SAV Opens Impulse Call, Wants to Attract Top Scientific Capacities to Slovakia

Bratislava, 6 June (TASR) - The Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) earlier this week launched a new call for applications under its Impulse grant programme, which aims to attract top scientific capacities from all over the world to Slovakia, SAV spokesman Jozef Bednar has informed TASR. Internationally recognised researchers and promising early-career scientists once again have the opportunity to pursue their research ambitions in Slovakia. Successful applicants can receive financial support of up to €800,000 for five-year research projects. The largest scientific institution in Slovakia has been launching the Impulse grant programme on a regular basis since 2021. It supports three successful applicants each year. Thanks to the programme, a new generation of high-quality scientific leaders is joining SAV's research institutes, making them more international and internationally competitive. "I believe that one of SAV's most important tasks is to create the conditions for scientific excellence to thrive. The Impulse programme is our flagship initiative, funded from our own resources, as we believe that investing in talented and ambitious researchers is an investment in Slovakia's future," said SAV chairman Martin Venhart. He also expressed his satisfaction that the call will help to support the setting up of new research teams, the development of original scientific fields of inquiry, and the formation of figures who will shape the direction of their disciplines both in Slovakia and abroad. "Impulse is a symbol of our trust in science, our courage to support excellence, and our ambition to be a fully fledged part of the European Research Area," stressed the SAV chairman. The programme is intended for scientists who have already achieved internationally recognised results and are ready to take on the responsibility of leading their own research teams. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to develop an independent research agenda, experience in an international research environment, and high-quality scientific achievements. The programme will provide them with motivating conditions for this, while also helping to further enhance the quality of the research environment and scientific output at SAV institutes. The call for applications is open until September 1, with the selected projects expected to commence in June 2027. ko/df