The Neuron Endowment Fund for the Support of Science, Neuron patrons, and IOCB Tech have joined forces to provide active support to young Ukrainian scientists during the current crisis. Recipients will receive up to CZK 200,000 for initial costs associated with accommodation and relocation to the Czech Republic.

“We must help Ukraine protect the young generation of scientists, and we believe the best solution is to temporarily host them so they may conduct work at Czech research organisations that continues to develop their expertise,” says Monika Vondráková, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees at the Neuron Endowment Fund. “Other grants and institutional budgets are capable of funding studies or scientific work, but they are unable to give scientists money for their everyday lives and needs in a new country. Thanks to private funds, we at the Neuron Endowment Fund can,” she explains.

“After seeing the brutality with which the Russian president is trampling on all of the values of the civilised world, I – like everyone else – felt we had to do something,” adds Martin Fusek, the director IOCB Tech. “I am very pleased that the Neuron Endowment Fund is here and that Monika Vondráková and I were able to sit down and in the space of 24 hours come up with this form of help for young Ukrainian scientists.”

It is essential that Czech research organisations helping young Ukrainian scientists continue their work in the Czech Republic, collaborate in the current grant programme. 

“We contacted members of the Scientific Council and selected universities and institutions to help us in the first stage of identifying Ukrainian scientists who need assistance,” says Monika Vondráková, noting that the CZK 2 million that has been allocated now is not necessarily the final amount. The Neuron Endowment Fund is reaching out to more patrons and partners to ask them to provide additional funding for the project and thus show their clear support for Ukrainian scientists and students.  

For more information please contact

Jan Šprincl, 728 268 581, jan.sprincl@nfneuron.cz

About the Neuron Endowment Fund

The main mission of the Neuron Endowment Fund is to increase the prestige of scientists, to develop modern patronage in science, and to connect the world of science and business. We believe that scientific knowledge is the driver of a successful society. Our main activity is the Neuron Prizes, awards given for exceptional discoveries, lifetime achievement in science, promising scientists, and connecting science and business. We hold regular gatherings of the Neuron Club, a closed meeting where leading scientists and business figures can discuss current issues; public outreach is through Neuron Online Club meetings. We fund Neuron Expeditions to support Czech scientists’ work outside of the country and in international teams. We support talented students and their efforts to further scientific knowledge. For more information visit nfneuron.cz.

About IOCB TechIOCB Tech is a technology transfer centre and subsidiary of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) under the umbrella of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The institute connects the results of basic research conducted at IOCB with the needs of commercial partners to generate novel ideas in medicinal chemistry, material sciences, and other areas of chemistry for human use. The current portfolio comprises projects focused on the central nervous system (epilepsy and neuropathic pain), inflammation, cancer, antimicrobial resistance, separation processes, and research tools. For more information visit iocbtech.cz.