The event, held at the Faculty of Social Studies, was officially opened by the University’s Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development, Mgr. Ondřej Slach, Ph.D., who welcomed the participants and emphasised the strategic importance of strengthening the University’s involvement in international research programmes.

 The workshop attracted researchers and project managers from all faculties of the University of Ostrava, as well as representatives of VSB – Technical University of Ostrava and the University Hospital Ostrava. It provided a unique opportunity to gain first-hand insights into Horizon Europe funding opportunities and to exchange experiences with experts who have extensive knowledge of European research funding schemes.

The programme featured three invited speakers with extensive experience in Horizon Europe. Mgr. Petra Vaculíková, MBA, ERC Consultant and Research Culture Manager at the Faculty of Arts, Palacký University Olomouc, introduced participants to the individual funding schemes, with a focus on the European Research Council (ERC) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF).

This was followed by a presentation by Ing. Patrik Toula, Head of the International Projects Support Office at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, who discussed the preparation and implementation of collaborative Horizon Europe projects. Drawing on his own experience, he shared practical advice on proposal development, project management, and the key factors contribute to successful applications.

The workshop concluded with a presentation by Dr. Jutta Deppe, Research and Career Consultant from Detmold, Germany, former German National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe, and an experienced research funding adviser. She emphasised the importance of international collaboration, encouraged researchers to pursue ambitious European projects, and highlighted the benefits of investing time and effort into developing competitive grant proposals.

The presentations sparked active discussions throughout the day, with participants engaging in lively exchanges during both the sessions and the networking break.

The workshop was organised by the Centre for Development and Innovation at the University of Ostrava Rectorate. During the event, EU Project Managers Ing. Martina Walder, Ph.D, and Mgr. Hana Šebestováintroduced the institutional support available to researchers preparing Horizon Europe proposals. They presented the University’s services designed to guide applicants throughout the proposal preparation process and to strengthen the competitiveness of research teams applying for European funding.

The workshop has already stimulated increased interest in Horizon Europe across the university. Several ERC and collaborative project proposals are currently being developed with the support of the Rectorate, reflecting the growing ambition of the University’s research community to engage in excellent international research.

Building on the positive feedback received from participants, the University of Ostrava is planning additional workshops focused on European funding opportunities. These events will continue to support researchers in developing competitive projects and reinforce the University’s long-term commitment to excellence in research and international collaboration.