Research dealing with the development of thin flexible ceramic substrates with optimized electrical properties for plasma sources was evaluated as excellent by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic. Under the leadership of professors Martin Trunec and Mirko Černák, a team of experts from CEITEC BUT and the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University worked on it. They would now like to continue on this basic three-year research.
The idea originated over a beer in a garden meet up. “We speculated about a new direction in the research of ceramic materials for the generation of barrier discharges. It was there that the basic impulse was created, which we then wrote down in the form of a project. It took us about a year,” describes one of the leaders, Martin Trunec from CEITEC BUT.
Specifically, it was a three-year project under the auspices of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, entitled Flexible Ceramic Substrates with Optimized Electrical Properties, and was undertaken in the years 2018–2020. The main goal of the project was the development of thin flexible ceramic substrates with optimized electrical properties for plasma sources. “Preparing such substrates required the development of a new method of preparation that will allow the creation of very thin ceramic substrates with the required properties from nanometer particles,” says Martin Trunec.
The researchers also investigated the material composition of ceramic substrates to achieve optimal conditions for plasma ignition and combustion. “When dealing with the project, we tried to prepare a ceramic material which, with its physicochemical properties, would facilitate the ignition and maintenance of low-temperature discharge, because this is the key element for industrial applications,” says Mirko Černák from the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University, who with his team focused mainly on assembling plasma lamps and testing them.
But as we know from everyday life, flexibility is not a typical property of ceramic materials. “However, theoretical calculations during the research have shown that ceramic substrates can be highly flexible if the material has high strength and the substrate is thin enough. We subsequently confirmed this experimentally,” explains Martin Trunec. Thanks to years of experience in the field of advanced ceramic materials, he and his team have sponsored the process of preparing ceramic substrates.
The developed plasma lamps based on thin ceramic substrates can serve, for example, as basic units of new advanced devices used in the industry for plasma cleaning of inorganic impurities, for disinfection, ozone preparation, or, for example, in seed germination devices.
According to both group leaders, the cooperation of researchers from two important Brno institutions and the strong involvement of young students contributed to the successful outcome of the project. “During the project, the students increased their qualifications and at the same time provided the team with a constant flow of new ideas, and also contributed to resolving complications that we did not anticipate,” emphasizes Mirko Černák.
The output of an extensive project is, among other things, eight professional publications. “We have advanced knowledge in the field of dielectric barrier discharges used to generate low-temperature atmospheric plasma. We are now continuing to work with partial knowledge,” concludes Martin Trunec. The researchers have therefore already applied for a follow-up project and hope to investigate and design ceramic substrates that increase free radical production in a low-temperature atmospheric discharge even more effectively. These could also be used in the future, for example, for surface sterilization or ozone production.
Urbanization is increasing across the globe, and urban areas constitute one of the fastest growing land-use types. Several studies highlighted how biodiversity plays an important role in conserving ecosystem function and how urbanization reduces the resilience of ecosystems. However, approaches focused on different and complementary biodiversity measures are needed to understand how specific elements of urbanization impacts biodiversity.
Urban green, Marche, Central Italy, photo Federico Morelli
The team headed by doc. Federico Morelli carried out the GACR project “Effects of urbanization on multilevel avian diversity: linking bird community metrics to pollution level, vegetation and building density”. The project’s main objective was to assess the impact of specific elements of urbanization on multiple facets of biodiversity, targeting bird communities. Field data collection in 16 different European cities, geospatial analysis, and modelling procedures were conducted from 2018 to 2020 to provide new insights on identifying high environmental quality areas in European cities.
Emberiza citinella in Poland, photo C. Korkosz
“We mapped the local characteristics of the cities in terms of land use composition, building structure, as well as type and amount of vegetation in the urban greenery. Additionally, we estimated the level of environmental pollution (e.g., light and noise pollution). We found that some elements of urban greenery as grass, bush and trees are positively correlated with the number of bird species, while grass and trees, and the presence of water (rivers or urban streams), increased the phylogenetic diversity of avian communities,” says doc. Dr. Federico Morelli, Ph.D., and adds: “On the opposite, all the main indicators of a high level of urbanization (e.g., building cover, number of building’ floors, pedestrian’s density and level of light pollution) increased the phylogenetic relatedness of species (how much the species in a given assemblage are close related in terms of evolution). Two species are more related if they have a more recent common ancestor. We can associate bird communities characterized by a high phylogenetic relatedness with more homogeneous assemblages, potentially less resilient if facing an ecological stress. Interestingly, the presence of bushes in the gardens and public green areas helped to mitigate this effect on the biotic homogenization.”
