FAQ

 

Where can I find the Project Centre?

The Project Centre is located on the 2nd above-ground floor of building A (enter via the side staircase from the HR department) in the premises of Mendel University in Brno.

What is “Project Groups Support” and where can I find it?

Project Groups Support is a list of documents available for download after logging in similarly as into UIS; these documents are linked to a specific type of call. After downloading, users will receive a set of documents in a .zip file that includes all the forms that are needed to submit an application as well as methodical sheets designed to help you correctly prepare the documents required for the given funding/support application. Project Groups Support is available here.

What is the applicant’s eligibility and where to find it?

Eligibility refers to meeting of the application criteria defined by the specific call and program. Eligibility is demonstrated in two different ways.

  • An eligibility declaration that is sent once from Mendel University in Brno, such as for instance a Statutory Declaration on the Applicant's Eligibility and other declarations pertaining to large-scale projects (such as TA ČR, GA ČR, NAZV, etc.), where in the appropriate Statutory Declaration the project name or number is not entered; this is prepared and sent based on the instructions for the call by PO REK (Project Centre) 1x per the university.
  • In case of smaller projects or projects where the project name or number is entered, the applicant will secure the eligibility documentation on their own as per the instructions specified in the call. PO REK will then send the document to the rector for signature.

Eligibility documents for selected calls are available after logging into Project Groups Support, depending on the specific call and program, HERE.

What is the methodology sheet for a project?

This is a brief overview of the project documentation for individual calls. It provides basic information regarding the specific call, schedule, deadline for submitting the application, requirements of the call, assessment criteria, etc.

Where can I find methodology sheets for announced projects?

Methodology sheets are made public following the seminar organized for specific calls, at most 14 days after the announcement of the call. Methodology sheets for calls are available on the project center website, within the Project Groups Support.

Which projects can I submit applications for?

It is possible to submit applications for instance for:

  • Projects of national funding agencies: GA ČR, TA ČR NAZV (MZe), NAKI (MK)
  • Structural EU funds: OP VVV
  • Projects of foreign funding agencies: Horizon 2020, The EHP/Norway financial mechanism, International collaborations within the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (INGO II, COST CZ, EUPRO II, EUREKA CZ, KONTAKT II), Visegrad Fund

What is the accompanying sheet?

The accompanying sheet is a document that needs to be filled in and submitted for each new project application. It is not possible to submit a project application without an accompanying sheet.

Who signs it and how does one complete it?

All details about signing and completing the sheets are summarized in the “Accompanying Sheets – Completion Instructions” document, available for download HERE

How are documents submitted for signature to the rector?

  • The accompanying sheet for a project is completed by the project applicant for each newly submitted application. When submitting further documentation related to the project in pre-project, project as well as post-project phase for signature to the rector, the applicant (researcher) no longer submits the accompanying sheet.
  • The accompanying sheet is always provided to the rector after it has already been signed by the appropriate dean or ICV director; the project manager is responsible for supplying the accompanying sheet with these signatures to the Project Centre (PO REK).
  • Documents submitted for signature to the rector that are delivered by 10:00 to the PO REK are then signed by the rector in the afternoon and afterwards made ready for collection at the PO REK.
  • If the vice-rector signs mail to the rector on the rector’s behalf, a full power of attorney will be attached to the documents.

 

Where can I find the accompanying sheet for submitting documents to the rector?

The accompanying sheet for submitting documents to the rector is available HERE.

 

Where can I find statutory declarations, financial statements, confirmations, etc.?

All documents required for the submission of a project are available within Project Groups Support after login (in the same manner as into UIS) as per the specific announced call HERE.

 

Where can I find contract templates?

Contract templates are available on the Project Groups Support website, as part of the documents prepared for announced calls HERE.

 

When I submit a project proposal, will I receive an assigned assistant from PO REK?

Project support is provided by project managers for individual sections. PO REK secures documentation for individual calls in the form of methodology sheets, available on Project Groups Support HERE. If the project is approved, the researcher will be pursuing it on their own.

 

How does one send projects via a databox?

The documents required (in .pdf, .doc., .xls formats) and intended to be sent via databox are provided by the project manager (of the section) along with instructions on how to send them to the PO REK. They will then ensure that the data is sent via databox and after that inform the appropriate project manager via a confirmation on the sending of the documents via databox.

 

What are the procedures after the announcement of a call for grant applications?

Information about announced calls for grant applications are published via the Newsletter. Training will be carried out for selected calls within 14 days; this will be organized by the PO REK. Methodology sheets are published via Project Groups Support. The next stage is then the preparation of the writeup, completion of the accompanying sheet for the project (for project proposals), the accompanying sheet for signature by the rector, the actual signing of documents and sending of the application to the agency as per the requirements of the given call.

 

How are projects sent to grant agencies?

Projects are sent in the manner specified in the call, electronically (via a databox) or in paper form.

 

Who can I contact for help?

In case of questions regarding individual calls, please contact the appropriate project managers or use the PO REK email address: projekty@mendelu.cz.

