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The Neuron Foundation's mission

The Neuron Foundation's mission is to raise the profile of Czech science, develop modern patronage, and connect science and business.

Guests of the Neuron Foundation photographed together by the fountain at the garden party

Our activities

The Neuron Foundation recognizes excellent scientists and supports them on their journey to new discoveries. It finances field research and creates a platform for meetings and sharing ideas regarding scientific transfer. Aiming for excellence, the foundation supports future researchers through student internships and popularizes science among the wider public.

We believe this is the right way to further strengthen the influence of science and to positively impact the development of society towards a more successful and competitive country.

The main mission of the Neuron Foundation is to increase the prestige of scientists, to develop modern patronage in science and to connect the world of science and business. We are an independent platform funded solely by the private contributions of patrons who donate a personal bonus to the winners of the Neuron Awards.

Our other projects include the Neuron Expedition as a support for field scientific research or the Neuron Club, a regular meeting of science and business personalities; for the public, we organize the Neuron Online Club on current topics. We regularly support student and academic projects, organize educational programs and acquaint the public with the achievements of Czech scientists.

"The Neuron Foundation celebrates excellence and the exceptional nature of never-ending discovery. The journey scientists take to the summit of knowledge. The journey towards great deeds. The journey towards a positive future. The journey at the end of which scientists become legends. And that is a journey we are glad to support."
Monika Vondráková Monika Vondráková co-founder and CEO of the Neuron Foundation
  • 150 million CZK paid in support of Czech science
  • 131 scientists awarded since 2009
  • 15 years championing science and research
  • 13 scientific expeditions worth 6.8 million CZK

Neuron Founders

Heading up the Neuron Foundation are the seven Neuron Founders, who are active bearers of the fund's mission. This means raising the prestige of scientists within our society and supporting national self-belief.

  • Monika Vondráková Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Neuron Foundation
    Monika Vondráková
    Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Neuron Foundation
  • Ondřej Bartoš Investor at Credo Ventures
    Ondřej Bartoš
    “Czech science proves that we are not just a country of manufacturing and assembly plants.”
  • Dalibor Dědek Co-owner of Jablotron
    Dalibor Dědek
    “I believe money should be used above all to raise us as a society. What matters is showing the way.”
  • Václav Dejčmar Co-owner of RSJ
    Václav Dejčmar
    “Thanks to science we can cross the boundaries of the known and set out into the unknown.”
  • Eduard Kučera Co-founder of Avast
    Eduard Kučera
    “Every businessperson should carry a love of knowledge and science in their heart, along with the will to support the research of excellent scientists.”
  • Jaroslav Řasa " Society should see science as a key source of development. Our country can only export skills."
    Jaroslav Řasa
    " Society should see science as a key source of development. Our country can only export skills."
  • Libor Winkler Chairman of the board of directors of RSJ
    Libor Winkler
    “Science cannot be done without money. If we want to succeed in world competition, science is the foundation.”

Management Board

The management board directs the entirety of the fund's activities and decides on all its associated affairs. Additionally, in co-operation with the scientific panel it approves nominations for Neuron Prizes recipients and supports popularization projects.

  • Monika Vondráková Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Neuron Foundation
    Monika Vondráková
    Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Neuron Foundation
  • Jaroslav Řasa " Society should see science as a key source of development. Our country can only export skills."
    Jaroslav Řasa
    " Society should see science as a key source of development. Our country can only export skills."
  • Zdeněk Hostomský "The level of teaching of the exact disciplines already in primary education and the systematic cultivation of critical scientific thinking really mat
    Zdeněk Hostomský
    "The level of teaching of the exact disciplines already in primary education and the systematic cultivation of critical scientific thinking really mat

Scientific Council & International Scientific Council

The independent Scientific council & International scientific council determine how best to support individual scientific fields and nominates laureates for the Neuron Prizes. We are proud that the independent scientific council comprises leading scientists from every field we support.