Urban green in Prague 6, photo Federico Morelli
The main importance of this project is related to the large spatial scale and international scope of the study, as well as the assessment of the impact of different components of urbanization on the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of urban bird assemblages. Specifically, the project considered building density, development of greenery, and environmental pollution including the influence of noise and artificial light at night. The final outcomes (see some examples in the web: www.urbanbiodiversity.net) may increase the basic knowledge concerning urban bird communities as bioindicator of the environment quality of urban areas, providing new valuable information for ecological and urban planning. We delivered a list of positive and negative effects of different urban characteristics on overall avian diversity, that can help to mitigate the continuous decline on biodiversity, especially marked in urban areas.
Passer domesticus italiae photo Fabio Pruscini
“Finally, our findings suggest that maintaining adequate levels of avian diversity within the urban settlements can increase the potential resilience of urban ecosystems, exposed to the stress provoked by rapid and continuous changes. Last but not least, as highlighted in several previous studies, the conservation of urban biodiversity constitutes also a positive driver of citizens’ wellbeing,” says Morelli.
Federico Morelli, photo Yanina Benedetti
doc. Dr. Federico Morelli, Ph.D. Community and Ecology Conservation Research Team
CULS – Czech University of Life Sciences
Federico Morelli is a quantitative ecologist, currently working as an associate professor at the Czech University of Life Sciences (Prague, Czech Republic). He has been involved in several European projects modeling the impact of land use and climate change on the spatial distribution of biodiversity. The focus of his research interest is macroecology, species distribution models, urban and road ecology, biodiversity spatial patterns, and bioindicators as a tool for conservation planning.
Text: CULS
Featured image: Urban development – La Defense, Paris, France, photo Federico Morelli
The Czech Science Foundation has succeeded in signing a prestigious cooperation agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF) government agency of the United States. This is the largest-scale scientific cooperation between the two countries ever. Czech and U.S. scientists will receive funding from both agencies to jointly explore areas such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, or plasma.
“Reaching an agreement with the United States is a tremendous success because the NSF is highly selective in its choice of partner agencies. This agreement will make it possible for Czech scientists to work with universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and other research institutions recognised globally,” says Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Koča, DrSc., President of the Czech Science Foundation.
“It took approximately two years to help establish this cooperation between the Czech Science Foundation and the NSF. It is the largest-scale scientific cooperation between the Czech Republic and the United States ever agreed upon,” says His Excellency, Mr. Hynek Kmoníček, Czech Ambassador to the United States.
This cooperation will help fund basic research projects which have a high application potential at present — artificial intelligence and nanotechnology. Project proposals are also welcome in the areas of plasma, astronomy, astrophysics, and certain humanities.
Calls for project proposals will be made this year already. The agencies will share the costs of individual projects — the Czech Science Foundation will cover the costs of the Czech part of the project, and the NSF will finance the U.S. part.
About the Czech Science Foundation
As the only institution in the Czech Republic, the Czech Science Foundation provides targeted aid using public funds to basic research projects only — the volume of funding was approx. CZK 4.2 billion (U.S.$ 195 million). Through its grants, the Foundation funds scientific projects carried out by seasoned scientists and teams as well as young scientists in their early careers. Each year, the Foundation funds hundreds of scientific projects on the basis of a multi-stage, transparent selection process.
About the National Science Foundation
Established in 1950, the National Science Foundation is an independent agency of the U.S. government responsible for the support of basic research. In 2021, it manages a budget of U.S.$ 8.5 billion, and its grants cover approx. 25% of basic research at U.S. universities. The NSA funds approx. 11,000 projects a year through highly prestigious calls for competitive proposals. Funding from the NSF gave birth to a number of revolutionary technologies of their time. Throughout its existence, the NSA has funded 236 scientists who would later become Nobel Prize winners.
The Presidium of the Czech Science Foundation has approved a number of measures in response to the ever-changing pandemic situation and various restrictions. The goal of these measures is to help Investigators and their teams to handle the situation.
