Press release detail

15.10.2021 | Press release

From April to June this year it was possible to submit project proposals for the "Rago" call, which focuses on the support of innovative practices, the implementation of the results of research projects, and the transfer of examples of good practice from abroad. Applicants whose project proposals have received a positive opinion from the expert committee in the first round of the Call can send their applications for financial support in the second round. 19 project proposals were recommended, which in the second round can receive support from 5.2 to 26 million Czech crowns for the implementation of activities aimed at strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and protecting biodiversity. More than 150 million Czech crowns have been prepared for them from Norway Grants.

tree growing on computer circuit board / green it

„The Rago call received a great response from applicants. In the first round of the Call, we received 31 project proposals with a total estimated allocation of 388 million Czech crowns. The requested amount has thus reached more than double the allocation we have prepared for these innovative projects. We received several project proposals from Czech universities, but among the applicants, we can also find research institutions, well-known non-profit organizations, and private companies. Although almost half of the project proposals were discarded in the first round of the Call, the competition for funding is still waiting for us in the second round, because the total value of successful project proposals still exceeds the Call allocation,“ summarizes Petr Valdman, Director of the State Environment Fund of the Czech Republic.

The aim of the Rago call is to support the implementation of the real measure to improve the state of ecosystems and protect biodiversity. In particular, pilot and demonstration projects that follow up on completed research or ending multi-annual projects registered in the Information Systems for Research, Experimental Development, and Innovation are supported. However, financial support can also be obtained for activities that represent the transfer of examples of good practice from abroad to the conditions of the Czech Republic and other innovative elements that cannot be the subject of support from the Operational Programme Environment.

„While in the first round of the Call the professional side of the project was evaluated in terms of its content and compliance with the Call, now in the evaluation we will focus on the economic side of the project, cooperation with foreign or Czech partners and nature of territory where the project will be implemented,“ describes Petr Valdman. The list of project proposals recommended for the second round of the Rago call is available on the website of the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic.

In the second round, applications for support will be accepted through the Agenda Information System of the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic in the period from 11 October 12:00 until 13 December 12:00.