On 24 June 2026, the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (hereinafter referred to as “TA CR”) announced the seventeenth public call in the Programme for Support of Applied Research and Innovation SIGMA – Sub-Objective 2, Industrial Chairs (hereinafter referred to as “SIGMA – Industrial Chairs”).
The announcement of the public call was published by TA CR in the Commercial Bulletin and the Information System for Research, Experimental Development, and Innovation.
SIGMA Programme – DC2 is aimed at supporting the recruitment and long-term retention of internationally recognized experts in applied research within research organizations, in accordance with the conditions of the SIGMA Programme – DC2.
The main objective of this call for proposals is to support changes in research organizations that lead to a greater application of research results in practice, achieved by funding the work of a team centered around an expert with international experience and contacts.
The project proposal shall be submitted through the SISTA information system in English.
TA CR recommends switching the language in SISTA to English via the “EN” button in the top right corner screen after logging in.
The Call Period begins on June 25, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. and ends on August 12, 2026, at the times indicated below:
- 16:29:59 – This is the latest possible time to submit a project proposal through the SISTA information system;
- 23:59:59 hod. – This is the latest possible moment to send the documents to prove eligibility, which must be sent by each applicant separately.
Data box ID TA CR: afth9xp
The 17th Call for Proposals of the SIGMA Programme will be announced in the TA CR shared information system – SISTA. Please note that all calls for proposals will be announced in SISTA only. To submit a project proposal, applicants must meet the new technical requirements of the system. This includes registering their organization and designating an administrator. Without completing the organization registration and adding administrators, it will not be possible to submit a project proposal or receive public funds for applied research projects. In this article, we describe all the new technical requirements in detail and recommend reading it carefully.
Detailed information necessary for the preparation and submission of the project proposal, including details on the evaluation method and criteria, can be found in the Call documentation and other documents associated with the call for proposals. The SISTA information system includes help sheets to assist applicants in completing the project proposal.
Do you have any questions? You can ask it via HELPDESK. You can also contact the regional representatives of the TA CR.
For applicants in the 17th SIGMA Programme Call for Proposals, TA CR will host an online informational webinar on July 8, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m.
You will be able to watch the webinar live on YouTube (no installation or login required).
During the webinar, we will primarily familiarize applicants with the focus and conditions of the call for proposals. We will also provide applicants with information to help them complete their project proposals in the SISTA information system. If you have any questions, you can submit them in advance using the form. We will try to answer your questions at the end of the webinar, time permitting.
TA CR further informs applicants that it will only accept such project proposals whose applicants (i.e., the main applicant and another participant):
- publish the financial statements in the public register – for entities that have this obligation for a period of three years (2022, 2023, 2024);
- do not meet the definition of a company in difficulty;
- are registered in the register of beneficial owners by the end of the call period, i.e., by August 12, 2026;
- meet the other conditions set out in the Call documentation.
All documents related to the 17th call for proposals are available on the public tender page here.
The public call was announced in accordance with Act No. 130/2002 Coll., on support for research, experimental development, and innovation from public funds and amendments to certain related acts, in accordance with the Framework for State Aid for Research, Development, and Innovation 2014/C 198/01 and in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 of 17 June 2014.
ELIMINATION OF CORRUPTING INFLUENCES
In order to eliminate corrupt influences during the call process, TA CR asks all applicants to inform the company immediately of any alleged corrupt activity of which they become aware. Notification, together with a description of the relevant facts, can make it much easier for the TA CR to identify and eliminate possible corrupt efforts. Complaints concerning suspicions of corrupt practices or other unfair activities may be reported according to the procedure on the website of TA CR.
Published on 24 June 2026