Project proposals may be officially submitted until 20 April 2026; however, we kindly ask all applicants to follow the internal deadlines to ensure a smooth process of checks and administrative procedures. The results of the public competition will be announced on 29 October 2026. EKV is accepting applications for project assessment until March 30th at 5 p.m.

EXPRO 2027: An Opportunity for Experienced Researchers

After a one-year pause, the EXPRO competition is reopening and is intended for excellent and established researchers. Supported projects may last up to five years and receive funding of up to 50 million CZK. Evaluation is carried out by international panels, and one condition is the submission of a project proposal to the European Research Council (ERC). You can find the EXPRO tender documentation on the GAČR website HERE and in the Document Server FF.

JUNIOR STAR 2027: A Start for Excellent Early-Career Scientists

The JUNIOR STAR competition traditionally focuses on early‑career researchers within 8 years of obtaining their Ph.D. degree. Projects last up to 5 years and have a budget of up to 25 million CZK, aiming to support scientific independence, including the establishment of a new research group. Evaluation is carried out exclusively by foreign experts. You can find the JUNIOR STAR tender documentation on the GAČR website HERE as well as in the Document Server FF.

At the same time, GAČR is launching the new GRITA system, which significantly modernizes grant management processes and offers:

• faster loading times and improved cybersecurity,
• automatic saving of changes,
• error alerts within the proposal,
• the possibility to submit projects without using a data mailbox,
• easier delegation of authority,
• advanced multi-user collaboration.

The platform builds on the previous GRIS system but provides a more modern technological solution and a clearer user interface. The first competitions announced through GRITA are EXPRO and JUNIOR STAR. Final confirmation of the project is carried out directly in the system, not via the data mailbox, meaning that project proposals for these prestigious competitions will no longer be submitted to GAČR via the data mailbox.

You can read more about the GRITA system HERE, and a video tutorial on completing your first login is also available. The guide is also accessible via the Document Server FF.

For previously announced competitions and their internal deadlines, follow the News Announcement HERE.