The Neuron Expedition in questions and answers

What is a Neuron Expedition and why does the Neuron Foundation run them?

Neuron Expeditions are a programme of the Neuron Foundation supporting field expeditions by Czech scientists anywhere in the world. They follow on from the famous era of the travellers Jiří Hanzelka and Miroslav Zikmund, letting researchers reach and study places nobody has explored yet. Neuron Expeditions have so far gone to Guatemala in search of a lost Mayan city, studied an asexual basilisk in Honduras and the tropics in summer in Uganda, and measured the deepest abyss in the world here in Czechia. The most recent success is the confirmed discovery of the largest underground thermal lake in the world.

The programme runs with the support of the Neuron Foundation's patrons. Alongside funding scientific expeditions, its aim is to bring science to a wider public and to leave an international legacy.

Schedule

What is the schedule for the Neuron Expedition 2026?

Applications accepted: 17 March to 29 April 2026 (closed)
Presentations by the three finalists and choice of the winner: 21 May 2026
Public announcement of the winner: 25 August 2026
The expedition takes place: 2026/2027

Who can apply

Is a Neuron Expedition limited to any particular region or field?

No. You can head anywhere in the world, or do your research here in the Czech Republic, whatever your field. What matters to us is what your expedition brings to Czech science.

Who can apply for an expedition grant?

Individuals who meet that year's conditions for applying. Legal entities cannot apply. Every applicant and their application is then assessed by the members of the Neuron Foundation's Expedition Council.

Can someone who is not a Czech citizen be part of the expedition team?

The applicant leading the expedition must be a permanent resident of the Czech Republic. Colleagues from abroad may, however, take part in a Neuron Expedition as members of the team. What matters to the Neuron Foundation is seeing in the application how the expedition will support Czech science in particular.

Do I have to be a scientist to be awarded a Neuron Expedition grant?

We do not insist on it, but your chances are better if you put together a team that includes scientists or teachers. The Neuron Foundation is also interested in how you plan to work with the results of the expedition in the future, once it is over.

What the application must contain

What do I have to submit with my application?

The application must include:

1. a presentation in PDF format setting out the plan for your expedition, together with the argument for why the grant should go to you and what impact your expedition will have, including how you plan to build on its scientific contribution.
2. an itemised budget for your expedition — how you plan to use and divide the money. How you break the items down and what you call them is up to you; the budget given with the application form is only indicative.
3. a video of up to 5 minutes in which you and your team introduce yourselves — we are interested in your experience and your motivation, why you want to set out on the expedition, who the members of your team are and what their roles will be. In the video we will want to hear how you plan to build on the expedition's scientific contribution once it is over.

What other conditions come with an expedition grant?

Every applicant must include in their budget an item of up to CZK 100,000 for audiovisual documentation of the expedition. That money should cover the production of a professional video and photographic documentation. We expect the finished audiovisual document within two months of the expedition's return, so plan the expedition schedule with that work in mind.

What can we call the expedition?

The name must carry "Expedice Neuron…" and no other partner names.

For example, the names of expeditions from previous years: Expedice Neuron Za ztraceným mayským městem, Expedice Neuron: Hydrogeologický výzkum Hranické propasti, Expedice Neuron Dzamba Ya Lobi.

You must also use the note "Expedice se uskutečnila v rámci grantového programu Nadace Neuron." — the expedition took place under the grant programme of the Neuron Foundation.

What obligations to the Neuron Foundation apply during the expedition?

During the expedition we will ask you for photographs, video and other material for the website, for social media and for the press, and for news of your interim results, which we will handle with any embargoes in mind.

The grant comes with a contract signed with the recipient, the team and any other organisations involved in the expedition, where all of this is set out. Alongside it, everyone taking part is bound by the Neuron Expeditions Code of Ethics, which the foundation drew up together with the Expedition Council.

Funding — the grant

How large is the grant, and do I have to budget the whole amount, or can I apply for less?

The Neuron Foundation can support an expedition with up to CZK 1,000,000.

The application form gives a budget structure — a template to make filling in the individual items easier, though you do not have to follow it strictly. What matters is setting out what exactly you are asking for, how much, and what costs go with it.

When assessing an application, the Neuron Foundation's Expedition Council judges the contribution of the project as a whole and, of course, looks at how you plan to use and divide the money. CZK 1,000,000 is the maximum, but you do not have to apply for the whole sum.

Do I have to budget the whole CZK 1,000,000, or can I apply for a smaller grant?

When assessing an application, the Expedition Council judges the contribution of the project as a whole and, of course, looks at how you plan to use and divide the money. You may apply for a smaller grant; CZK 1,000,000 is the most that can be awarded.

Can I apply to another organisation for expedition funding as well, or do all the costs have to be covered by the grant?

You may also draw on money from other sponsors and organisations (universities, companies and so on). The Neuron Foundation must, however, be presented as the main partner, and the name of the expedition must carry "Neuron" with no other partner names — for example Expedice Neuron Za ztraceným mayským městem or Expedice Neuron: Hydrogeologický výzkum Hranické propasti.

The foundation must be told in the application about any other organisations and people taking part in the expedition in any way.

After the expedition

What happens once the expedition is over?

Within two months of your return you must submit the accounts and a final report with the results of the expedition, which the Expedition Council also assesses and approves.

Be ready for interest from the media — you will be giving interviews and comments, and we will go on working with you to publicise what the expedition found.

Did you not find the answer to all your questions? Get in touch at info@nadaceneuron.cz.