Programme "Research", opened today, will allow researchers to carry out polar research, research cooperation with Norway bodies as well as give several other possibilities. Agreement concerning realization of the Programme under a new edition, so called EEA and Norway Grants, was signed by Minister Jerzy Kwieciński and Olav Myklebust, Ambassador of Kingdom of Norway in Poland. The signing ceremony was also attended by Vice-minister Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak and representatives of Norway Ministry of International Affairs.
Why “Research”?
"Programme “Research” is a chance do strengthen transfer of research result to the economy sector, and at the same time to make economy more competitive and dynamic" – points out Minister Jerzy Kwieciński.
Programme is aimed to improve results of polish scientific research, both basic and applied, as a tools supporting development of society and knowledge-based economy. Programme consists of 2 components: support of basic research (40% of the total programme allocation), which will be managed by the National Science Centre (NCN) and support of applied research (60% of the total programme allocation), which will be managed by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR).
"National Centre for Research and Development will have an opportunity to work on research support programmes using Norway funds for the second time. In years 2012-2017 we conducted actions withthe total budget over EUR 74 million" – said NCBR director Wojciech Kamieniecki.
"Under the III edition of EEA and Norway Grants NCBR will have much more funds: over EUR 77,6 million, which will allow development of international research cooperation between scientific community and industry" – added Wojciech Kamieniecki.
"NCN as operator of the Basic Research Programme sets the aim of support of excellent scientific projects, internationalization of polish research and increase of its transparency and openness. Acting in accordance with the best world practices, National Science Centre contribute to increase of quality and effectiveness of basic research" – underlines NCN director Zbigniew Błocki.
Bodies which undertake research actions and preparatory work for implementation of research results may benefit from the programme - higher educational institutions, research and development institutes, entrepreneurs and researchers. Those bodies will be able to obtain support up to 100% of a project value for partnership research projects (including projects selected as a result of a new Idealab workshop formula for researchers, which are aimed to specify innovative ventures) and so called small grants. Programme provides support in all scientific fields, including inter alia support for conduction of polar research, regarding CO2 capture and storage and in the field of social science. Support in the form of small grants is also planned for women-researchers and aid for mobility of researchers, aimed at internationalization of polish science. A strong emphasis is put also on development of research cooperation with bodies from Donor States (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).
First calls for proposals are expected on June 2019 in the programme component managed by NCN. NCBR is planning announcement of the call on September 2019 within its component.
What are EEA and Norway Grants?
Full and official names for EEA and Norway Grants are EEA Financial Mechanism and Norwegian Financial Mechanism.
The main aim of the EEA and Norway Grants is to contribute to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Donor States and the Beneficiary States. In exchange for financial support, donor states benefit from access to the EU internal market, even though they are not EU members.
Poland for the third time is a Beneficiary of these funds. In the last - II edition of EEA and Norway Grants in years 2009-2014, the total sum of resources for Poland amounted EUR 578,1 million. It allowed to support more than 1300 projects. In the III edition of funds with an allocation of EUR 809,3 million (from total amount EUR 2,8 billion), Poland will be the greatest beneficiary in EU, similarly as it was in previous editions.
Ministry of Investment and Economic Development is responsible for coordination of funds implementation in Poland. It collaborates with Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) in Brussels. Particular programmes of the III edition of funds will be implemented by polish public institutions. The exceptions are, as in previous editions, areas"Civil Society” and “Social dialogue - Decent work”, which will be managed by Donors (accordingly by Financial Mechanism Office and Innovation Norway).
Programmes under EEA and Norway Grants will be implemented until 2024. The exception is Bilateral Collaboration Fund, which will be implemented until April 30th, 2025.