Calls for Applications, Mobility, Visegrad > France

CFA – French Government and Slovak Academy Of Sciences Joint Mobility Grant

The French Government and Slovak Academy of Sciences joint mobility grant for young researchers in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2026

The French Embassy in Slovakia, the French Institute of Slovakia and the Slovak Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the French Centre for Research in Social Sciences (CEFRES), are offering a programme to research mobility fellowships in the field of humanities and social sciences in France during the year 2026. This programme is intended for young researchers working in institutes and centres of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. The objective of this programme is to support Slovak-French cooperation in this field through a two-month research trip in France. Consequently, applications will be submitted individually by young researchers.

The objective of the programme is to create sustainable research synergies between French and Slovak partners working in collaborative networks on innovative and interdisciplinary research topics in humanities and social sciences.

Deadline for submission of applications: 16 February 2026

Benefits:

These scholarships offer the following benefits:

  • A two-month mobility grant from:
    • the French Embassy in Slovakia and the French Institute of Slovakia of 1704 € (Phd <5 y.) to 2055 € (PhD > 5 y.) for the first month;
    • and from the Slovak Academy of Sciences of 2200 € for the second month;
  • Assistance in finding accommodation by the French agency Campus France.

Expected outcomes:

  • A presentation of the results of the collaboration at the CEFRES seminar following the researchers’ stay in France will be expected before the end of 2026 (in situ or online; CEFRES will cover the travel and accommodation costs of the speaker in Prague).
  • The organisation of a seminar (research and/or doctoral training) to be held in Slovakia before June 2027. No financial support will be given for the organisation of the seminar in Slovakia and the search for adequate funding (e.g. PARCECO) will be the responsibility of the applicant.
  • The beneficiaries of the exchanges in the framework of the joint mobility grant of the French government and the Slovak Academy of Sciences are expected to apply to the CNRS’ IRP funding tools or similar (https://www.inshs.cnrs.fr/en/node/7352).

Application schedule:

  • Opening date for applications: 1 December 2025
  • Deadline for submission of applications: 16 February 2026
  • Interviews with applicants: 02 March 2026
  • Publication of results: March 2026
  • Period of stay in France: from 1 May to 30 November 2026

Contact information:

Prior to submitting the application, the applicants shall contact Michal Kšiňan, President of the SAV-CEFRES Joint Experts’ Committee, email: ksinan@up.upsav.sk and Róbert Karul, member of the SAV Presidium, email: robert.karul@urad.sav.sk.

Applications should be sent to:

Conditions for eligibility:

The call for proposals is open to researchers who hold a PhD. degree (or equivalent) and who defended their doctorate at most eight years before submitting their application, and who do not hold French nationality or who work at an institute or centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

Knowledge of French will be considered an asset but is not a requisite for application.

Evaluation criteria:

Applications will be evaluated by the Joint SAV – CEFRES Expert Committee. Applicants will have to present both an interdisciplinary scientific cooperation project and a seminar project (research and/or doctoral training) to be held in Slovakia that would lead to the submission of an International Emerging Actions project between the CNRS and the Slovak Academy of Sciences, in partnership with CEFRES (Prague) (or similar). The evaluation will consider:

  • the applicant’s individual academic record;
  • the academic quality of the project to which the proposed research stay will contribute;
  • the academic quality of the proposed seminar that the applicant would organise in Slovakia, and its impact on the cooperation between the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the CNRS and CEFRES.

Research fields:

All areas of humanities and social sciences are eligible.

Content of applications:

Applications should include, in either English or French:

  • The attached information form;
  • A curriculum vitae of the applicant;
  • An abstract of the research project on innovative and interdisciplinary research topics, mentioning the dates planned for the trip (2 pages maximum), and a short bibliography (10 references maximum);
  • An abstract of the seminar to be held in Slovakia and its expected impact (1 page maximum);
  • A letter of authorisation from the director of the Slovak host institute or centre, preferably describing their support for the application and for organisation of the seminar, written in either French or English;
  • A letter of invitation from the director of the French host organisation, preferably describing their support for the application, written in either French or English (could be delivered once application is accepted).