Similar to last year, the changes involve more flexibility in the use of the grant funds, such as the eligibility of telecommunication and computer equipment, or the costs of childcare. We have also expanded the options to change workloads and modify project budgets,” says GACR President, Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Koča, DrSc., adding: “I trust that Investigators of projects to be completed this year will appreciate a six-month extension, which we have already approved. We are also helping Applicants by extending the project proposal submission deadline.”
BUDGET
1. Budgets Unexhausted in 2021 May Be Carried over to Future Years
You may carry over and draw unlimited amounts from unexhausted targeted aid in future years – and this is already possible on the basis of Tender Documents and in compliance with Decree 367/2015 on Principles and Deadlines of Financial Reconciliation with the State Budget, State Assets, and the National Fund (hereinafter “Financial Reconciliation Decree”). Thus, GACR makes it possible already now to carry over and use the funds received in any previous year to the following year(s) of the project.
2. Items of the Basic Composition May Be Shifted in 2021
Measure: Items of the basic composition of the grant funds allocated to a Beneficiary or another participant may be shifted by up to CZK 100,000 until the end of 2021 without a special request, and it is not necessary to amend the Agreement on Grant Funding nor obtain a new Decision on Grant Funding.
The Beneficiary must properly explain any changes or carry-overs in drawdowns in the next Interim or Final Report. The Beneficiary must prove that such changes or carry-overs have served a purpose, that they were economical, effective, and necessitated by the covid-related situation, limiting people’s movement and communication.
It is still possible to shift items worth CZK 100,000 or more on the basis of an individual request approved by the Presidium, and an amendment to the Agreement.
ELIGIBLE COSTS IN 2021
1. Eligible costs covered by grant funds may now (and until the end of 2021) include the expenses defined below if such expenses have been incurred as a direct consequence of the restrictions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic:
• Travel Expenses
Measure: Eligible expenses may now include the costs of COVID-19 tests if required for travel abroad in order to carry out a grant project. The amount of eligible costs will be reduced appropriately if the grant project is not the exclusive reason for your travel abroad.
• Postponed Conferences
Measure: You may still include costs incurred while carrying out a project among eligible costs (i.e. advances paid while the project was being carried out) if those costs were related to a conference which was postponed due to COVID-19 and was/will be held after the completion of the project, but no later than a year within such completion.
• Cancellation Fees
Measure: Eligible costs may include cancellation fees for cancelled conferences, including travel costs for cancelled business trips, both up to 100%, provided that the trip was cancelled due to COVID-19.
If the supplier refunds the costs or if you travel on a different date (e.g. using a voucher) but the trip is not related to specific project, you will be required to include these amounts in the project-related revenues.
• Telecommunication Cost
Measure: Until the end of 2021, eligible costs covered by grant funds may include the costs of telecommunication services and the costs of purchasing, maintaining, or repairing ICT devices and appliances (drawn from the material purchases or investments account), excluding phones, recorders, and readers.
2. Eligible costs coved by grant funds, specifically the overhead costs, may now include the additional expenses related to the covid crisis:
• such as the cost of childcare for the children and other dependants of the project team members.
3. Eligible costs coved by grant funds, specifically the material or personnel costs, may now include the additional expenses related to the covid crisis:
• costs of remuneration paid during e.g. a leave of absence or sick leave which is not covered by the government during the state of emergency;
• computer equipment used exclusively in a direct relation to the grant project.
DEDICATED WORKLOADS
1. Total Dedicated Workloads of a Team May Now Change by up to 35% without Prior Approval
Measure: If it is impossible to work on a project according to an approved plan due to COVID-19, the changes in professional teams that include a change in the total dedicated work capacity (workload) of up to 35% of the team’s total dedicated workload as defined by the Agreement (workload), including a change in the Investigator’s or Co-investigator’s dedicated workloads, are now possible through 2021 without a request for prior approval, and such changes do not require an amendment to the Agreement on Grant Funding nor a new Decision to Provide Grant Funding.
2. Decrease in the Minimal Dedicated Workload of the EXPRO and JUNIOR STAR Project Teams in 2021
Measure: If it is impossible to work on a project according to an approved plan due to COVID-19, the Beneficiary may request a reduction in the dedicated working hours of the individual team members carrying out the project pursuant to Article 5.1. of Annex 4 to the Tender Document.
