

Please send applications to Mrs. Procházková until 20 March 2023. The applications will be handed over to prof. Milan Potáčka, the coordinator on behalf of MU.

Important dates:

• 2 April 2023 – the coordinator selects the two best candidates and sends their names and contact information to the French Embassy in the Czech Republic
• 3 April 2023 – delivery of nomination proposals with a request for support by the Rector to RMU
• 23 April 2023 – the two best candidates send their complete applications to sciences.prague@gmail.com
• May/June 2023 – oral presentation of candidates before the selection committee
• 22 June 2022 – awarding ceremony
• until 31 December 2024 – internship of the awarded students in France

More information can be found on the competition website.

The Josef Vavroušek Environmental Prize is awarded annually by the Partnership Foundation. Its purpose is to reward specific actions for a healthy environment and sustainable development. Josef Vavroušek was the first Federal Minister of the Environment, who promoted the concept of sustainable living in the Czech Republic and within the framework of European cooperation and the United Nations, and a university teacher. His legacy remains to this day an inspiration for greater respect for the environment.

The prize is represented by a diploma, an art object, and, where appropriate, the Partnership Foundation's Board of Trustees may also decide to provide a financial reward.

The prize is usually awarded to three laureates:
1) for long-term contribution to the environment and sustainable development,
2) for exceptional achievement in environmental protection and sustainable living with a relationship to the environment of the Czech Republic,
3) for the Eco Award of the Year for young people (up to 26 years of age) for individual or group academic or extracurricular activities, which may include civic initiatives or activism leading to the protection and care of the environment.

Candidates can be nominated by anyone, primarily from the Czech or Slovak Republic, using the online form (in Czech) until April 1, 2022. To submit a nomination, you must register first. Please note that the more information you provide in your nomination, the better. Please also try to be diligent in providing your contact details for verification of information or any uncertainties. Essential parts of the nomination form include: the name of the nominee, a detailed description of the specific act or activity for which the nominee is being nominated and how the nominee is exceptional, and the name and contact information for the nominator.

It is recommended that you read the contest bylaws (in Czech) before submitting a nomination. More information about the competition can be found here (in Czech).

Atos and the French Embassy in the Czech Republic organize a competition aimed at rewarding the best doctoral research works in computational sciences in the following areas: artificial intelligence, computer systems and networks, cyber security, database systems, human computer interaction, vision and graphics, numerical analysis, programming languages, software engineering, bioinformatics and theory of computing.

The winners will receive a financial reward (CZK 65, 40, and 25,000), and the first two also receive a scholarship for an internship in France.

Conditions of participation:

• doctoral thesis in the field computational sciences
• persons of Czech or Slovak nationality under the age of 33 (as of 1 May 2023)
• students of a PhD programme at a Czech research institution or university or young researchers who defended their dissertation in 2022 or 2023
• their doctoral studies do not conflict with their work for Atos
• authorship of at least one scientific article published (or accepted) in a peer-reviewed international journal

Please send applications to Mrs. Procházková until 20 March 2023. They will be later handed over to doc. David Svoboda, the coordinator on behalf of MU.

Important dates:

• 2 April 2023 – the coordinator selects the two best candidates and sends their names and contact information to the French Embassy in the Czech Republic
• 3 April 2023 – delivery of nomination proposals with a request for support by the Rector to RMU
• 23 April 2023 – candidates send their complete applications to sciences.praque@gmail.com
• 5 June 2023 – oral presentation by candidates before the selection committee
• 22 June 2023 – awarding ceremony
• until 31 December 2024 – internship of the awarded students in France

More information can be found on the competition website.

The King Faisal Foundation supports excellent work by individuals and institutions in five main areas: service to Islam, Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine and the natural sciences.

This year, the King Faisal Prize in Science is awarded in the field of Chemistry and the King Faisal Prize in Medicine with a focus on "Pandemics and vaccine development".

The deadline for submission with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is 28 February 2023. Nominations should be sent to Mgr. Procházková. The deadline for submission of applications is 31 March 2023.

Details are available here.

