SIGMA Programme

SIGMA Sub-objective 2: Industrial Chairs — 17th

Funds Czech organizations developing internationally competitive research leadership in industrial technology.

The 17th Call under SIGMA Sub-objective 2, Industrial Chairs, is a Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR) programme that funds the recruitment or long-term retention of internationally recognised applied research experts within Czech research organisations, building early-stage teams centred on a lead researcher with international experience and networks. The objective is to drive organisational change within Czech research organisations that results in greater practical application of research results and stronger links with industry. The primary applicant must be a Czech research organisation; enterprises may participate as project partners. The lead researcher — who may be newly recruited or already active at the host organisation — must have documented international experience and networks relevant to applied research.

The total expected allocation for the 17th call is CZK 500 million. Maximum support per project is CZK 42 million, with a maximum funding intensity of 60%, meaning applicants must cover at least 40% of project costs from non-public sources. Applicants must register their organisation and designate an administrator in the SISTA information system before submission; proposals that do not meet SISTA's technical requirements are ineligible. All project proposals must be submitted in English through SISTA. Preliminary call parameters were published on 6 May 2026; final call documentation was to be published on the day the call opened.

The call opened on 25 June 2026 and the submission deadline is 12 August 2026. Results are expected by 28 February 2027. Applicants should note that the estimated allocation may change depending on the Czech state budget. Consultation of project proposals is available through TA CR's regional contact points before submission; questions may also be directed to the TA CR helpdesk. To win, consortia should demonstrate not only the quality of the proposed lead researcher's international credentials but also a credible plan for how the Industrial Chair will change the host organisation's research culture and create measurable pathways to commercial application of results.