The Neuron Foundation opens applications for the Neuron Expeditions 2025
The Neuron Foundation is announcing a new edition of the Neuron Expedition grant call. Czech scientists and researchers can apply for financial support of up to CZK 1,000,000 for field research in any discipline. The Neuron Expeditions continue the legacy of the legendary travellers Hanzelka and Zikmund and encourage courage and curiosity.
"In the Neuron Expedition we look for exceptional research projects that push back the boundaries of knowledge and bring inspiration to the next generation of scientists," says Monika Vondráková, director of the Neuron Foundation.
"The Neuron Expeditions have already discovered the world's largest underground thermal lake and the oldest Mayan city, helped protect endangered species and studied longevity. I believe that this year too we will find superb scientists who, with our support, will change how we see the world around us. There is still plenty to discover, even today."
The Neuron Expeditions are open to research teams and individuals across all disciplines. Thanks to the support of its patrons, the Neuron Foundation funds unique scientific missions with the potential to produce significant discoveries. "Science needs courage and support. That is why at Neuron we offer not only funding but also an administratively simple route to carrying out unique research projects," Monika Vondráková adds.
Applications for the Neuron Expedition 2025 can therefore be submitted simply until 30 April 2025 through the form on the Neuron Foundation's website:
The winning projects will be selected by the expedition council chaired by the traveller and documentary film-maker Petr Horký during May, and the supported expedition will be revealed publicly in August 2025.
The Neuron Expeditions celebrate international successes
The Neuron Foundation has so far supported twelve expeditions around the world and distributed almost six million crowns for them. Successful expeditions include:
- Neuron Expedition Atmos – Marek Audy's team discovered the world's largest underground thermal lake on the border of Greece and Albania and named it Neuron.
- Neuron Expedition In Search of a Lost Mayan City – a Czech-Slovak expedition discovered one of the oldest cities of the Mayan civilisation in Guatemala.
- Neuron Expedition Dzamba Ya Lobi – the zoologist Tomáš Jůnek and his team mapped the movement of endangered animals in Congo and fought poaching.
- Neuron Expedition In Search of Tropical Glaciers – the ecologist Marie Šabacká studied glaciers near the equator in Uganda and their connection with the northern polar regions.
- Neuron Expedition In Search of the Longevity of the Greenland Shark – Prof. Václav Brázda led research on the shark's DNA in Iceland to uncover the secret of its longevity.
The Neuron Foundation for the support of science
The Neuron Foundation supports the Czech research environment, honours outstanding scientists with the Neuron Awards, looks for new scientific talent, runs student placements at prestigious universities abroad and funds field research through the Neuron Expeditions. All the funds for the Neuron Foundation's work come from private patrons, among them Dalibor Dědek, Eduard Kučera, Josef Průša, Jaroslav Řasa, Monika Vondráková, Václav Dejčmar and Marek Vašíček.
The Neuron Foundation has so far spent almost 150 million crowns on supporting and popularising Czech science, has presented over 130 Neuron Awards and has supported 12 scientific expeditions.