  • Physics

    • prof. Tomáš Jungwirth, Ph.D. Chairman of the Scientific council
      prof. Tomáš Jungwirth, Ph.D.
      He found that so-called antiferromagnets allow data writing up to a thousand times faster than conventional storage media
    • prof. Jan Kuneš, Ph.D. Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Physics
      prof. Jan Kuneš, Ph.D.
      Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Physics
    • Mgr. Ondřej Pejcha, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council in the field of Physics
      Mgr. Ondřej Pejcha, Ph.D.
      Neuron Award Laureate for Young Scientists 2019 – Physics
    • prof. Mgr. Alexander Kupčo, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council in the field of Physics
      prof. Mgr. Alexander Kupčo, Ph.D.
      Member of the Scientific council in the field of Physics
    • prof. Stefan Söldner-Rembold Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Physics
      prof. Stefan Söldner-Rembold
      Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Physics
    • prof. Dr. Dieter Vollhardt, Dr.h.c. Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Physics
      prof. Dr. Dieter Vollhardt, Dr.h.c.
      Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Physics
    • prof. Dr. Jaroslav Fabian Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Physics
      prof. Dr. Jaroslav Fabian
      Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Physics

  • Chemistry

    • prof. RNDr. Jan Konvalinka, CSc. Chairman Emeritus of the Neuron Foundation Scientific Council
      prof. RNDr. Jan Konvalinka, CSc.
      Chairman Emeritus of the Neuron Foundation Scientific Council
    • RNDr. Ivo Starý, CSc. Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Chemistry
      RNDr. Ivo Starý, CSc.
      Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Chemistry
    • prof. Ing. František Štěpánek, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council of Chemistry
      prof. Ing. František Štěpánek, Ph.D.
      Bearer Neuron Impuls 2013 – Medicine
    • prof. Mgr. Jiří Damborský, Dr. Member of the Scientific council of Chemistry
      prof. Mgr. Jiří Damborský, Dr.
      Member of the Scientific council of Chemistry
    • prof. Dr. Tim Clark Member of the International Scientific council of Chemistry
      prof. Dr. Tim Clark
      Member of the International Scientific council of Chemistry
    • prof. Yury Gogotsi Member of the International Scientific council of Chemistry
      prof. Yury Gogotsi
      Member of the International Scientific council of Chemistry

  • Medicine

    • prof. MUDr. Pavel Martásek, DrSc. Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Medicine
      prof. MUDr. Pavel Martásek, DrSc.
      Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Medicine
    • prof. MUDr. Marek Trněný, CSc. Member of the Scientific council of Medicine
      prof. MUDr. Marek Trněný, CSc.
      Member of the Scientific council of Medicine
    • prof. MUDr. Martina Koziar Vašáková, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council of Medicine
      prof. MUDr. Martina Koziar Vašáková, Ph.D.
      Member of the Scientific council of Medicine
    • MUDr. Roman Kučera Member of the Scientific council of Medicine
      MUDr. Roman Kučera
      Member of the Scientific council of Medicine
    • dr. Josef Stehlík, MD MPH Member of the International Scientific council of Medicine
      dr. Josef Stehlík, MD MPH
      Member of the International Scientific council of Medicine
    • dr. Bohdan Pomahač, M. D. Member of the International Scientific council of Medicine
      dr. Bohdan Pomahač, M. D.
      Laureate Neuron Prize for Lifelong Contribution to Science 2014 – Medicine

  • Biology

    • prof. Jiří Friml, Ph.D., Dr. rer. nat, M.Sc. Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Biology
      prof. Jiří Friml, Ph.D., Dr. rer. nat, M.Sc.
      Laureate Neuron Prize for Lifelong Contribution to Science 2019 – Biology
    • prof. RNDr. Julius Lukeš, CSc. Member of the Scientific council of Biology
      prof. RNDr. Julius Lukeš, CSc.
      Member of the Scientific council of Biology
    • doc. Mgr. Štěpánka Vaňáčová, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council of Biology
      doc. Mgr. Štěpánka Vaňáčová, Ph.D.
      Member of the Scientific council of Biology
    • prof. Erik De Clercq, M.D. Ph.D. Member of the International Scientific council of Biology
      prof. Erik De Clercq, M.D. Ph.D.
      Member of the International Scientific council of Biology
    • prof. Patricia Anne Nuttall, OBE Member of the International Scientific council of Biology
      prof. Patricia Anne Nuttall, OBE
      Member of the International Scientific council of Biology
    • prof. John G. Hildebrand, Ph.D. Member of the International Scientific council of Biology
      prof. John G. Hildebrand, Ph.D.
      Member of the International Scientific council of Biology

