R&D Policy

Since Poland’s accession to the European Union on 1 May 2004, the country’s research policy has taken into account the participation in the creation and implementation of scientific activity on a pan-European level. Also the research itself has become a crucial element of the country’s development strategy and its membership in the European Union. Recently, new opportunities for development and financing research, new technologies, innovation and informatisation of the country have emerged.

National Development Plan has been created in order to capitalize on Polish membership in the European Union and take advantage of the opportunities it brings. The Plan covering the period of 2007-2013 is being developed as a compound socio-economic lay-out integrating all national undertakings and activities financed on the national and community level (financed both from public and private sources, including structural funds).

In October 2008 the National Programme for Scientific Research and Development Activities was published by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Its main aim is to intensify the role of the research society in shaping modern and long-term circumstances for society and economy development. It defines priority research areas valid for 5 -10 years and strategic programmes for the research and development activities within each priority research area, valid for 3-5 years. The current National Programme encompasses five interdisciplinary priority research areas:

• society
• health
• energy and infrastructure
• modern technology for economy
• agriculture and environment

A major instrument for the implementation of changes is the Act on Principles of Financing Science of 2004. It strengthens the role of the Minister of Science in the development of the research policy, establishes new consultative and advisory bodies and introduces new instruments for funding the research and development activities.

Other instruments are regional innovation strategies supported by the European Structural Funds and implemented in all 16 Polish provinces (voivodships). The strategies ensure that all partners (research institutions, business entities and local government bodies) co-operate with one another in order to enhance innovativeness in a given region. Support is provided for co-operation between the research and industry sectors, technology parks and incubators are established, and Advanced Technology Centres are developed.