The programme aims to make the support of international mobility from the central sources of the SAS more effective so that it leads to a higher participation of SAS scientists in international project schemes, especially in the EU framework programmes. The programme will make it possible to establish cooperation with partners from important workplaces in Europe and the world in order to create the preconditions for the preparation of joint international projects. The potential to create a joint international project will be one of the conditions for the award of a grant under the Mobility Programme. An important aspect and one of the evaluation criteria is the involvement of young researchers (postdoctoral students) and doctoral students in international cooperation.
Bilateral Mobility Project Programme
The aim is to develop cooperation based on a mutual cooperation agreement. The support is intended for research teams in which at least one third are postdoctoral students (researchers within 5 years of completing doctoral studies) and/or doctoral students. Projects are evaluated on both sides, with each party supporting its participants in the project. One of the main award criteria is added value in the form of a participation in calls in the EU Framework Programmes.
Evaluation criteria
- design quality
- partner quality
- Applicant quality
- degree of involvement of postdoctoral and doctoral students
- the potential for involvement in international project cooperation, in particular within the EU Framework Programmes
| Support amount: | up to 5 000 EUR/year |
| Purpose of support: | travel costs, including accommodation costs |
| Duration: | 24 – 36 months (according to the conditions of the agreement with the partner institution abroad) |
Open Mobility Projects Programme
The aim is to develop cooperation with institutions with which the SAS has not concluded a bilateral agreement on mutual cooperation. The support is intended for research teams in which at least one third are postdoctoral students (researchers within 10 years of completing doctoral studies) and/or doctoral students. Projects are evaluated on the side of the SAS.
Evaluation criteria
- acceptance by the partner institution
- partner quality
- applicant quality
- degree of involvement of postdoctoral and doctoral students
- the potential for involvement in international project cooperation, in particular within the EU Framework Programmes
| Support amount: | up to 3 000 EUR/year |
| Purpose of support: | travel costs, including accommodation costs |
| Duration: | 24 – 36 months |
Visit Programme
Another goal of the Mobility Programme is to support short-term stays of important foreign researchers at the SAS in connection with academic lectures (Visit Programme). The aim of the Programme is the possible mutual exchange of experiences with important personalities of world science, popularization of top world science for a wider academic and non-academic audience, as well as a possible establishment or deepening of mutual cooperation.
Evaluation criteria
- the personality of a foreign scientist
- programme of the visit
- potential for future project cooperation
- Purpose of support: travel costs and stay of a foreign guest at the SAS
- Support amount: up to the amount of costs, max. up to 2 000 EUR
| Duration: | 5 – 7 days |
| Number of proposals supported: | maximum 4/year |
The participation of the relevant SAS organisation is possible for all programmes.
Mobility Basic Programme
The Mobility Basic program requires the signing of a Cooperation Agreement with the relevant scientific institution, as well as an Executive Protocol that obliges both parties to cooperate on joint mobility projects (each party submits its own project proposal and each institution submits the project for evaluation). According to the point order, a ranking is drawn up and the number of projects governed by the Executive Protocol is selected for funding. The selection will be approved by the SAS Foreign Relations Commission. Subsequently, the funding of cooperation does not take place centrally, but in the form of a refund (the Slovak scientists will be paid for accommodation and meals by the receiving party, and SAS will reimburse the costs of meals and accommodation for foreign scientists).
Mobility Support Programme in Belgium-Flanders (FWO)
The aim of the Mobility Support Programme in Belgium – Flanders (FWO) is to co-fund research stays of excellent SAS scientists in Belgium (Flanders) who successfully pass the selection process of the Belgian (Flemish) grant agency FWO (The Research Foundation – Flanders Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek – Vlaanderen), which supports the mobility of foreign scientists through the Grant for a scientific stay in Flanders scheme.
The SAS will co-fund the stays of successful excellent applicants who receive a decision on awarding the grant – FWO granting letter from the Flemish Grant Agency in the amount of 1,000 euros/month. Applications for grants for a scientific stay in Flanders can be submitted throughout the year on the FWO side. After submitting an application and meeting all the requirements listed here, the successful applicant will receive a decision on the award of the grant – FWO granting letter, which must then be submitted to the Department of International Cooperation (DIC).
Procedure on the SAS side:
- After submitting the decision awarding the grant – FWO granting letter to the DIC of the SAS Office and the subsequent co-funding approval by the SAS Presidency, the successful applicant will be granted an amount of 1,000 euros/month. During the research stay in Belgium – Flanders, the researcher will work in a Flemish scientific or educational organization.
- After approval of the funding from the SAS, the applicant will receive a SAS Grant Approval Letter (In Slovak: Rozpisový list).
- The SAS can support research stays lasting up to two months.
- The annual budget of the Mobility Support Programme in Belgium-Flanders (FWO) is 4,000 euros/year; any changes to the budget must be approved by the Presidency of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.
- Applications will be supported in the order in which they are delivered to the International Cooperation Department (DIC) of the SAS Office.
- A detailed overview of the use of allocated funds (Financial Report) must be submitted to the DIC by 31 January of the following year. Eligible cost items are only travel expenses mentioned in point 1.1. of the Financial Rules for awarding grants for projects under the Mobility Programme.