Research and development activities in Poland are performed by public and private institutions. However, most of such activities are carried out in the public sector. Key actors are universities, research institutes, as well as commercial and non-profit companies of different size. The statutory funding for public high education and research institutions is provided by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education based on their performance during a 4-year period. Research financing in Poland comes in major part from the state as well as the European Programmes (such as Horizon 2020 and EU structural funds) and private sector. Since there is a strong conviction that an efficient higher education and science system is at the nexus of knowledge creation, education, innovation and economic growth, Poland is continuously increasing expenditures on R&D. The expenditure for R&D is still growing and according to the latest data it amounted to 1.21% of GDP. The research units and individual scientists can apply for additional funding through open calls. The calls have different objectives and rules and are announced by funding organizations, including three national agencies supervised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, non-government Foundation for Polish Science as well as by different local authorities, private organizations and companies and international Programmes. As indicated by the data published on Science in Poland, in the academic year 2019/2020, around 85 000 foreigners studies in Poland. The dominant foreign group are Ukrainians and Belarusians. Poland is also willingly chosen by students from India, Spain, Turkey, Czechia, Germany, Norway, China, and Russia. The number of international students and researchers at Polish institutions is growing every year.
The research policies in Poland are developed and implemented by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSW). The Ministry not only provides core funding for the statutory activities of various types of research institutions and for large infrastructure investments, but also it also supervises the two major governmental funding agencies – the National Science Centre (Narodowe Centrum Nauki, NCN) and the National Centre for Research and Development (Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju, NCBR). The National Science Centre (NCN) is the main governmental agency that supports the basic research in Poland. This is achieved through funding research projects across all disciplines as well as providing doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships. One of Centre’s flagship tasks includes initiatives focused on the development of scientific early-stage careers with 20% of the Centre’s budget devoted to this objective. The structure and procedures of this executive agency are based on standards established by the European Research Council. Its mission is to further decentralize the system of financing science in Poland as well as to transfer the following competences to scientific community: decisions regarding directions of basic research development, priorities of scientific disciplines specification, announcement and arrangement of calls for proposals and decisions made as to financing particular activities. EXEMPLARY PROGRAMMES OFFERED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE: - OPUS - SONATA - SONATA BIS - UWERTURA - HARMONIA - DISCOURI - IdeaLab An average success rate in all these Programmes is around 25-30%). The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) is a governmental agency providing the funding for applied scientific research programmes and activities. Its main task is managing and implementation of strategic scientific research aimed at accelerating the development of innovations. NCBR also supports the commercialization of scientific research results. EXEMPLARY PROGRAMMES OFFERED BY THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: - Strategic Programmes - Programmes and Projects on Defense and Security - International Programmes - European Funds The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) supports academic exchange and international collaboration aimed at increasing the internationalization of Polish scientific community. NAWA finances study scholarships and research fellowships for individual students and scientists from Poland and abroad. Also, it supports the return programmes for Polish academics and Polish language courses for those who wish to study in Poland. EXEMPLARY PROGRAMMES OFFERED BY THE POLISH NATIONAL AGENCY FOR ACADEMIC EXCHANGE: - The Bekker Programme - The Ulam Programme - Exchange programme for students and scientists as part of bilateral cooperation The Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) is an independent, self-financing, non-profit and non-governmental organization that supports individual researchers and research teams by providing funds for projects fostering the development of science in Poland. Also, FNP facilitate the transfer of research results to industry. FNP has Programmes for foreign researchers, who want to conduct research in Poland. In recent years, the Foundation has also been significantly involved in supporting international research co-operation, and in activities facilitating exchange of ideas between scholars and helping young scientists to become more independent in their research work. EXEMPLARY PROGRAMMES OFFERED BY FOUNDATION FOR POLISH SCHEINCE: - International Research Agendas - TEAM-NET - The Leszek Kołakowski Honorary Fellowship - MASTER - IDEAS FOR POLAND
