Throughout October, the Project Support Department of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS) Office organised a series of information and discussion meetings under the title EXCELLENT RESEARCHERS WANTED. Held in Bratislava, Nitra and Košice, the events focused on opportunities for systematic support of excellent research, the preparation of competitive research proposals and the development of project support across SAS institutes.
The aim of the meetings was to introduce new tools and services provided by the SAS Project Support Department, designed to help researchers move from an initial research idea to the preparation and successful implementation of international projects. The programme also included an introduction to SAS internal grant schemes supporting ambitious research ideas, such as IMPULZ, as well as funding opportunities for the preparation of project proposals.
An important topic was support for applicants pursuing prestigious European grants, particularly European Research Council (ERC) grants and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF). Participants learned about upcoming training activities and other forms of targeted support for developing competitive project proposals.
Open Dialogue as the Foundation of Effective Project Support
The meetings provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, identify the specific needs of individual institutes and discuss the challenges researchers face when preparing and implementing projects.
One of the key messages was that high-quality, accessible and systematic project support – from the initial project idea through to its implementation – is essential for creating favourable conditions for excellent research.
We would like to thank all participants for their active involvement, open discussions and valuable feedback on how to improve project support across SAS. The insights gathered will serve as an important basis for further developing our support services.
From Information Meetings to Practical Support for Research Projects
We were particularly pleased with the interest in upcoming workshops and training activities, which will mark the beginning of systematic and targeted support for research proposal development.
The first step will be the ERC Workshop@SAV, taking place on 23–24 November 2026 in Bratislava, at the premises of the Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information (CVTI SR). Further activities will follow, focusing on developing project ideas, presenting research concepts, receiving feedback and preparing high-quality ERC proposals.
For researchers interested in MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, we are preparing comprehensive support, including information webinars, training sessions and individual consultations on project proposals.
We believe that continued cooperation with the SAS research community will contribute to building a strong and effective project support system, helping turn ambitious research ideas into successful international projects.
Get Involved in Upcoming Activities
- Support for ERC proposal preparation: REGISTER HERE
- Support for MSCA PF proposal preparation: REGISTER HERE
More information about project support
Do you have a research idea or need advice on preparing a project proposal? Get in touch with us at EUprojekty@urad.sav.sk.
Prepared by: Kristína Muráňová, Project Support Department, SAS Office
Photos: Martin Bystriansky