The international researcher’s guide to The international researcher’s guide to Slovakia A1320_obalka_EN.indd 1 12. 4. 2008 20:43:46 Výtažková azurováVýtažková purpurováVýtažková žlutáVýtažková þerná This publication was prepared within the project 1. FOREWORD. 4 4. INTERNATIONAL Researcher's Mobility Centre in Slovakia, with the financial support Co‑operATION – GRANTS of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic. 2. LIFE IN SLOVAKIA. 6 AND sCHOLARSHIPS. 60 1. Slovakia in brief. 7 1. Funding based on Slovak 2. Geography. .7 sources . .61 3. History. .8 2. Funding for bilateral 4. Political system co‑operation. 65 and state bodies . 11 (e g., based on bilateral 5. Regional and intergovernmental agreements local administration. .11 or focused primarily 6. Economy. 12 on bilateral cooperation). 65 7. Currency. 14 3. Funding by multilateral/ 8. Population. 14 international programmes 9. Religion. .14 or organisations. .76 10. Transport . .15 11. Accommodation and housing. 20 5. FORMALITIES, ENTERING 12. Banks. .21 AND STAYING IN SLOVAKIA. 88 13. Shopping. .22 1. Entry conditions – registration 14. Electrical appliances procedures and visa. .89 The International Researcher‘s Guide to Slovakia and computers. 23 2. Working and employment. .95 (Third Updated Edition) 15. Communications 3. Social security. 100 and post offices. 24 4. Health and medical care. 108 Published by: 16. Hiking and tourism. 26 5. Taxation. .112 SAIA, n. o. 17. Sport . .30 6. Recognition of diplomas Námestie slobody 23 18. Culture and media. .31 and qualifications. 114 812 20 Bratislava 1 19. Cuisine. 36 7. Driving licence, The Slovak Republic 20. Childcare and education. .37 import of goods. 119 21. Higher education. 41 Prepared by: 22. Libraries . 44 6. SIGNIFICANT SCIENTISTS Karla Zimanová in cooperation with: 23. Language. .45 BORN IN SLOVAKIA. 122 Michal Fedák, Katarína Košťálová, Oľga Šubeníková 24. Veterinary care. 46 7. GlOssARY. .126 Daniel Gurňák (map of the Slovak Republic) 25. Other services. .46 26. Public holidays. 46 8. USEful LINKS 27. Living costs. .47 Graphic design and prepress: AND ADDRESSES. 132 xpression, s. r. o., Bratislava 3. RESEARCH IN SLOVAKIA. .48 © SAIA, n. o., 2008 1. Legislative framework of research and ISBN 978–80–88928–88–1 development in Slovakia. 49 2. Research institutions. 50 3. R&D funding on national level. .57 The mobility of researchers involves all ages and helps establish a valuable pathway for a researcher’s career. It is a core element in research development and an effective way of training skilled workers and disseminating knowledge. It permits the creation and operation of multi‑national teams and networks of researchers, which enhance economic competitiveness and the potential exploitation of results. Increased physical mobility of researchers is essential for taking a maximum advantage of available resources. Publication “The International Researcher’s Guide to Slovakia” (third updated edition) has been prepared for researchers and their families, who might be interested to spend part of their professional life in a country that has been only gradually discovered by the international community. This guide tells you, in a nutshell, what to expect from life in Slovakia; how science and technology are organised on national level; and what the funding opportunities for researchers interested in coming to Slovakia are. It also touches upon formalities that cannot be avoided and are important to remember, if you want to enter the country without difficulties, or use its health and social security systems properly and avert discussions with tax authorities. You will also have a chance to look through an impressive list of significant scientists that were born during the past centuries on the territory of what is today Slovakia, showing that research and researchers were also part of our history. Through useful links you will be directed to different institutions and get addresses and up‑to‑date information that can be important not only for your professional life but also for enjoying your stay in Slovakia. At the end we present you a short glossary that can be your introduction into Slovak language 1. and can help in the moments when knowledge of local language is usually critical. Slovakia is a beautiful country with a fast developing economy and a community of researchers keen to contribute to the creation of the European Research Area. We hope that Foreword you will soon find a way to visit us and spend a few months or several years as a researcher in Slovakia. Researcher’s mobility centres have been established in the Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA, n. o.) in Bratislava and at the Technical University of Košice. As part of the European network of mobility centres ERA‑MORE, they have gathered a significant amount of useful information and are looking forward to helping you find answers to your questions. 