DEADLINES
1. Postponed Evaluation of the Final Report
Measure: If the Beneficiary requests a deadline extension for the evaluation of the Final Report, and such report is to be submitted by 31 July 2021, the deadline for the submission of the Final Report is now extended until 31 August 2021.
The option to postpone deadlines for projects to be completed in 2021 by six months has already been granted.
Please note that failure to indicate the Organization, i.e. the institution where you will be carrying out the Project and which will employ you for the duration of the Project (should you not intend to carry out the project independently as a natural person) is ground for disqualification of the Project Proposal from the Public Tender.
Institution means Organization, i.e. the future recipient of the subsidy, the data box of which must be used to deliver the Project Proposal to the Czech Science Foundation.
For some public tenders such as POSTDOC INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIP (PIF) or JUNIOR STAR, it is not possible for the Project to be carried out by a natural person.
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us by phone +420 227 088 841 or +420 227 088 861 or by e-mail: info@gacr.cz.
UPDATE 10 APRIL: In a response to numerous requests from the scientific community, the Presidium of the Czech Science Foundation has decided to postpone the deadline for the submission of proposals into tenders already published, due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic situation in the Czech Republic, and the government’s new measures, such as the limited movement of people, and the closure of schools and kindergartens. The tenders already published are now cancelled, and will be launched again. That way, the deadlines will be postponed by 2 weeks, which should help organizations and applicants better deal with this extraordinary situation.
JUST RELEASE: NEW CALLS FOR PROPOSOSAL IN TENDERS FOR 2022
22. 2. 2021
The Czech Science Foundation has published a call for proposals in the categories of Standard Projects, JUNIOR STAR, and POSTDOC INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIP, which is a brand new scheme. The deadline for submissions is 8 April 22 April. Results will be announced in November and December this year. At the same time, another tender is open for proposals for International Projects. Projects which win funding after multiple rounds of evaluations will be launched in 2022.
“The POSTDOC INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIP is new this year. It gives Czech scientists who received their PhDs not too long ago an opportunity to get experience abroad. The Fellowship also makes it possible for scientists from abroad to come to perform research at a Czech institution. Our goal is to boost the exchange of experience, opinions, and ideas. Something that researchers cannot do without if they want to succeed,” says prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Koča, DrSc., the President of the Czech Science Foundation, and adds: “For the same reason, we are expanding our international cooperation. A substantial part of the expansion took place last year already. And this year, we are pushing forward also – thanks to Weave, a new initiative that we have co-founded – the number of agencies from abroad cooperating with the Czech Science Foundation is going to continue to increase.
Project proposals in the individual categories may be submitted by 8 April 22 April (deadlines may vary for international tenders). After submissions, the project proposals will be evaluated in multiple rounds of a transparent process where international experts are taking part in addition to local scholars recommended by Czech institutions. The JUNIOR STAR proposals are going to be evaluated by international experts only. The experts have been selected Science Connect, an independent agency. “Not a single project is funded without being reviewed by at least one international evaluator; the vast majority even received more than one review from abroad,” adds the Czech Science Foundation President. The winning proposals will be announced in November and December this year.
Standard Projects
Standard Projects are the cornerstone of grant funding for basic research in the Czech Republic – every year since it was established in 1993, the Czech Science Foundation has funded a few hundred of them . Standard Projects are funded to facilitate the best of basic research in all fields of science. Proposals for 3-year projects may be submitted by any researcher or team, regardless of their age or experience.
JUNIOR STAR was introduced last year and was met with tremendous interest. JUNIOR STAR grants are intended for excellent scientists in their early careers (within 8 years of receiving their PhDs) active in all areas of basic research who have published in prestigious international journals before, and have had substantial experience abroad. The 5-year project allows them to receive up to CZK 25 million (€966,000) and gives them an opportunity to attain scientific independence or even start their own research team, which can bring new areas of research into Czech science.
POSTDOC INDVIDUAL FELLOWSHIP (PIF) is the latest type of grant funding, and a call for proposals has been published this year for the first time ever. The Fellowship is targeted at scientists who have completed their PhDs in the last four years. The OUTGOING PIF makes it possible for Czech scientists to perform research at any institution in the world, provided that the Fellow returns to the Czech Republic to spend at least one year at a local institution. The INCOMING PIF enables a scientist from abroad to come to a Czech institution to carry out his or her research.