The 17th edition of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science talent programme has been launched! In international comparison, the representation of women in science in the Czech Republic has long been low. The aim of the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science talent programme is to financially support young female scientists and thus facilitate their career path in the scientific research environment.

The programme is open to female scientists who meet the following conditions:

• age up to and including 40 years,
• attainment of a Ph.D. degree in the non-living sciences (mathematical sciences, applied physics, earth sciences) and the living sciences (biological and medical sciences, chemical sciences, ecological sciences).

The rules are located at www.forwomeninscience.com.

A jury composed of representatives of the CAS, with the participation of representatives of L'Oréal and the Czech Commission for UNESCO, will select three talented female scientists who will receive:

• 600,000 CZK, which they will split and can use directly and indirectly to support their careers,
• media training,
• the opportunity to present their research in the media in the form of interviews.

Interested women can apply for this year's edition until 31 December 2022 using the platform located at www.forwomeninscience.com. Proposals for nominations to be sent on behalf of the Rector should be sent to Mrs. Procházková by 30 November, 2022.

The Louis-Jeantet Prizes are awarded each year to experienced researchers who have distinguished themselves in the field of biomedical research in one of the member states of the Council of Europe. They are not intended solely as the recognition of work that has been completed, but also to encourage the continuation of innovative research projects. The prizes are awarded to fully active researchers whose scientific efforts are focused on biomedical research.

The sum available to each prize-winner amounts to CHF 500,000 (approx. 12 mil. CZK), of which CHF 450,000 are to be used for financing ongoing research and CHF 50,000 are given to the researcher personally.

Nominees for the Louis-Jeantet Prizes must be nominated either by scientific personalities, or by institutions (universities or major agencies funding research), who possess detailed knowledge of the nominee’s work.

• Self-nominations are not accepted.
• Nominees should not be informed of their nomination.
• Nominations of candidates under 50 years of age are encouraged.

The application includes the name of the nominee, his address and e-mail address, a summary of the candidate's main scientific achievements and current research activities (max. 4600 characters), his/her main contribution, the significance of his/her work outside the specific field of research (all in max. 250 characters), and a list of the candidate's five most relevant research papers (original, peer-reviewed articles). A curriculum vitae and a list of the nominee's publications should be attached.

Nominations shall be made in the name of the Rector. Please provide supporting documents by 16 January 2023. The official deadline for nominations is 22 February 2023.

More information can be found on the website of the prize.

BNP Paribas and the French Embassy in the Czech Republic organize a competition, the aim of which is to reward the best PhD research work in all areas of environmental and climate research.

The winners will receive a financial reward (CZK 65, 40, and 25,000), and the first two also receive a scholarship for an internship abroad in France.

Conditions of participation:

• doctoral research in the fields of environmental and climate research
• persons of Czech or Slovak nationality under the age of 33 (as of 1 May 2023)
• students of a PhD programme at a Czech research institution or university or young researchers who defended their dissertation in 2022 or 2023
• their doctoral studies do not conflict with their work for BNP Paribas
• authorship of at least one scientific article published (or accepted) in an international peer-reviewed journal

Please send applications to Mrs. Procházková until 20 March 2023. The applications will be handed over to dr. Michal Bittner, the coordinator on behalf of MU.

Important dates:

• 2 April 2023 – the coordinator selects one candidate and sends his name and contact information to the French Embassy in the Czech Republic
• 3 April 2023 – delivery of nomination proposals with a request for support by the Rector to RMU
• 23 April 2023 – the candidate sends the complete application to sciences.praque@gmail.com
• 1 June 2023 – oral presentation of candidates before the selection committee
• 22 June 2023 – awarding ceremony
• until 31 December 2024 – internship of the awarded students in France

More information can be found on the competition website.

Thanks to a financial donation made by Prof. Martin Černohorský to the Union of Czech Mathematicians and Physicists, the Martin Černohorský Award for Contribution to Physics Education was established.

You can briefly get acquainted with the personality of Professor Martin Černohorský in his medallion (in Czech).

The Martin Černohorský Award is open to those who have made a significant contribution to physics education in the last two years. The laureate can be an individual or a collective for a joint work. Candidates for the prize may be nominated by others or may submit a nomination on their own behalf.