5 1. Slovakia in brief 2, 1 Sk and 50 hel.; National Bank of Slovakia exchange rate (www.nbs.sk) Official name: Membership in international Slovak Republic organisations: EU, NATO, UN, OECD, OSCE, Date of establishment: WHO, INTERPOL etc. 1 January 1993 (after splitting Main agricultural crops: wheat, rye, corn, of the Czech and Slovak sugar beet, potatoes, sunflower, grapes, hops, Federative Republic) soya, fruit and vegetables Form of government: Breeding: cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats republic Main fields of industry: automobile industry, Political system: chemical industry, iron ore processing, parliamentary democracy fertilizers, brown coal mining; food and Administrative beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear organisation: 8 higher territorial units, fuel; manmade fibres; machinery; paper and 8 regions, 79 districts, 2,883 municipalities printing; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; out of which are 138 cities and towns electrical and optical apparatus; rubber Regional capitals: Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra, products Trenčín, Žilina, Banská Bystrica, Prešov, Košice Natural resources: non‑ore resources: Official language: Slovak building stone, gravel sand, sand, bentonite, Capital: Bratislava (428,672 inhabitants) basalt, dolomite, magnesite, anhydrite, Neighbouring countries: Austria, gypsum, limestone, stone salt, precious the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine stones; brown coal, lignite, natural gas, crude Area: 49,035 sq. km oil; ores: small amounts of iron ore, copper, Population: 5,400,998 (out of them 51.5 % molybdenum, aluminium, mercury of women) Electric current: 230 V/50 Hz, outlets with Density of population: 110 sq. km safety peg Large towns: Košice (240,915), Prešov General information about Slovakia: (92,687), Nitra (87,357), Žilina (86,685) www.slovakia.travel, www.sacr.sk, Banská Bystrica (84,919), Trnava (70,191), www.slovakia.com, www.slovensko.com, Martin (60,772), Trenčín (58,872), Poprad www.cometoslovakia.com (55,037), Prievidza (54,405), Zvolen (44,328). 2. Ethnic mix of the population: Slovaks (85.8 %), Hungarians (9.7 %), Roma (1.7 %), 2. Geography Czechs (0.8 %), Ruthenians (0.4 %), Ukrainians The Slovak Republic is situated in Central Life in Slovakia (0.2 %), Germans (0.1 %), Others (0.2 %), Europe, sharing borders with Austria, Unknown (1.1 %) the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Population and their denominations: Ukraine. Mountains, lowlands, valleys, lakes, Roman Catholic (68.9 %), Evangelical Lutheran cave formations, forests and meadows of Augsburg Confession (6.9 %), Greek provide many examples of Slovakia’s Catholic (4.1 %), Reformed Christian (2.0 %), year‑round natural beauty. The Carpathian Orthodox (0.9 %), Jews (0.04 %), Others Arc, a range of mountains stretching across (4.1 %), without denomination (13.0 %). the north, takes up almost a half of the Currency: Slovak crown (koruna), country. The south and east of the country 1 Sk = 100 hellers (halier), banknotes in lie in the lowlands, an important agricultural denominations of 5000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, area in Slovakia. For more information see 50 and 20 Sk; coins in denominations of 10, 5, the section “Hiking and Tourism” 7 Average Average LIFE IN SLOVAKIA Wet Days Month Temperature Precipitation (+0.25 mm) min Max (mm) Jan –3 2 43 12 The highest point: Gerlachovský štít in High Feb –2 3 47 12 themselves against which significantly strengthened urban Tatras 2,655 m above sea level March 1 9 42 10 nomadic Avars and civilisation. After the male line of the The lowest point: River Bodrog 94 m above April 6 16 42 11 this activity led Árpád dynasty died out in 1301, Charles sea level to the creation of Robert of Anjou became king in 1308 and May 11 21 61 11 Maximum length: 428 km a tribal union under established the Anjou dynasty, which was (Záhorská Ves [W] – Nová Sedlica [E]) June 14 24 64 11 the rule of the Frankish merchant Samo, followed by the Jagello dynasty in 1440. Maximum breadth: 195 km July 16 26 73 11 known as “Samo’s Empire” (623 – 658 A. D.). (Štúrovo [S] – Skalité [N]) Aug 15 26 69 10 The period of humanism and renaissance The longest river: River Váh (406 km) Sept 12 22 40 8 Middle Ages in the Hungarian Empire is forever linked to the name of its ruler, Matthias Corvinus Time Oct 7 15 54 11 Early Middle Ages Nov 3 8 55 13 (1458 – 1490). The first university on the GMT + 2; GMT + 1 from last Sunday After the break‑up of “Samo’s Empire” territory of present‑day Slovakia, Academia Dec 0 4 59 14 in October to last Saturday in March. Slavonic tribes enjoyed no political unity. Istropolitana (1465 – 1491), was established Only Duke Pribina succeeded in establishing in Bratislava during his rule. Climate Required clothing a larger state‑like entity and founded the first The Slovak Republic has a continental Heavy overcoats and winter shoes or boots church in this area between 824 and 828. An important historic moment for climate with 4 seasons (spring, summer, for winter, summer clothes for summer. He fought and was defeated by Mojmír, the development of the country was the autumn, winter).