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Brno University of Technology (BUT) is launching a new internal grant competition, ReConnect VUT, designed to help female and male researchers and doctoral students restart their research careers after a hiatus. Thanks to support from the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Program (OP JAK), the university is systematically addressing the impacts of career breaks caused by parental leave, long-term illness, or caring for loved ones for the first time. Applications for support may be submitted from April 1 to June 2, 2026. Illustration photo. | Author: Canva
Return grants are intended for research staff and doctoral students at BUT and will provide them with the conditions for a full-fledged return to research. Support includes a half-time position funded by a personal grant, funding for mentoring and team building, and opportunities for international mobility.
A career break often poses a significant obstacle to professional development, particularly for women. Caring for children or loved ones and long-term illness complicate the balance between personal and professional life. A career break typically leads to a reduction in publishing activity, conference participation, and international collaboration, which in turn makes it more difficult to secure research funding.Return grants thus represent a systemic step at BUT that addresses gender inequalities and the specific life situations of male and female researchers. The goal is to prevent the loss of talent caused by career breaks and to facilitate a return to active research. “I am very pleased that we were able to secure a project from the OP JAK Návraty call. A career break, especially in the technical sciences, makes it more difficult to return to research, and this scheme thus contributes significantly to reducing the barriers associated with returning,” says Tereza Stodolová, head of the Department of Project Support and Knowledge Transfer .
Grant conditions:
Detailed information on the terms and conditions of the Internal Grant Competition, how to apply for return grants and contact persons can be found on the ReConect VUT competition website.
Seminars for applicants:April 10, 2026 (in Czech) and April 24, 2026 (in English), informational seminars on the announced competition will be held. Further details will be published on the ReConnect VUT website.Registration:
Illustration photo. | Author: CanvaContact:Mgr. et Mgr. Gábor Oláh, Ph.D. BUT Rector's OfficeProject Support Departmentolah@vutbr.cz