A maximum of three prizes may be awarded annually:
1. prize: CZK 30,000
2. prize: CZK 20 000
3. prize: CZK 10 000

The awards will be decided by an independent jury of leading physicists from academic departments and schools in the Czech Republic. There are no other restrictions on the nominees, such as membership in the JCMF or nationality. Nominations for a collective are allowed for the same project or for joint work completed in the last two years.

Nominations must be submitted via the online form (in Czech) by 31 December, 2022. Proposals must include the nominee's full name, field of expertise, and a justification for the nomination based on the nominee's merits over the past two years. More information can be found on the competition website (in Czech).

Every year, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports awards medals to individuals, legal entities, as well as groups of individuals for significant pedagogical, educational, scientific, sports or artistic activities performed in the field of education, youth or sports or for extraordinarily meritorious deeds in providing and improving conditions for education in the Czech Republic.

An individual can also be awarded a medal on the occasion of a life or work anniversary for long-term and excellent work in these areas.

The medal has two degrees:

1. The 1st degree medal (silver) is awarded for long-term and excellent work in the field of education, youth or physical education or for an exceptionally meritorious deed in providing and improving conditions for education in the Czech Republic.
2. Medal II. degree (bronze) is awarded for significant pedagogical, educational, scientific, sports or artistic activities performed in the field of education, youth or physical education.

Proposals with the Rector's recommendation can be sent to Mrs. Procházková until 21 December 2022. The deadline for applications is 31 January 2023.

Medals are usually awarded on the occasion of Teachers' Day on March 28; in cases worthy of special consideration, the medal may be awarded outside the specified period.

The proposal must have the following elements:
a) the exact designation of the person or persons nominated for the award of the medal (name, or names, surnames, date of birth, place of permanent residence or domicile and workplace, if it is a natural person) and business name or address and registered office if a legal person),
b) justification of the proposal for the award of the medal,
c) an indication enabling the applicant to be identified; anonymous suggestions are inadmissible.

The medal is handed over by the Minister or a person authorized by him. The award of the medal is evidenced by a diploma. The diploma bears the national emblem of the Czech Republic and the signature of the Minister.

More information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (in CZ).

The Ministry of Education in cooperation with the National Contact Centre – Gender and Science of the Institute of Sociology of the CAS announces the 14th annual competition for the Milada Paulová Award in 2022 in the field of neuroscience. Each year, the award aims to highlight the role and significant contribution of women in various fields and aims to promote the work of women in neuroscience in the Czech research environment. The award is associated with a financial award of CZK 250,000.

Conditions for nomination to the competition:

• women scientists actively working in the field of neuroscience,
• major contribution to the development of the field,
• outstanding professional and human qualities (leadership of a team, students, personal commitment, activities in the civic sphere, etc.),
• professional career, especially after 1990 (the opportunities for some women scientists were severely limited under the previous regime – this will be reflected in the evaluation),
• professional activities mainly in the Czech Republic.

Nominations may be submitted by an individual, a group of individuals or an institution by submitting a nomination letter in electronic form to cena@soc.cas.cz no later than July 20, 2022. To submit a nomination on behalf of the Rector, please send the supporting documents by June 15, 2022 to Mgr. Procházková.

The nomination letter must include the name and surname of the nominated person, his/her contact details and the reasons for nominating the person (what professional and human qualities he/she values in the nominee, what is his/her contribution to the scientific field, whether he/she develops other activities, e.g. in the non-profit or civic sphere, etc.). The information provided in this letter is part of the evaluation of the nominee.

Nominees will be asked to agree to the nomination and, if so, to send a professional CV and complete a short questionnaire on their professional and non-professional activities.

Detailed competition rules and further information about the competition can be found here (in Czech).

MŠMT is calling for proposals for the 2022 Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Award for Outstanding Students and Graduates in a Study Programme and for Outstanding Student Achievement.

The Minister's Prize is awarded to outstanding students or graduates of a bachelor's, master's or doctoral study programme for outstanding achievements in their studies or in scientific, research, development and innovation, artistic or other creative activities related to their studies in the given study programme. In addition, this prize is awarded to a student or graduate of a bachelor's, master's or doctoral programme for an exceptional act of civic bravery, responsibility or dedication. The award consists of a diploma and other material or monetary awards of up to CZK 50 000. A maximum of 10 such awards may be granted in a calendar year.

