GEOFYZIKALNI USTAV AV CR, V.V.I.

Their core work

The Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences studies deep Earth processes, with a strong focus on seismology and plate tectonics. Their recent work centers on understanding subduction zones — where tectonic plates collide and one dives beneath the other — using microseismicity and strain imaging techniques. They also contribute to European research infrastructure for solid Earth sciences. Their expertise is fundamental geoscience with direct relevance to earthquake hazard assessment and subsurface imaging.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their H2020 trajectory shows a clear shift from infrastructure support to research leadership. Early involvement (2015) was as a participant in the large EPOS infrastructure project, contributing to European-wide geophysical observation networks. From 2021 onward, they emerged as a research leader — winning a prestigious ERC Starting Grant (MILESTONE) to coordinate their own subduction zone research, and joining an ERC Consolidator project on magmatic imaging (MAST).

IG ASCR is transitioning from infrastructure contributor to independent research leader in deep Earth seismology, backed by competitive ERC funding — expect them to build a stronger group around subduction and seismic imaging in the coming years.

How they like to work

With 1 coordinated and 2 participant roles, IG ASCR balances leading and contributing. Their MILESTONE project shows they can win and manage competitive ERC grants independently, while their participation in EPOS and MAST shows willingness to join large collaborative efforts. With 61 unique partners across 22 countries from just 3 projects, their network is broad — largely inherited from the large EPOS consortium — suggesting they are well-connected within European geosciences.

Despite only 3 projects, IG ASCR has worked with 61 partners across 22 countries, mostly through the pan-European EPOS infrastructure consortium. This gives them an unusually wide network for a small project portfolio, spanning most of Europe's geoscience community.

What sets them apart

IG ASCR stands out as a Czech Academy institute that has secured prestigious ERC funding for fundamental seismology — not easy for institutions outside Western Europe's traditional geoscience powerhouses. Their combination of deep Earth process expertise with access to European seismic infrastructure (via EPOS) makes them a valuable partner for anyone working on earthquake science, subsurface imaging, or tectonic hazard research. For consortium builders, they offer strong seismological methods capability from a cost-effective Central European base.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MILESTONE
  ERC Starting Grant worth EUR 1.3M where IG ASCR serves as coordinator — their flagship project on subduction zone microseismicity, representing over 89% of their total H2020 funding.
• EPOS IP
  Part of the European Plate Observing System implementation, a major pan-European geophysical infrastructure project that connected IG ASCR to a network of 61 partners across 22 countries.