  • Social sciences

    • doc. Mirjam Fried, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council of Social Sciences
      doc. Mirjam Fried, Ph.D.
      Member of the Scientific council of Social Sciences
    • prof. Mgr. Sylvie Graf, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council of Social Sciences
      prof. Mgr. Sylvie Graf, Ph.D.
      Neuron Award 2023 for Promising Scientists in social sciences. Awarded for the study of social interactions.
    • Mgr. Anežka Kuzmičová, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council of Social Sciences
      Mgr. Anežka Kuzmičová, Ph.D.
      For literacy research
    • prof. Thomas Evan Levy Member of the International Scientific council of Social Sciences
      prof. Thomas Evan Levy
      Member of the International Scientific council of Social Sciences
    • Dr. José Manuel Serrano Alvarez Member of the International Scientific council of Social Sciences
      Dr. José Manuel Serrano Alvarez
      Member of the International Scientific council of Social Sciences
    • Dr Linda Evans Member of the International Scientific council of Social Sciences
      Dr Linda Evans
      Member of the International Scientific council of Social Sciences

  • Computer science

    • prof. RNDr. Jan Kratochvíl, CSc. Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Computer Science
      prof. RNDr. Jan Kratochvíl, CSc.
      Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Computer Science
    • prof. RNDr. Antonín Kučera, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council of Computer Science
      prof. RNDr. Antonín Kučera, Ph.D.
      Member of the Scientific council of Computer Science
    • doc. Ing. Tomáš Pajdla, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council in the field of Computer Science
      doc. Ing. Tomáš Pajdla, Ph.D.
      Member of the Scientific council in the field of Computer Science
    • prof. Dr. Javier Esparza Member of the International Scientific council of Computer science
      prof. Dr. Javier Esparza
      Member of the International Scientific council of Computer science
    • prof. Josef Kittler Member of the International Scientific council of Computer science
      prof. Josef Kittler
      Member of the International Scientific council of Computer science
    • prof. Dr. Martin Wirsing Member of the International Scientific council of Computer science
      prof. Dr. Martin Wirsing
      Member of the International Scientific council of Computer science

  • Mathematics

    • Mgr. Libor Barto, Ph.D. Guarantor of the Scientific Council for Mathematics
      Mgr. Libor Barto, Ph.D.
      Neuron Award Laureate for Young Scientists 2012 - Mathematics
    • doc. RNDr. Stanislav Hencl, Ph.D. Member of the Scientific council in the field of Mathematics
      doc. RNDr. Stanislav Hencl, Ph.D.
      Neuron Award Laureate for Young Scientists 2015 - Mathematics
    • prof. Daniel Kráľ Member of the Scientific council in the field of Mathematics
      prof. Daniel Kráľ
      Neuron Award Laureate for Young Scientists 2010 - Mathematics
    • prof. Bojan Mohar Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Mathematics
      prof. Bojan Mohar
      Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Mathematics
    • prof. Endre Süli, FRS Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Mathematics
      prof. Endre Süli, FRS
      Member of the International Scientific council in the field of Mathematics

  • Neuron Expedition Council

    • Petr Horký, Ph.D. Traveller, documentary filmmaker and Chair of the Expedition Council
      Petr Horký, Ph.D.
      Traveller, documentary filmmaker and Chair of the Expedition Council
    • Alex Bernardová Scientist and polar ecologist
      Alex Bernardová
      Scientist and polar ecologist
    • prof. Mgr. Miroslav Bárta, Dr. Egyptologist, archaeologist and senator
      prof. Mgr. Miroslav Bárta, Dr.
      Egyptologist, archaeologist and senator
    • Pavel Němec Head of programming at Prima ZOOM
      Pavel Němec
      Head of programming at Prima ZOOM
    • Barbora Slavíková Literová Journalist and editor-in-chief of National Geographic and Koktejl magazines
      Barbora Slavíková Literová
      Journalist and editor-in-chief of National Geographic and Koktejl magazines
    • prof. Vojtěch Novotný, Ph.D. Biologist and tropical ecologist
      prof. Vojtěch Novotný, Ph.D.
      Biologist and tropical ecologist

  • Ambassador

    • Barbara Paldus “Inventions are there to serve people. If they stay in a book, they help no one.”
      Barbara Paldus
      “Inventions are there to serve people. If they stay in a book, they help no one.”
    • Dr. rer. nat. Martina Benešová Schäfer, Ph.D. Guarantor of the Neuron Award for Connecting Science and Business
      Dr. rer. nat. Martina Benešová Schäfer, Ph.D.
      Guarantor of the Neuron Award for Connecting Science and Business

Be informed

Discoveries lie waiting all around, do not let them slip by! Every month we will send you a fresh batch of information about the world of science and Neuron.