UNIVERZITA PALACKEHO V OLOMOUCI

Their core work

Palacký University Olomouc is a Czech research university with deep strengths in chemistry (especially graphene and 2D materials), quantum physics, and life sciences. Their chemistry group develops new graphene derivatives and supercapacitor materials, while their physics teams work on quantum communications, quantum optics, and spectral metrology. The university also contributes significantly to European research infrastructures in chemical biology and translational medicine, and maintains active humanities research in migration studies, digital archives, and East-West cultural encounters.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2016–2019), the university focused on hard sciences — graphene chemistry (2D-CHEM), quantum secure communications (CiViQ), chemical biology infrastructure (EU-OPENSCREEN-DRIVE), and mathematical logic (SYSMICS). From 2020 onward, the portfolio diversified considerably: humanities and social sciences emerged strongly (TRANS.ARCH, MISSION, CROSS, CHILL), applied fields like agricultural stress tolerance (ADAPT) and energy transitions (TIPPING.plus) appeared, and the quantum work shifted toward twinning and capacity-building (NONGAUSS). The evolution suggests a university deliberately broadening beyond its chemistry-physics core to build interdisciplinary and Widening Participation credentials.

Moving toward broader interdisciplinary engagement — combining their hard-science strengths with growing humanities, social science, and Widening Participation activities, making them an increasingly versatile consortium partner.

How they like to work

Palacký University balances leadership and partnership nearly equally: they coordinated 8 of 23 projects (35%), unusually high for a mid-sized Central European university. Their coordinated projects tend to be smaller-scale (MSCA, CSA, Widening) while they join larger RIA consortia as participants. With 306 unique partners across 43 countries, they are a well-connected hub rather than a repeat-partner institution — useful for consortium builders seeking a Czech node with broad European reach.

Exceptionally broad network for their size: 306 unique consortium partners across 43 countries, indicating they rarely repeat partners and instead build fresh connections per project. Their geographic spread covers most of Europe plus international partners through MSCA-RISE mobility schemes.

What sets them apart

Palacký University is one of the few Czech institutions with both an ERC grant in advanced materials (2D-CHEM) and a strong quantum physics portfolio, giving them rare hard-science credibility for a Widening country university. Their willingness to coordinate — not just participate — makes them a reliable lead partner option for consortia needing a Central European coordinator. The unusual combination of 2D materials chemistry, quantum technologies, and digital humanities means they can contribute to projects that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Highlights from their portfolio

• 2D-CHEM
  Their flagship: an ERC-funded €1.83M project on graphene derivative chemistry, the largest single grant in their portfolio and a mark of individual research excellence.
• NONGAUSS
  A €560K Twinning project they coordinated in quantum technology — signals the university's strategic investment in building quantum physics capacity through European partnerships.
• TRANS.ARCH
  A coordinated MSCA-RISE project on archives, migration, and memory studies — demonstrates their growing humanities ambition and ability to lead international mobility networks.