MINISTERSTVO SKOLSTVI, MLADEZE A TELOVYCHOVY

Their core work

The Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports acts as the national funding authority channeling Czech public research funding into transnational European programs. Through ERA-NET Cofund and European Joint Programme instruments, it co-finances cross-border research calls in quantum technologies and health, enabling Czech research teams to participate in large collaborative initiatives. Its role is not to perform research but to align Czech national research priorities with European agendas and provide the funding that allows Czech scientists to join pan-European consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The ministry's early H2020 engagement (2016–2019) split evenly between quantum technologies (QuantERA) and health research (EJP RD on rare diseases), establishing its two main co-funding pillars. In the later period (2019–2021), both tracks deepened: quantum expanded from a general umbrella to specific sub-fields (quantum communication, computing, simulation, sensing), while health broadened from rare diseases to neurodegenerative diseases with emphasis on personalised diagnosis and prevention. The pattern shows increasing specificity in funding focus rather than diversification into new domains.

The ministry is doubling down on quantum technologies and personalised health — expect continued Czech national co-funding calls in these two areas through successor programmes.

How they like to work

The ministry exclusively participates as a non-coordinating partner in very large consortia — typical for national funding bodies in ERA-NET instruments. With 181 unique partners across 35 countries from just 4 projects, each consortium averages 45+ members, reflecting the nature of funding agency networks rather than research collaborations. Working with this ministry means accessing Czech national co-funding for transnational research calls, not a bilateral research partnership.

Connected to 181 partners across 35 countries, almost entirely other national funding agencies and ministries participating in the same ERA-NET programs. This is one of the broadest geographic networks in the dataset, though the connections are institutional (co-funding agreements) rather than research collaborations.

What sets them apart

As the Czech national ministry responsible for research funding, it is the gateway for any transnational programme that requires a Czech national co-funding commitment. Unlike research institutes or universities, partnering with this ministry means securing institutional backing and national budget allocation for Czech participation in European calls. For consortium builders designing ERA-NET or partnership instruments, the ministry's involvement signals that Czech national funding will be available to support the programme's calls.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EJP RD
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 469,289) — the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases is one of the flagship health cofund initiatives connecting 130+ institutions across Europe.
• QuantERA II
  Continuation and expansion of QuantERA into specific quantum sub-fields (communication, computing, simulation, sensing), showing sustained Czech commitment to quantum technologies funding through 2026.