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Page 1 of 5 R&D framework
One of the main objectives of the government policy is to transform the country into a sustainable society with competitive and dynamic economy based on knowledge triangle composed of education, research and innovation. The challenges linked with Poland’s membership in the European Union as of 1st May 2004, including the structural funds and shift of priorities within particular functions of science and higher education sectors, required taking up numerous modifications within the Polish R&D structure and financing system.
Years 2010 and 2011 have marked the next phase of crucial changes in the area of Polish science and higher education, which are to increase participation of Poland’s R+D sector in the European Research Area. A new reform of Polish science developed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education came into force in October 2010.
A package of six legislative acts titled “Building upon knowledge: Science reform for Poland's development” presents a clear distribution of powers and tasks in the research sector and modifies rules of financing research institutions and rules of their research quality assessment.
Reforms of the Polish higher education system, which are scheduled to become effective on 1 October 2011,aim to introduce an efficient system of higher education management with enhanced autonomy of higher education institutions (including specification of educational programmes), dynamic academic career model and better integration with social and economic environment.
Moreover, the objective of selecting National Leading Scientific Centres (KNOW) via an open competition is to establish elite units conducting unique research projects combined with advanced interdisciplinary training.
This comprehensive strategy focuses on the development of young generations’ scientific career, enhanced cooperation between science, education and business, increased quality of conducted research and didactics as well as on expanded autonomy and responsibility of research environment and higher education institutions.
In Poland the Minister of Science and Higher Education is responsible for the development and implementation of research policy, coordination of scientific activities at the national level, financial plan regarding science budget, funding of statutory activities of research units and large research infrastructure and construction investments, as well as promotion and financing of international co-operation in the area of research. One of the tools developed for these purposes are Ministry’s special programmes which allow to allocate funds directly to science development and additional tasks, such as supporting international mobility of researchers (Mobility Plus), encouraging Polish scientists to participate in the European Research Council’s competitions (Ideas Plus) and supporting research promotion carried out by outstanding young scientists, results of which are published in JRC or ERIH (Iuventus Plus). A new activity is the National Programme for the Development of Humanities.
The Minister is supported by four newly created opinion-making and advisory bodies. The Committee of Scientific Policy advises the Ministry on strategic issues related to research and innovation policy, state budget for research, national and foreign investments, new legislation regulations as well as issues related to cooperation between Polish and European scientific research. Comprehensive evaluation of R&D activities quality and proposals for research categorisation are conducted by the Committee of Evaluation of Scientific Units. Depending on that evaluation, statutory funds are allocated according to the category granted by the Minister. Another advisory body is the Council of Young Scientists. The Council prepares opinions on project development initiated by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education as well as issues its own proposals in accordance with ideas and interests of young scientists. More...
National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) was established in July 2007 with an aim of managing and implementing scientific and innovative state policy. NCBiR’s tasks relate most of all to financing applied research and development projects as well as to supporting research commercialization and other forms of transferring scientific research results to economy. The Centre’s initiates and executes strategic programmes in the area of scientific research and development. In addition, in order to further strengthen the cooperation between research and business sectors, NCBiR co-finances actions conducted by private sector units and other entities, thus encouraging entrepreneurs to invest in research and development activity. More...
National Science Centre (NCN) started to operate at the beginning of 2011. Its mission is to further decentralise 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. One of Centre’s flagship tasks includes initiatives focused on the development of scientific staff, with special emphasis placed on supporting persons starting their scientific careers (20% of the Centre’s budget). The structure and procedures of this executive agency are based on standards established by the European Research Council. More...
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