The average age for obtaining the PhD degree in Poland is 33. The period between the PhD and habilitation lasts, on average, 13 years. Habilitation, on average, is awarded at the age of 46 for female researchers and two years earlier for male researchers (2011). One can expect that this is going to change in the future, since now there are strict time constraints for both PhD (8 years) and habilitation (8 years). PhD: A doctoral degree in Poland is usually obtained at a doctoral school, which is accessible to all candidates holding the MA. Admission to PhD studies takes place through an open competition. Except for an extramural mode which is a paid option to obtain PhD, doctoral education in Poland is free of charge and lasts around 3-4 years. Currently, in Poland exist 360 doctoral schools with Programmes in various scientific disciplines offered by 232 research institutions in Poland. An increasing number of doctoral Programmes in Poland are run in English, however, the majority of higher education Programmes are still taught in Polish. Habilitation: Likewise in Germany and Austria, scientists in Poland are required to pursue the habilitation. It can be conferred by a university or research institute to a PhD holder based on candidate’s career path and achievements, including research monographies, series of scientific articles, and original input to the scientific development. Professorship: The title of Professor in Poland is awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland to a person, who holds the habilitated doctor degree. It is awarded on the basis of candidate’s exceptional scientific achievements, participation in scientific projects both national and international, as well as participation in international fellowships or research conducted in higher education institutions or research centers in Poland and abroad.
ERC GRANTS There is a possibility to apply for the prestigious ERC Grants [https://erc.europa.eu/] with one of the Polish research institutions as a Host Institution. If you decide to write an application for an ERC grant, the Excellence in Science Department of the Polish Academy of Sciences [https://institution.pan.pl/index.php/institution/excellence-in-science-department] can offer you a comprehensive support in applying and implementing ERC grants. The help offered by the Excellence team is free of charge and includes the following forms of support: · evaluation of a project and the CV for applying for ERC grants · organizing workshops for scholars interested in applying for ERC grants also organized in cooperation with foreign partners · organizing mentoring initiatives “ERC Ideas” · “ERC Step by step” workshop · networking with specialist in a given discipline · mock panels for candidates, who passed the first stage of the Starting and Consolidator grant competition and helping them to prepare an outstanding presentation for an interview in Brussels · helping successful grantees throughout the process of preparing a contract as well as supporting them in the implementation and settlement of the project · facilitating Polish research institutions that plan to host the ERC grant holders For more information, please contact us: doskonalosc@pan.plMSCA INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIPS AT POLISH RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS Experienced researchers from across the world are invited to apply for Maria Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships [https://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/actions/individual-fellowships_en]. The fellowships are dedicated to applicants from all disciplines, who hold a doctoral degree or at least four years full-time research experience by the time of the call deadline. The grant provides an allowance to cover living, travel and family costs. In addition, the EU contributes to the training, networking and research costs of the fellow, as well as to the management and indirect costs of the project. The grant is awarded to the host organisation, usually a university, research centre or a company in Europe. For more information and support, see: http://en.kpk.gov.pl/contact/ / https://www.kpk.gov.pl/h2020-i-inne-programy/horyzont-2020/excelence-science/msca-skills-and-career-develpoment/granty-indywidualneDAAD – DEUTSCHER AKADEMISCHER AUSTAUSCHDIENST [http://www.daad.de] German researchers from all disciplines and at all stages of their academic career can take advantage of financial support offered by the German Academic Exchange Service for conducting their research abroad. Poland is one of the countries the scientific trips to which are financed by DAAD. Please find more information here: https://www2.daad.de/ausland/studieren/stipendium/de/70-stipendien-finden-und-bewerben/?status=&target=&subjectGrps=&intention=&daad=&q=&page=1&back=1 / https://www.daad.pl/de/studieren-forschen-in-polen/FULLBRIGHT GRANTS FOR TO POLAND FOR U.S. CITIZENS [https://us.fulbrightonline.org/] Scholars, students, and young professionals from the United States can apply for grants enabling them to pursue independent research in Poland. Please find more information here: [https://eca.state.gov/fulbright/country/poland]
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