30 VSB-TUO researchers included in the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists list, the second-highest representation among Czech universities
A total of 30 researchers from VSB – Technical University of Ostrava are included in the prestigious international Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists 2026 database, which identifies researchers with a significant citation impact. Compared with the previous edition, the number of VSB-TUO researchers included has increased by eight, representing a rise of approximately 36 per cent. Compared with 2023, their number has even tripled. Among Czech universities, VSB-TUO has the second-highest number of researchers represented, after Charles University.
“I am delighted to see this positive trend. It is another piece of good news confirming that we are moving in the right direction. Through our strategic projects, we are making significant investments in developing research teams and creating excellent conditions for research. This is reflected, among other things, in the University’s improving research performance and the increasing number of academic publications. However, it is not just about quantity. The growing number of our researchers included in this list shows that their work is also receiving significant international recognition. It is also encouraging to see the wide range of fields in which they work, from nanotechnology and energy to mechanical engineering, applied mathematics and statistics, as well as AI and electrical engineering,” said Igor Ivan, VSB-TUO Rector.
Among the University’s units, the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET) has the highest representation in the list, with a total of 10 researchers. The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is represented by eight researchers, the IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center by six, the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology by four, and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering by two.
“I see this result primarily as recognition of the long-term, systematic work of our research teams. The fact that one third of VSB-TUO researchers included in this international list work at CEET confirms the high standard of our research and our ability to compete internationally. This success is primarily the result of outstanding researchers, their professional expertise, international collaboration, and an environment that encourages new ideas and interdisciplinary cooperation. Personally, I consider it important to support excellence in both fundamental and applied research, as well as their interconnection. Our ambition is not only to achieve internationally recognised research results, but also to further develop the knowledge gained and gradually put it to practical use. I believe that the true value of science lies above all in its contribution to society. This achievement is also both a motivation and a commitment for us to create the conditions for the next generation of outstanding researchers,” said Stanislav Mišák, Director of CEET.
The highest-ranked of all 30 researchers officially affiliated with VSB-TUO is Radek Zbořil, Head of the Materials-Envi Lab at CEET’s Nanotechnology Centre. He ranked 13,510th globally and 438th in the field of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology.
“Citation metrics should always be treated with a degree of caution, and their significance should not be overestimated. Nevertheless, the rapidly growing number of VSB-TUO researchers included in the Stanford Top 2% Scientists list is a clear indication of the increasing quality and international recognition of our research, to which the REFRESH project also makes a significant contribution. I am particularly pleased to see the strong representation of researchers from the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies. The actual number of our researchers included in the list is even higher, as some of them have only recently joined the University and their affiliation with VSB-TUO has not yet been recorded in the databases. For this reason, I am confident that our University’s representation in this international comparison will continue to grow in the coming years,” said Zbořil.
An overview of VSB-TUO researchers included in the list is available at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava | Top 2% Scientists | TOPSCINET.
The annual list (Single-year) is based on data from the Scopus database and tracks citations received by research publications during 2025. Co-authorship and the order of authors in publications are also taken into account when compiling the list.
The Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists 2026 annual list includes a total of 572 researchers from 102 institutions in the Czech Republic, 34 more than in the previous edition. Since 2020, when the list included 359 Czech researchers, their number has increased by 59 per cent. The Czech Republic ranks 40th worldwide in terms of the number of researchers represented. Among Czech universities, Charles University has the highest number of researchers on the list (72). It is followed by VSB-TUO, Palacký University Olomouc (29) and Masaryk University (25).