Nadace Experientia Start-up grant

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What are the Experientia Start-up Grants?

Nadace Experientia Start-up grants support early career researchers (up to seven years since their PhD) in organic, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry to set up their own independent research group in the Czech Republic. See more details in the Experientia Start-up 2025 summary in Czech  .

Who can apply for the Experientia Start-up Grant?

Junior researchers, looking to start their own independent research group at any Czech University or research institute (except IOCB). They must intend to do research in organic, bioorganic or medicinal chemistry They must have no more than 7 years of experience since completion of their Ph.D., they must have at least one year of postdoctoral experience abroad, and they must identify a host institution in the Czech Republic to provide them with laboratory space and equipment, as well as a degree of co-funding (Experientia pays 2 M CZK / year and the host institution pledges to co-finance with 0.7 M CZK / year.

Why apply for the Experientia Start-up Grant?

• It is a prestigious opportunity to establish and develop your own independent research laboratory focused on organic, bioorganic or medicinal chemistry and to undertake your breakthrough, high-risk research ideas.
• You can get financial support of 2.7 M CZK / year (2.0 M CZK from Experientia + 0.7 M CZK from the host institution) to cover personnel costs and stipends, including statutory levies, as well as other operating costs, low-value tangible and intangible assets, software, travel expenses, services.
• You can set up your research group at any Czech University or Research Institution (except IOCB).

When to apply for the Experientia Start-up Grant?

The deadline for applications is 15 Mar each year, the nearest deadline is on Sat 15 Mar 2025.

Please inform the Project Office about your intention to apply.     Do not hesitate to contact us anytime for consulting, discussion or help.

How to apply for the Experientia Start-up Grant?

1. Find and read the programme guidelines:
   • Experientia Start-up call
   • Experientia Start-up grant 2025 – shrnutí CZ  
   • Experientia-Start-up-grant 2025 – Pravidla_CZ  
   • Experientia-Start-up-grant 2025 – BudgetTable-breakdown-of-funds-EN  
   • Experientia-Start-up-grant 2025 – Checklist 2025  
2. Contact the Experientia Foundation with your initial project idea at experientia@experientia.cz. After consulting with the Experientia Foundation, you will receive a draft Start-up Grant Agreement. Then, get in touch with the host institution where you plan to establish your research group.
3. Contact the Host Institution and negotiate institutional support. The host institution will need to agree to create an independent group leader position for you as the PI in their organisational structure, to co-finance the start-up grant with 0.7 M CZK / year (2.1 M CZK for the project duration) and to provide you with adequate laboratory space and equipment.
4. Contact two referees, preferably from two different institutions and, where possible, from two different countries. They will need to write a letter of recommendation supporting and vouching for your academic achievements.
5. (Applicant): Write your project application including:
   • title of the project;
   • brief summary of the project (max 1000 characters);
   • scientific description of the project (max 4–5 pages including references and figures):
     1. aims of the project
     2. current state of the art
     3. analysis of suggested route to attain the aims of the project
     4. description of how the project significantly shifts boundaries of knowledge and a risk analysis
     5. description of the host institution where the project will be carried out
   • details of the main PI/applicant:
     1. identification data: name, surname, date of birth, address of workplace including phone number and e-mail
     2. structured CV including details of MSc and PhD theses (title, name of the advisor, affiliation, brief summary - 3 sentences - of content)
     3. full reference list
     4. information about fellowships/postdoctoral experience abroad (outside Czech Republic)
     5. information about work experience to date
   • details of team members (name, surname, date of birth, position), description of positions to be added at a later date if specific persons are not known at the time of the application
   • outline budget for the entire 3-year period calculated using an interactive form available on the Foundation website.
6. (Applicant & Host institution): Get legal representative of the host institution to write a letter confirming:
   • independent group leader status for the applicant/PI within the organizational framework of the institution
   • pledge to co-finance the Start-up grant with 0.7 M CZK / year
   • agreement to provide adequate laboratory space including the necessary equipment and enable access to instruments and equipment within the wider host institution
7. (Referees): Ask the referees to send their letters of recommendation directly to experientia@experientia.cz no later than 15 Mar 2025.
8. Submit your final application as a single PDF to experientia@experientia.cz no later than 15 Mar 2025.
9. Be prepared to present your project (10 minutes presentation followed by discussion) at the joint meeting of the Selection Committee and Foundation Board at the end of May 2025. This meeting will také place on-line and in person and candidates can choose how to attend.

Final evaluation results will be announced to applicants by 30 Jun 2025.
The grant start date is expected to be on 01 January 2026. The contract must be signed between the recipient, the Foundation and the host institution by 15 Dec 2025, otherwise the right to the grant will be forfeited.

Contact: Nadace Experientia, Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Praha 6
Anna Slaninová, ☎ +420 725 302 848, experientia@experientia.cz

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IOCB participation (1) in Experientia Start-up Grant:

• Ondřej Baszczyňski (2019): Přírodovědecká Fakulta UK, Praha, group webpage)