Rectors of universities may submit proposals for the award until 31 August 2022 to the Department of Higher Education at cena_vs@msmt.cz, both in a signed version (scanned or with an electronic signature) and in doc or docx format. For support from the MU rector, please send all supporting documents to Mgr. Procházková by August 10, 2022. The Award Nomination Form and the Award Statutes with the specific terms and conditions of the Award are available on the Ministry's website (in CZ).

The aim of the MŠMT Award for Outstanding Educational Activity at a University is to draw attention to the significance and importance of quality educational activity at universities, to recognize the outstanding work of university teachers, to highlight examples of good practice, and significant innovations in the field of educational activity.

The person nominated for the award must be an employee of the university and must be engaged in educational activities. The award is given for outstanding educational activity or significant innovation in educational activity in the three years prior to the nomination, with emphasis on specific educational achievements.

The award consists of a diploma and other material or monetary awards worth up to CZK 100,000. No more than 5 of these awards may be granted in a calendar year. Proposals for the award may be submitted by rectors of universities, deans of faculties, members of academic senates and faculties from among students. One proposer may submit a maximum of five proposals in one year.

Proposals shall be submitted using the nomination form (in CZ). The nominating person shall give reasons for his/her proposal and describe the educational activities of the proposed person on the form. Proposals for the award should include specific and substantiated information, including references to publicly available sources. The proposal must indicate that the person is being nominated for an award for a specific activity from the past three years, not for a lifetime achievement. Along with the form, the proposer may submit the nominee's curriculum vitae and other documents that demonstrate the nominee's educational achievements and accomplishments that are not publicly available.

The award is submitted on behalf of the Rector, so please send the documents to Mrs. Procházková by September 10, 2022. Nominations are to be submitted to the MŠMT no later than 30 September 2022. More information can be found here (in CZ).

The prize may be awarded to natural persons for extraordinary results of research, experimental development and innovation achieved on the basis of support provided from targeted or institutional expenditures on research, experimental development and innovation from the budget chapter of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of which no more than five years have elapsed until the date of submission of the proposal for the award of the Prize. The prize is awarded to citizens of the Czech Republic.

In the selection, the Ministry assesses in particular the contribution of the results achieved in the field of research, experimental development, and innovation, or the application of these results, for the Czech Republic and the international significance of the achieved results.

Proposal details (to be submitted in duplicate according to the form provided):

• extraordinary results in research, experimental development and innovation with reference to the identification codes of the activity under which they were achieved in the Information System for Research, Development and Innovation (records in RIV) and with documentation of the response of at least one extraordinary result of research, experimental development and innovation of the natural person proposed for the award (Czech and international professional press, presentation of results),
• justification of the proposal,
• a recommendatory opinion of two independent professional scientists and researchers on the significance and contribution of the achieved extraordinary results in research, experimental development and innovation for the Czech Republic and the international significance of the extraordinary results, at least one of whom must not be an employee of the same legal entity as the proposed person at the time of submission of the proposal,
• the name and surname of the proposed person,
• date of birth, curriculum vitae,
• home address, telephone number or e-mail of the proposed person,
• the job title and workplace address of the proposed person,
• a draft press release of 15 lines.

The proposal is submitted by the Rector of Masaryk University, therefore please submit the nominations on the form with duly filled in details to Mgr. Procházková no later than 31 July 2022. Proposals for the Prize should be submitted to MŠMT no later than 30 August 2022. Detailed information regarding the Prize, including the nomination form and the full text of the Prize Statute, can be found on the Ministry's website (in CZ).

Every year, the Neuron Foundation for the Promotion of Science announces the prestigious Neuron Prizes in three categories:

• Neuron Prize for Promising Scientists

The prize is awarded to Czech scientists (PhD degree max. 10 years before the date of the competition) for outstanding scientific achievements. The award is accompanied by a personal financial bonus of CZK 500,000. The prize takes into account the scientific achievements to date, their contribution, and the possibilities for further research.

