Research projects

The acquisition and (co-)funding of a research project are subject to a public call. 

ARIS (co-)funds projects that: 

• meet all the conditions of the call, 

• have been evaluated in an international peer-review process, 

• are selected on the basis of a proposal from the Agency's expert bodies. 

The Agency (co-)funds projects for the period specified in each call: basic and applied projects for up to three years, post-doctoral projects for up to two years, Gravity projects for up to three years and strategic projects for up to five years.

The project is carried out by a project team consisting of a project leader, researchers and technical/professional assistants. 

ARIS monitors the implementation of projects through interim and final reports and reports on the use of funds. 

ARIS may carry out monitoring at the contractor's premises. It may engage certified auditors to carry out financial checks. 

Applied projects are original research with a clear practical objective. 

Funding 
ARIS finances up to 75% of the eligible project costs. At least 25% of eligible costs shall be provided by other interested users. Before signing the contract, the applicant must provide evidence of (co-)financing for the entire duration of the project. If the project is submitted by a commercial company that is also a (co-)financier, evidence from other users is not required, but the company must provide for its share of the (co-)financing at the time of the project application. The company must provide and declare its share in the manner determined by ARIS.

Duration Up to three years. 

Post-doctoral projects are basic or applied projects carried out by a single researcher. A post-doctoral researcher is a researcher who has completed their doctoral defence no more than three years prior. 

Funding 
Post-doctoral basic projects are (co-)funded for up to 1,700 annual effective research hours (1 FTE) in price category B. Post-doctoral applied projects are (co-)funded at a rate of 1,275 annual effective research hours (0.75 FTE) in price category B.

Duration Up to two years. 

Gravity projects are pilot consortium projects intended for top research teams with the ambition to make scientific breakthroughs. 

Gravity projects are carried out in one of three scientific areas: 

• humanities and social sciences, 
• natural sciences and engineering, 
• biomedical sciences and life sciences. 

The thematic areas of each call are determined by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. 

The consortium is made up of at least three Slovenian research organisations that receive stable funding. The project involves at least six principal researchers. 

Applications are evaluated by international reviewers and an external expert body according to the following criteria: 

• the level of scientific excellence of the principal researchers, 
• the level of scientific excellence in the application, 
• the quality and efficiency of implementation, 
• the societal and scientific impact. 

Funding ARIS will finance the pilot project in accordance with the applicant's financial plan up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project. The purchase of research equipment is financed up to 60% of the purchase price. The contractor may spend up to 50% of the project allocation on the purchase of equipment. The funds are provided from the consolidated national budget.

Duration Three years. 

Strategic projects support outstanding researchers at various career stages. They are designed to develop world-class research programmes and research teams. They also encourage leading international researchers and Slovenian researchers based abroad to come to Slovenia. 

Types of strategic projects funded by ARIS: 

• projects by high-achieving researchers at the start of their careers (2–7 years after their first doctorate), 
• projects by established researchers (7–12 years after the first doctorate), 
• projects by leading researchers with a ground-breaking research programme. 

Applications are evaluated by international reviewers and an external expert body according to the following criteria: 

• the level of scientific excellence of the principal researchers, 
• the level of scientific excellence in the application, 
• Quality and efficiency of the implementation. 

Funding ARIS will finance the pilot project in accordance with the applicant's financial plan up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project. The purchase of research equipment is financed up to 60% of the purchase price. The contractor may spend up to 50% of the project allocation on the purchase of equipment. The funds are provided from the consolidated national budget. 

Duration Five years.

ARIS supports public involvement in scientific research through a call for (co-)funding for citizen science activities. 

It is a targeted call that complements research projects and promotes openness and cooperation between science and society. 

The call is open to the (co-)funding of citizen science projects in the context of publicly funded research activities. The projects involve citizens in the research process and contribute to improving the quality, efficiency and responsiveness of research. 

The call is being launched under the Open Science Action Plan.

Funding 
The annual value of the funds is EUR 280,000.

Duration 
The call is expected to run on a pilot basis until 2030. After this period, citizen science activities should be integrated into research projects (co-)funded by ARIS.