Czechia

The Office of the Government of the Czechia - Section for Science, Research and Innovation (OG CR – SRI Section) is the highest body in the R&D field and was established in 2014 to coordinate and manage the RDI system. The Section is led by the Deputy Prime Minister of Science, Research and Innovation, who is also the Chairman of the R&D Council and the Chairman of the Council for Competitiveness and Economic Growth (C&EG Council). The main objectives of the OG CR – SRI Section are:

• Science policy unification
• Establishing the rules for transparent funding of institutions engaged in science, research and innovation
• Identification and support in excellence in science
• The expansion of international scientific cooperation

The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Council is an expert advisory body of the Government for RDI, whose specific management and coordination activities are established in the RDI Act. Main responsibilities include:

• preparation of the methodology for evaluating research organisations;
• preparation of the RDI policy;
• processing of priorities of applied research.

The members of the Council assemble at regular meetings taking place once a month where they discuss and approve the materials related to the fulfilment of the tasks of the Council.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS) is the central administrative office responsible for research and development in the Czechia. In this sphere, it focuses above all on policymaking, international cooperation and implementation of research priorities in certain areas. The Academy of Sciences is the leading non-university basic research public institution in the Czechia. It conducts both fundamental and strategic applied research to create scientific knowledge. The Academy formulates its own scientific policy, advises the state on major issues of its R&D policy, administers national as well as international research programmes, and promotes cooperation with both applied research and industry to foster technology transfer and exploitation of scientific knowledge. The Ministry of Transport is responsible for general transport policy and submit the areas of priority for research to the OG CR – SRI Section which are them incorporated into the national research agenda. The Transport Research Centre (CDV), which is a scientific research public institution, sits under the Ministry.

The main funding instruments in the Czechia are basic financing, research grants, and operational programmes that focus on thematic areas. RDI funding in the Czechia is divided among many providers, following allocation of funds towards RDI from the national budget, determined by the Government. The The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports creates and manages operational programmes which cover all fields of research. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for the funding of innovation. Other key organisations in R&D funding are the:

• Czech Science Foundation (GA CR) - an independent public organisation supporting basic research throughout all scientific fields. It provides public funding exclusively for basic research projects for both experienced and early-stage researchers on a call for proposals approach;
• Technology Agency of the Czechia (TA CR) - responsible for the preparation of programmes in applied research and the administration of financial support to applied research projects. 

Transport research can be funded through any of these funding organisations, depending on the research project and operating programme. Transport research is delivered with the aim of achieving or making progress towards one of the six main goals stated in the National RDI Policy. Transport research can also be funded by private sources and international research and development cooperation programmes.