• Neuron Prize

The prize is awarded to prominent Czech scientists who work in the Czech Republic and abroad and who, through their exceptional discovery or long-term work, have fundamentally contributed to the development of science, strengthened the name of the Czech Republic, and are a role model and inspiration for other members of the scientific community. The Neuron Prize is associated with a financial bonus of 1 500 000 CZK. Laureates are selected by the Scientific Council consisting of both local and international scientific experts.

• Neuron Prize for Connecting Science and Business

The prize goes to scientists and economists who have made an exceptional scientific transfer – their discovery or invention has shifted from basic research to commercial use. This Neuron Prize is awarded by the Neuron Council. Laureates are rewarded with mentoring, PR and networking with Neuron business community.

The deadline for submissions with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is 28 February 2023. Nominations should be sent to Mrs. Procházková. The deadline for submissions is 31 March 2023.

Details including forms are available here (in Czech). For the Neuron Prize 2023 and Neuron Prize 2023 for Promising Scientists, all supporting documents (justification, CV, letters of recommendation) are required in English.

The Novo Nordisk Prize recognizes an active scientist who has provided outstanding international contributions to advance medical science for the benefit of people’s lives. The prize is intended to award and further support biomedical research in Europe. The financial award is DKK 5 million (approx. EUR 672 000) and consists of a research grant of DKK 4.5 million (approx. EUR 605 000) and a personal award of DKK 0.5 million (approx. EUR 67 000).

Applicants must:

• demonstrate scientific excellence that has led to a major discovery or breakthrough in the understanding of human health and disease, or in the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of disease,
• work in a public or non-profit research institution in a European country and have an active research programme,
• serve as inspirational leaders and role models for young scientists.

The Foundation welcomes nominations by individual researchers and by research institutions including academic and industrial institutions, and research funding agencies. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Nominations must be submitted electronically via the nomination form by June 1, 2022. For more information about the competition and nomination requirements, please visit the website.

Palacký University in Olomouc is looking for entrepreneurial minds again! The aim of the competition is to support aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs and to reward the best business plan. There are interesting prizes awaiting the winners, but even just participating in the competition can teach you a lot of new things. Among other things, you can use the support of expert consultants to develop your business plan.

Prize for the 1st place:

• 50,000 CZK cash prize
• 50% discount on renting a free office in VTP UP for 1 year for the implementation of the winning entry
• 6 hours of consulting services per month for 1 year free of charge
• a limited time offer of 20 hours of expert startup consulting from the main partner of the competition for free
• books from Ofiguide
• material prizes

To enter the competition, you need to register here (in Czech) and then upload your competition entry: business plan, binding entry form and completed consent to the processing of personal data.

Applications are sent directly to the organisers via the web. How to apply is specified in the detailed rules of the competition (in Czech).
The deadline is 10 May 2023 until 12:00. For more information, visit the competition website (in Czech).

The main mission of the prize is to raise the profile of the best scientists and their achievements, and thus increase the motivation of the scientific community to achieve excellence. The prize is awarded to elite scientists in the field of organic, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry by the Organic, Bioorganic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Expert Group of the Czech Chemical Society in cooperation with the Experientia Foundation for an outstanding body of original work in the field published in the last 5 years in prestigious international journals.

The Lem European Research Prize was established in honour of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great Polish visionary and science fiction writer Stanisław Lem, who was awarded an honorary doctorate from Wroclaw Tech in 1981. The basic elements of Lem's literary legacy (people, science, technology, progress and the future) are also the fundamental elements defining the mission and aspirations of Wroclaw Tech.

The prize is awarded annually to one young scientist whose creative work in science or technology has the potential to positively influence the future of a civilization increasingly filled with technology.

The winner will receive a financial award of 100,000 PLN (over 500,000 CZK), a certificate and an invitation to attend the anniversary celebrations of Wroclaw Tech on 15 November 2022. In addition, he/she will be invited to spend 1–2 weeks at Wroclaw Tech the following year (all expenses will be covered) to present his/her lectures, meet Academia Iuvenum and student organisations and to explore the city.

The award is open to young researchers (under 40 years of age) studying or working in Europe or associated countries – regardless of nationality or origin.