Proposals for International Projects may be submitted in tenders published with agencies abroad jointly, on the basis of an agreement between the Czech Science Foundation and the other agencies. Project Proposals are either evaluated by both agencies (bilateral cooperation), or recommended for funding only by one of the agencies, and the other one accepts that recommendation (cooperation based on Lead Agency)
Agencies involved within bilateral cooperation
Taiwan – Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)
South Korea – National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)
São Paulo, Brazil – São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
No call for proposals has come from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) this year for reasons on its part. New calls are expected to come back next year.
We have prepared a series of video tutorials which will guide grant applicants through the GRIS application. In this five-part series, applicants will be introduced to the complete process of submitting a standard project proposal, from the first steps (such as creating your own profile) to determining your budget to finalizing and, if need be, editing a submitted project proposal.
The COVID-19 pandemic has identified a clear need for the efficient decontamination of surfaces and objects of daily use to reduce the transmission of the virus through smear infection. The response has come from a research project funded by two research sponsors: FWF of Austria, and the Czech Science Foundation. It was the first international urgent funding project in late 2020. Its goal is to offer a safe, environmentally friendly, and affordable alternative of surface decontamination compared to current options.
The Czech-Austrian research project explores decontamination, recycling, and reuse of heat or liquid-sensitive objects, for example highly effective face masks.
The goal of the project is to explore Cold Atmospheric Plasma technology (CAP) and its further application, and the effort involves teams of Thomas Lion of St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research in Vienna, and Vladimír Scholtz of the University of Chemistry and Technology (UCT) in Prague.
The project explores the effectiveness of CAP, as an innovative technology, against selected human respiratory viruses, such as the SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, adenovirus, and rhinovirus.
What is CAP? It is ionized gas, in fact, any electric discharge.
A Fluorescent Gas with Disinfecting Power
CAP is an ionized, fluorescent gas. In principle, it is any electric discharge, a tiny spark ranging from a few millimetres to a few centimetres in size. Plasma generators are used to produce plasma.
“We developed a simple generator to decontaminate scarce FFP respirators as early as the spring of 2020, when the pandemic started. We proved it effective against the coronavirus, and we verified that the filtration capability of the respirators is not reduced by the plasma. We named it Corona Spark against the Corona Virus, and released all documentation for everyone’s use,” says Vladimír Scholtz.
“I am delighted we have started successfully to work together with our Austrian partners, which makes it possible for us to further develop the application of plasma against microorganisms. St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Centre works with viruses primarily, and we have explored low-temperature plasma and its microbicidal effect (it kills microscopic organisms) for over a decade,” adds Vladimír Scholtz on part of Czech scientists.
Please watch this video this video to find out how the plasma generator works.
Vladimír Scholtz focuses on the recycling and reuse of highly effective face protection, and surface decontamination using a new, safe, and environmentally friendly technology: CAP.
Safe and Environmentally Friendly Method of Decontamination
Objects which cannot be decontaminated by heat or by liquid disinfectants may present a higher risk of virus transmission. The availability of alternative methods such as CAP is critical to prevent the epidemic spread of viral or microbial pathogens.
The effectiveness of CAP in bacterial disinfection is already well-established, and more recent studies have proven it suitable to deactivate viruses. “We need to establish new findings about the effectiveness of CAP to be able to design new and reliable appliances optimised for various areas of application,” says Vladimír Scholtz.
The outcomes of the research co-funded by the Czech Science Foundation and FWF of Austria are going to help introduce CAP as a safe and affordable alternative to decontamination methods deployed at present. In addition, getting to understand the mechanisms deactivating viruses through CAP will also help the researchers learn the strengths of this technology, and to tackle any weaknesses before the technology is released for a broad application. “Our goal is to see primarily healthcare providers using the plasma generators for the disinfection of objects and surfaces on regular basis. The advantage is that the manufacturing costs are not going to be extremely high, the generators should come in the single-digit or low double-digit euro amounts,” says Vladimír Scholtz of UTC in conclusion.
Plasma generator (Corona Spark against Corona Virus).
Cross-Border Cooperation
Titled “Decontamination of Sensitive Materials by Low-Temperature Atmospheric Plasma for Effective and Affordable Virus Elimination”, this international project has been funded through the “Urgent Funding SARS-CoV-2” programme. The project was recommended for implementation by FWF (Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung) of Austria in the Lead Agency evaluation regime, and is being co-financed by FWF and the Czech Science Foundation.
