Project Support Office
The Czech Health Research Council (AZV ČR) is a state organization established by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. Its main mission is to support applied research in the fields of healthcare and biomedicine through public calls announced annually. It ensures expert evaluation of project proposals and, during project implementation, carries out substantive and professional oversight of their proper execution.
It also participates in European initiatives such as the European Partnerships in Health. These initiatives enable Czech researchers to collaborate with international teams on research in areas such as rare diseases, pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, and personalized medicine. Last but not least, it annually awards the most successful projects that significantly contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the medical sciences and to improvements in the quality of healthcare.
SUPPORTED PROJECTS
The Programme for the Support of Applied Health Research of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic for the period 2024–2030 is structured into three sub-programmes:
Sub-programme 1 – Standard Call
The main objective is the further development of the existing applied health research platform in the Czech Republic, with a focus on improving conditions for international cooperation.
Sub-programme 2 – Support for the Development of Early-Career Researchers
This sub-programme focuses on targeted support for early-stage researchers and on creating a suitable environment for their professional growth in health research.
Sub-programme 3 – European Partnerships in Health
It aims to actively involve Czech research teams in international initiatives and consortia within European partnerships focused on health research.
HOW TO APPLY
- The exact conditions and deadlines of projects are published in the respective call.
- One person may submit one proposal as a principal applicant and one proposal as a co-applicant in a single call.
- If an opinion from the Research Ethics Committee (REC) is required, the documentation for assessment must be prepared at least one month before the planned project submission. Approval from the REC must be provided by every institution that will work with human subjects within the project, regardless of whether it acts as the applicant or a co-applicant.
The Masaryk University Research Ethics Committee (MU REC) recommends submitting all projects implemented at MU for review if MU acts as the applicant or if work with human participants and/or human biological material will be carried out at MU, regardless of MU’s role in the project. - At least two weeks before the deadline, the intention to submit a project must be reported to the Project Support Department (OPP) – see contact persons – whether you are the principal applicant, a co-applicant, or the Faculty of Science is participating in the project as a partner of another MU faculty.
- At the same time, the project HR officer must be informed and provided with a list of individuals planned to be involved in the project proposal (for consultation on salary planning).
The project proposal is completed in the ISVP application. If you are submitting a proposal on behalf of the Faculty of Science in the ISVP application for the first time, please contact OPP (see contact persons) to create a user account (unless stated otherwise, the proposal is completed in English). - Before submission, proposals must also be entered into ISEP and have the project proposal cover sheet approved.
- The final file from the application must be sent to AZV ČR via a data box before the deadline (handled by PSO).
- Authorizations required under special regulations depending on the nature of the project (approval by the MU Research Ethics Committee, authorization for handling GMOs, approval of experimental projects, informed consent of patients, etc.) are ensured and uploaded to the ISVP application attachments by the applicant; if the proposal is accepted, the originals of these documents must be submitted to AZV ČR.
FUNDING RULES
- The support intensity for research organizations is up to 100% of total eligible costs. For enterprises, the support intensity is specified in the call documentation.
- The maximum budget for Sub-programme 1 is not specified; for Sub-programme 2 it is capped at CZK 8.5 million.
- The minimum workload (FTE) for the principal applicant is 0.2, and for co-applicants at least 0.1.
- Scholarships are eligible costs; however, MUNI does not recommend planning them in projects due to intellectual property rights (for more information, contact OPP).
- Investment costs are eligible only in the amount of depreciation and usually require co-financing by the institute (for more information, contact OPP).
- Operating costs include services, material costs (consumables, operating materials, and small tangible assets – STA; tangible fixed assets may be acquired up to CZK 80,000), and travel costs (maximum CZK 100,000 for the principal investigator and co-investigators combined in the first year of the project; maximum CZK 200,000 in subsequent project years).
- Overhead costs amount to 25% of direct costs.
- In the case of acquiring an asset or service that is unique and at the same time essential for the project, detailed specification and justification are required, including price documentation, the exchange rate valid at the time of submission, submission of an offer and supplier identification, or a commitment to proceed in accordance with Act No. 134/2016 Coll., on Public Procurement.