 

Are seminars available for announced calls?

Yes. A list of seminars that are currently being organized is available HERE.

 

How long does a call for applications last?

In compliance with Act 130/2002, on supporting research and development, a call must be active for at least 43 days. The application deadline is listed in each specific call.

 

How will I learn about an announced call? Is there someone who keeps track of all the calls?

Subscribers to the Newsletter will receive electronic notices of new calls. To register to the Newsletter, go HERE. Information about newly announced calls is available in the Call Tracker app.

 

How does the Call Tracker work?

The Call Tracker allows users to easily and automatically search through and track calls for projects focusing on research, experimental development and innovation organized by national and international grant agencies. After logging into the app, you can use filters not only to search through calls in individual areas, but also to define criteria for the watchlist – the app will then send you email notifications whenever a call matching the criteria is announced.

 

What is the IGA?

The Internal Grant Agency (IGA) at MENDELU in Brno is a support unit at the university which takes part in forming its research policies, supports notably the inclusion of students into research and development, and financially supports the PO REK as well as the dissemination of obtained results by providing internal grants within grant calls.

 

How is the IGA organized?

The grant calls of IGA at MENDELU in Brno lie within the competences of individual parts of the university.

 

How are publications entered into RIV (Registry of Information about Research Results)?

All publication activities of authors from Mendel University in Brno that were created at MENDELU are, as of 2015, recorded in the OBD (personal bibliographical database) system. All MENDELU employees have access into OBD; the password is the same as for UIS. This system is also what is used to generate the R&D publication results that are then sent to RIV. New publication activities need to be entered via a report on the creation of a new R&D result using the FORM.

Further details are available on the website of the Institute of Research and Teaching Information Services HERE.

What does Full Cost mean?

Full Cost is a methodology used to determine the full costs, divided into direct and indirect costs, that has been used at MENDELU since 1 January 2014 as per Rector’s Decision 19/2013. Full Cost methodology at MENDELU expires on 31 December 2018. FC methodology does not apply to:

  • Ineligible costs – specified by grant providers (taxes, deficits, exchange rate losses, representation costs, etc.).
  • Financial transfers – costs which cannot be considered justified from the viewpoint of FC methodology, and which merely represent financial flows. This applies notably to transfers to university funds in compliance with the University Act, where costs enter into the FC calculation in the form of direct or indirect costs only when these funds are used for specific purposes, costs for scholarships paid from funding that are used by students, and costs for the grants of co-recipients which receive funding from the university as funding recipients.

Other costs are divided into direct and indirect costs. At the university, direct costs occur primarily in the institutes. In addition to the costs monitored via SPP elements, these only include personnel costs. Other costs represent so-called operating costs.

 

Where do SPP elements come from?

SPP elements are assigned by the economics department based on a previous application and submitted Decision on Project Financing.

 

What is an on-site inspection and how does it proceed?

The main aim of an on-site inspection is to verify adherence to the conditions and measures set by EU and Czech law. The inspection verifies whether the data declared by the applicant match reality and whether all of the applicant’s obligations are being carried out (in the scope in which they can be verified at the time of the inspection). Inspections are carried out on selected samples from selected EU frameworks.

Procedure of the inspection: After receiving a notice of the date of the on-site inspection, the RDD will contact the given researcher, who will then prepare a presentation and the documents required for the inspection. The RDD will secure a full power of attorney of the appropriate vice-rector to initiate and carry out the inspection. If the researcher responsible for the project no longer works at MENDELU, the appropriate secretary will designate a person responsible for preparing and carrying out the inspection.

 

Who designates the submission deadlines for projects?

The deadlines for individual sections are specified by the project managers of the given section. These deadlines are then published via Project Groups Support as per the specific type of call. The deadlines for submitting project proposals to PO REK by section project managers are then designated by the PO REK. The deadlines for submitting applications to the funding agency are specified in the announced call.

 

How to proceed if only a single project can be submitted on behalf of MENDELU?

The applicant who is the first to submit the accompanying sheet via the appropriate project manager to PO REK will get the opportunity to submit the project proposal for calls that only allow a single application from MENDELU. The proposal is then discussed at the Rector’s Commission for Creative Activities of Mendel University in Brno.

 

Can I submit CRP, IP projects?

CRP, IP projects are not within the PO REK’s competences, but instead fall under the Department of Strategy and Quality.

Is it possible to work with GMO and perform experiments on animals within MENDELU?

Mendel University obtained an Authorization to Handle Genetically Modified Organisms in the mode of contained use, in the first category. MENDELU also has the authorization to use animals for testing. More information about the type of animals, approval of quantity etc. is available in the document titled Authorization to Perform Animal Testing. Both documents are available for download within Project Groups Support.

 

Where can I find the authorizations for working with GMO and animal testing?

Some calls require the submission of a Confirmation on the authorization to work with GMOs and a Confirmation on the authorization to perform animal testing; these are available for download within the document package prepared for the given call that is available on Project Groups Support.

 

What are the current OPVVV projects?

All current OPVVV projects are available HERE.