The second edition of SCI-CONNECT 2026, subtitled “Science Without Borders”, brought the meadow in front of CEMEA SAV in Bratislava to life on 12 June. Informal seating, sunshine, and music from the participants’ home countries created a pleasant, truly communal atmosphere. Moderator Gregor Mareš guided the programme with ease and humour, helping the audience relax quickly. The musical interludes served as a charming symbolic bridge between scientific topics and the cultural diversity that defined the entire event.
The programme was divided into three thematic blocks. The first was dedicated to young scientific leaders working at the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV). Prangya Sahoo (India), Hakan Ünsal (Turkey), Gianmarco Taveri (Italy), Anna Kityk (Ukraine), and James Asher (United Kingdom) presented their research projects, shared personal stories of their arrival in Slovakia, and spoke about what motivates them to pursue scientific careers in an international environment. The discussion was met with a very lively response.
The second block focused on doctoral studies, grant opportunities, international mobility, and practical support for foreign researchers. Members of the SAV Presidium Martin Nosko and Dana Jurkovičová discussed these topics together with Beáta Czuczorová Akkaya, representative of the EURAXESS network at SAV.
The final block addressed the protection of intellectual property, collaboration with industry, and the establishment of spin-off companies. Miroslav Kubiš from the SAV Technology Transfer Office and Kvetoslava Vranková from the university incubator InQb STU presented practical steps and available support.
The event received an excellent response — particularly from international participants, who appreciated the friendly atmosphere, the musical connection throughout the programme, and the feeling of being a genuine part of the community. They felt truly welcome and valued the space created for sharing experiences that are rarely heard in official forums.
