On December 5, 2024, CENTREPEACE organized the RMA Breakfast event titled ERC Starting – Journey to Success at Masaryk University. The session featured Doc. Michal Smetana’s firsthand account of his successful ERC Starting project application, complemented by presentations from Mgr. Veronika Mikitová, Ph.D., and Mgr. Eva Šlesinger on the structure, statistics, and strategic support for ERC projects.
On December 5, 2024, CENTREPEACE convened the RMA Breakfast event titled ERC Starting at Masaryk University. The event aimed to inform and inspire academics and research managers about the European Research Council (ERC) Starting grants. The breakfast series offered a mix of practical insights, strategic information, and personal experiences to encourage greater participation in ERC-funded projects.
The program opened with a presentation by Mgr. Veronika Mikitová, Ph.D., representing Masaryk University's rectorate. She outlined the fundamental structure of ERC projects, emphasizing their competitive nature and transformative potential. Her talk included an overview of ERC statistics, highlighting trends in Europe, the Czech Republic, and specifically at Masaryk University. This set the stage for understanding the broader context of ERC funding.
Next, doc. PhDr. Michal Smetana, Ph.D., took the floor to share his personal journey toward securing an ERC Starting grant. As one of the few researchers in the field of International Relations to achieve this prestigious funding, his story deeply resonated with the audience, offering both inspiration and practical advice. Doc. Smetana emphasized the importance of persistence, strategic planning, and leveraging institutional support. His presentation was the highlight of the event, demonstrating that success in ERC funding is attainable through dedication and a clear research vision.
Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) projects account for approximately 17-20% of all awarded ERC grants across all disciplines. This highlights the competitive nature of the field and the notable achievement of researchers like Doc. Smetana in securing funding in specialized areas such as International Relations.
The final speaker, Mgr. Eva Šlesinger, outlined the forthcoming Faculty of Social Studies’ strategic plan to enhance project support for ERC applications. Her talk provided attendees with actionable insights into upcoming initiatives, reinforcing the faculty’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for researchers aspiring to secure ERC grants.
The event higlights the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences. ERC grants, known for their rigor and prestige, are vital for advancing cutting-edge research and fostering international collaboration. By exchanging insights and supporting one another, researchers and institutions can collectively elevate their success in securing these transformative opportunities.
On December 3, 2024, Prof. Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen led a seminar at Masaryk University focused on best practices in research excellence, including publication strategies, project applications, and comparative insights into Finnish and Czech research evaluation systems.
A three-day course, "How Europe Got Russia Wrong – Energy, Violence, and the Environment", was hosted at Masaryk University. It analyzed Europe’s policy missteps toward Russia and proposed strategies for fostering peace, sustainability, and democracy.