Applicants must submit the following documents in English:

1. application form - using the form in Annex 1,
2. a maximum of 3 publications confirming the discovery or achievement (books, articles, patents or patent applications),
3. two or three letters of recommendation, up to one from a person with an affiliation in the same country; the recommendations should be addressed to the Lem Prize Committee and should include the name, title, position, affiliation and signature of the recommender and the date of the recommendation.

Documents should be sent electronically (preferably in PDF format) to: lemprize@pwr.edu.pl no later than 30 September 2022. More information about the competition and the application form is here.

The Experientia Foundation announces the next edition of the competition for a three-year start-up grant of CZK 2 million per year for young scientists working in the field of organic, bioorganic or medicinal chemistry. Thanks to this, they motivate top young scientists to return to the Czech Republic after their internship abroad and establish an independent research group at one of the Czech institutes. The host institution also donates an additional CZK 700,000 per year to the grant recipient.

If you are a young scientist (max. 5 years since the completion of your PhD studies) with at least one year of foreign experience, please send your project to the competition for the establishment of your own research group. The competition, which is judged by international reviewers, assesses the quality of the project as well as its ambition and high-risk-high-gain nature.

The deadline for submission with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is 15 February 2023. Nominations should be sent to Mrs. Procházková. The deadline for submissions is 15 March 2023.

Detailed information can be found here.

Academia Publishing House announces the 11th edition of the Student Competition for the publication of the best master's theses in books. The aim of the competition is to draw the attention of the general public to the best master's theses and their talented authors. The competition is open to the submission of theses that, in your opinion, deserve to be published in book form.

The competition is open to Master's theses defended between 16 October 2021 and 31 October 2022, and the deadline is 15 November 2022. All further details are given on the competition website (in CZ), where you can also find information about previous editions.

The submitted manuscript must meet the following conditions:

• The author must be a student or graduate of a Master's degree programme at a Czech university based in the Czech Republic and must not be older than 28 years.
• The manuscript is submitted by the department/supervisor of the thesis where the author was or is registered for studies and where the master's thesis was defended.
• The manuscript must receive a grade of excellent.
• The manuscript must be in the Czech language.
• The manuscript must not be longer than 300 pages.
• The Master's thesis must be defended between 16 October 2021 and 31 October 2022.

The application includes:

• A letter of recommendation from the thesis advisor/department chair or department director, along with an indication of the competitive category in which the thesis is entered;
• the manuscript in electronic form;
• the supervisor's and referee's opinions (they will serve as a guide for the jury and will not be published otherwise);
• written consent of the student to submit the work and his/her contact details (name, surname, e-mail, telephone number), as well as the student's date of birth (to verify that the age requirement of up to 28 years is met). This personal data is for the sole use of the competition organiser, will not be published anywhere or provided to other entities, and will be recorded for a maximum period of the current competition year, i.e. until the end of October 2023, after which it will be deleted/anonymised.

A non-exclusive publishing licence agreement will be concluded between the author of the winning manuscript and the competition organiser, in which the competition organiser will undertake to publish the manuscript as a non-periodical publication in an edition set up for this purpose, with a minimum print run of 100 copies, at its own expense, within one calendar year of the publication of the winning manuscript, on the basis of a free licence granted by the author of the manuscript. When preparing the publication of the winning publication, the author will be obliged to follow the Guidelines for Authors on the Academia Publishing House website. The publication will be offered in all Academia bookstores and on the Academia Publishing e-shop. The author will receive at least 1 author's copy. The author will be able to publish his/her work or part of it freely in foreign journals.

The competition for the best written work on feminist anthropology is intended for students of master's and doctoral studies.

The deadline for submission with the recommendation of the Rector of Masaryk University is 5 April 2023. Nominations should be sent to Mrs. Procházková. The deadline for submitting nominations for the competition is 1 May 2023.

Detailed information is available here.

VIA CHIMICA

Even a university student can be behind a discovery that will change the world. That is why the new Via Chimica Prize was created, which is awarded to young talents in the field of chemistry by the Experientia Foundation in cooperation with the Learned Society of the Czech Republic. The competition is open to students of Czech universities in bachelor's or master's studies who have a great original student work in the field of chemistry.

