BIOLOGY CENTRE CAS | Biology Centre ranks among the most successful Czech institutions in European research funding

In the photo: Elisabeth Hehenberger, ERC Consolidator Grant recipient, whose project focuses on the evolution of photosynthesis. Photo: D. Procházková

In the ranking of the TOP 50 Czech organisations according to their net EU contribution from the Horizon Europe programme, the Biology Centre placed 11th among all Czech institutions and was the second most successful institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Horizon Europe is the European Union’s largest framework programme supporting research and innovation. It enables research institutions across Europe to collaborate on international projects, secure funding for cutting-edge research, and address societal challenges that extend beyond national borders. Success in the programme requires competing in a highly demanding international evaluation process, where only the highest-quality project proposals are selected.

According to an analysis published on the Science and Research portal, Horizon Europe funding is strongly concentrated among the most successful Czech institutions—the top 50 organisations receive approximately four fifths of all funding allocated to the Czech Republic. The Biology Centre’s excellent position therefore reflects not only the high quality of its research, but also the ability of its scientists to successfully participate in international research consortia.

The Biology Centre also holds a strong position in the field of ERC grants. These grants are among the most prestigious European awards recognising individual scientific excellence and support outstanding researchers in pursuing ambitious and innovative research projects. In the overview of unique ERC grants awarded to principal investigators at Czech host institutions between 2007 and 30 June 2026, the Biology Centre ranked 5th in the Czech Republic and 2nd among the institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

To date, the Biology Centre has hosted a total of seven ERC grants, including three from the Horizon 2020 programme and four from Horizon Europe. Funding directly allocated to the Biology Centre through these projects exceeds €15.1 million, while the combined budgets of all seven ERC projects amount to more than €22.5 million.

These achievements are primarily the result of the dedication and expertise of Biology Centre research teams, as well as the work of many colleagues who provide professional and administrative support for the preparation and implementation of demanding international projects. Together, these successes demonstrate not only the quality of research carried out at the Biology Centre, but also its ability to collaborate with leading European institutions and contribute to addressing important scientific challenges of today.