Programmes and projects

The Slovenian Research Agency (hereinafter: the Agency) co-finances following types of research projects on a competitive basis:

Basic projects cover experimental or theoretical research undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts.

Applied projects represent an original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge. It is however, directed towards a specific practical aim or objective.

Basic and applied projects led by younger doctors (maximum of ten years after defending his or hers doctoral thesis) represent a special category. In the public call for co-financing projects these types of research projects receive special attention in terms of minimally prescribed representation.

All above listed types of projects are implemented by research teams at one or more research organisations and are led by a Project Leader.

Postdoctoral projects are basic or applied research projects carried out by one researcher (no more than 3 years after obtaining a doctorate). Like research projects led by younger doctors, postdoctoral projects are subjected to minimally prescribed representation in each public call.

Co-financing of the research project is based on the public call. Successful project proposals that meet all the prescribed conditions and are chosen on the basis of reviews of foreign reviewers and the proposal of expert bodies of the Agency in a two-phase procedure are financed for the period specified in the call. The Agency co-finances basic and applied projects for a period of up to three years, while post-doctoral projects are co-financed for up to two years.

Target Audiences

Research projects may be obtained only by a natural or legal person who is registered in the databases of Research and Development activities of the Agency and meets the conditions prescribed by the Research and development activities Act and the Regulations on the criteria for determining the conditions for the leader of the research project.

The project is carried out by the project team consisting of a Project Leader, researchers and technical staff. Postdoctoral project is implemented by a single researcher.

Conditions for the allocation of resources are set out in the Rules of Procedures for co funding, evaluating and monitoring the implementation of the research activities, the Regulations on the criteria for determining the conditions for the leader of the research project, the Methodology for evaluating applications, and the public call text.

Above listed normative acts can be reached under the heading Laws and regulations (in Slovene only).

Funding

The minimum amount of funding for a research project is defined in the relevant Agency regulations. The majority of basic or applied project are funded in the amount of 100.000 EUR per year (for the duration of up to three years), while postdoctoral projects are funded approximately 53.000 EUR per year (for the duration of up to two years).

Reporting and evaluation

Funded research projects and their results are evaluated by the Agency's expert bodies – once during the implementation (intermediate report) and after the conclusion of the project (final report).