Return Grant Application
Return Grant Application
The Return Grant Application serves to assess the research project proposal, the career development plan and the applicant’s readiness to return to a research career after a career break. Applications are submitted electronically via the CTU Return Grants Scheme App (SNG App).
The app system guides the applicant through the entire submission process step by step using in-app support, which includes explanations for individual fields to fill in, required annexes and practical recommendations for completing the application.
An applicant may be a researcher or a PhD student at CTU who, at the time of submission, is currently on a career break or returned from a career break no more than 12 months prior to the submission date and who meets the conditions set out in the Return Grants Scheme. A maximum of one application may be submitted per round.
Return Grant applications assessment is a transparent, multi-level process aimed at ensuring a high scientific merit of the supported projects and equal treatment of all applicants.
Return Grant applications are assessed in a single stage. All applications undergo a formal check, an eligibility check and an expert review. Due to capacity constraints, the cap is set at a maximum of 80 applications accepted in one round, with submissions accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
CTU Return Grants Announced
The first round of the internal call for CTU Return Grants has been announced to support the return to research activities after a career break. Applications can be submitted from 4 May to 4 June 2026.
Mandatory content for the application
The application must in particular include:
- identification of the applicant and an overview of their previous experience in science and research
- proof of the career break
- a career development plan and future professional career outline
- identification of the host department/institute where the return grant will be implemented
- a project abstract
- the return grant objectives, planned activities, research methods and expected outcomes
- a description of the principal investigator’s involvement (his/her FTE and its justification)
- expert team members, including FTEs and justification of their roles
- involvement of a mentor (where relevant)
- a budget prepared using the prescribed calculator
- a description of the project’s alignment with the RIS3 strategy
- a description of the gender dimension of the research
- a description of the application of Open Science principles
- identification of the main risks associated with project implementation
Mandatory application annexes
The following documents must be attached to the application:
- return grant applicant’s CV
- supporting statement from the head of the department/unit where the return grant will be implemented
- applicant’s cover letter
- project timeline
- filled-out return grant calculator
- declarations (e.g. on double financing, a declaration that the topic of a PhD student’s doctoral dissertation is not the same as the topic of the grant)
Important information
The minimum length of the return grant is 12 months, maximum 30 months.
The minimum involvement of the principal investigator is 0.5 FTE.
The application must be completed in line with the CTU Return Grants Guide and the rules of the OP JAK programme.
At the time of submitting the application, the applicant must be a CTU employee or a CTU student.
The maximum workload during the career break must not exceed 0.3 FTE.
Incomplete or formally incorrect applications may be rejected.