“This project is a showcase of a promising start of both cross-border and interdisciplinary cooperation. As a result of the Czech Science Foundation’s quick response to the call by FWF of Austria, teams of Czech and Austrian scientists were able to present joint project proposals responding to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic between April and December last year. There are additional joint projects dealing with the pandemic under consideration at the moment. They will be launched as soon as they are recommended for funding,” says Jaroslav Koča, President of the Czech Science Foundation.
The Czech Science Foundation continues developing international cooperation opportunities constantly. At present, the Foundation works together with institutions from Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, and São Paulo (Brazil). In 2020, the Czech Science Foundation joined WEAVE, an initiative which is going to open cross-border cooperation to additional countries in Europe.
The Czech Science Foundation (GACR) signed an agreement on cooperation with the Luxembourg National Research Fund (NRF) this week. The cooperation is based on the Weave initiative whose goal is to connect twelve research-funding European organizations together by 2025. Researchers will be able to apply for mutual projects with colleagues from Luxembourg already this year.
“Just like in previous years GACR is concentrating on expanding the possibilities of international cooperation. At the moment we have agreements with organizations from all over the world – these include a number of European countries, but also Brazil or Taiwan, for example. The cooperation with Luxembourg is in a way an anniversary, as it has become the tenth country we have an agreement with. It is, however, definitely not the last one. Thanks to the Weave initiative we are going to establish cooperation with at least five other European organizations in the near future, while negotiations with other countries are ongoing beyond the initiative, as well,“ says Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Koča, DrSc., the President of GACR.
Researchers will have an opportunity to submit projects together according to the agreement between GACR and NRF already this year. The cooperation is based on the Lead Agency principle, which means that the projects will be only evaluated and recommended for funding by one of the organizations, while the other one will adopt its conclusions. This year only GACR will be in the role of the evaluating Lead Agency in the case of the cooperation with Luxembourg. Starting next year, research projects will be evaluated by both sides.
Thanks to the Weave initiative researchers will not only be able to submit projects involving Czech and Luxembourgish cooperation, but they will also be able to join teams from Germany, Austria or Switzerland. An interactive tool has been developed in order to provide further information on funding opportunities for research projects.
Today, 12 national research funding organisations, with the support of Science Europe, launch Weave, a cross-European initiative to fund and support excellent international research projects. It is the first time a large network of this scale has developed an initiative of this kind to enable bilateral and trilateral scientific cooperation in Europe.
Weave aims to simplify the submission and selection procedures of collaborative research proposals involving researchers from up to three European countries or regions with a single evaluation. It makes use of existing national or regional funding programmes, through which research projects will be financed. It seeks to make it easier for researchers to collaborate across borders. It also ambitions to increase the capacity of researchers to freely determine the composition, focus, and content of their projects.
“Scientists will certainly appreciate the Weave initiative because it will simplify the international cooperation, so vivid already. The major value added by Weave is the expansion of the group of countries whose scientists will be able to take part in projects. At present, we have cooperation established with Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, and a number of countries outside Europe. Thanks to Weave, another six institutions from European countries will be ‘interwoven’ by the end of 2025. This way, we are creating a pan-European network of institutions funding basic research,” says Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Koča, DrSc., President, Czech Science Foundation.
Weave builds on the Lead Agency Procedure, through which a single funding organisation evaluates proposals put forward by an international team of researchers and communicates the funding recommendation to the other funders involved. In practice, the researchers choose a coordinating applicant, who submits the joint proposal to the respective Weave funding organisation in their country or region.
“We fully support the Weave initiative, and its effort to promote bilateral and trilateral scientific cooperation within Europe,” said Lidia Borrell-Damián, Science Europe Secretary General. “Innovative projects like Weave strongly contribute to strengthening international research collaboration and the realisation of the European Research Area.”
The Weave signatories have developed, with the support of Science Europe, an interactive online tool that researchers can use to determine the relevant funding opportunities for their projects.
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Urban green, Marche, Central Italy, photo Federico Morelli
Emberiza citinella in Poland, photo C. Korkosz
Urban green in Prague 6, photo Federico Morelli
Passer domesticus italiae photo Fabio Pruscini
Federico Morelli, photo Yanina Benedetti