The winner of the Via Chimica Prize will receive a personal bonus of CZK 50,000 from the Experientia Foundation. The main criteria are the originality of the submitted work and your contribution to it. The quality of the scientific and popularization text is also an important criterion.

You apply with one original paper (not with a set of papers). The application includes:

1. identifying information (name, surname, year of birth and e-mail, university and field of study)
2. title of the work
3. abstract of the research paper (1 standard page)
4. an original research paper (this may be a scientific article, or a bachelor's thesis, student thesis or study produced exclusively for the purposes of the prize)
5. a popularisation text based on the attached original work (1–2 standard pages); the text should be written as if it were intended for, for example, the journal Vesmír
6. a scanned pdf of the thesis supervisor's statement with his/her handwritten signature attesting to your contribution to the research work. The statement should include (a) an assessment of your contribution to the design and conception of the thesis, (b) to the acquisition and analysis of the results, and (3) a statement as to whether you have independently critically evaluated and sorted the results obtained.

For more information, please visit the competition's website (in Czech). Applications should be sent to the Experientia Foundation (presumably at viachimica@experientia.cz) by January 31, 2022. 

Every year, Siemens, s.r.o. announces the Werner von Siemens Prize, which is aimed primarily at students and young scientists, as well as teaching staff. The aim of the competition is to reward the authors of the best student and scientific papers and university teachers focusing on all technical disciplines and natural sciences, and thus contribute to the development of Czech higher education, science and research.

Competition categories:

1. The most significant result of basic research
   - maximum one participant (individual or research team) is awarded
   - 300 000 CZK
2. The best pedagogical worker
   - awarded to a maximum of one participant
   - 50 000 CZK
3. The best thesis
   - a maximum of three participants are awarded – three pairs (the student and their supervisor/tutor of the thesis)
   - 1st place: 55 000 CZK student + 55 000 CZK thesis supervisor, 2nd place: 35 000 CZK student + 35 000 CZK thesis supervisor, 3rd place: 25 000 CZK student + 25 000 CZK thesis supervisor
4. The best dissertation
   - a maximum of three participants are awarded – three pairs (doctoral student and their supervisor)
   - 1st place: 70 000 CZK student + 70 000 CZK supervisor, 2nd place: 40 000 CZK student + 40 000 CZK supervisor, 3rd place: 30 000 CZK student + 30 000 CZK supervisor

Special awards:

1. Award for overcoming obstacles to study
   - The award is given to only one participant who is nominated from among academic staff within the University from Bachelor, Master and Doctoral studies
   - 50 000 CZK student
2. Award for excellence in women's scientific work
   - the award is given to a maximum of one female scientist; the jury will evaluate female scientists who have placed in the thesis/dissertation or research team member category and will award a special prize over and above the prize
   - 30 000 CZK female student
3. The best graduate (diploma/dissertation) thesis dealing with Industry 4.0 concepts
   - 30 000 CZK studen
4. The best graduate (diploma/dissertation) thesis dealing with smart infrastructure and energy
   - 30 000 CZK student

The proposal in the best pedagogical worker category is submitted by the Rector, so please send all materials electronically by 5 November 2022 to Mrs. Procházková. The deadline for submissions for the other categories is 30 November 2022. If you would like to support a nomination in these categories on behalf of the Rector as well, please send all submissions electronically by 5 November 2022.

Recommend a winner and win £10,000! The student recommendation is an invitation to students, teachers or members of the general public who know a student in their area who has written and defended their final thesis or dissertation within the period specified in these terms and conditions. The recommender fills in a short form, which is published on the official website of the competition. The Prize Coordinator may then invite the recommended student to submit his/her thesis. In the event that the recommended student is awarded first place in the Best Thesis or Best Dissertation category, the recommender will be awarded 10,000 CZK. Recommended students must meet the requirement of having graduated in engineering or science. In the event that more than one person nominates a student, the recommendation from the first nominator will be taken into account – only the first nominator is eligible for the award.

Detailed competition rules can be found here (in Czech). Entry forms for each category can be found here (in Czech).