The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) inaugurated on the 23rd September 2019 the Programme “Applied Research” under the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021. At the same time two calls for proposals have been announced – the POLNOR and the POLNOR CCS. Alltogether the envelope for innovative projects implemented under the programme is over EUR 73 million.
"The EEA and Norway Grants since many years allow to develop international cooperation in scientific research. The Research Programme is one of nine programmes, which are coordinated by the National Focal Point of the EEA and Norway Grants at the Ministry of Investment and Economic Development. It represents continuation of Polish-Norwegian research collaboration, performed by the NCBR in the previous edition of the Funds. Thanks to active inclusion of private sector in the present edition of the Funds, the programme may become a bridge between economy and research" – said Małgorzata Jarosińska-Jedynak, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Investment and Economic Development.
The overall objectives of the EEA and Norway Grants are to contribute to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and to strengthening of bilateral relations between Donor States and the Beneficiary State. In exchange for financial support, Donor States benefit from the access to the EU internal market even though they are not EU members. The Ministry of Investment and Economic Development (MIiR) is responsible for coordination of the Funds’ implementation in Poland. The Research Programme aims to improve results of Polish scientific research, both basic and applied research, as instruments for knowledge-based society and economy development. The National Centre for Research and Development is responsible for implementation of “Applied research” (60% of the total eligible expenditure).
"The best innovations are born from creativity, which is a result of collaboration of people from different backgrounds. The platform for exchange of such experiences is the Programme “Applied research”. People from different countries become partners, which means additional benefits, because projects under elaboration have larger potential to achieve internationalsuccess." – said Wojciech Kamieniecki PhD. Eng., Director of NCBR.
Over EUR 70 million for Polish-Norwegian innovations
The overall budget of the Programme is EUR 77,65 million, from which financing of research projects, for selection in a competitive procedure, is EUR 73,16 million, including EUR 6,6 million for innovative projects in the unique IdeaLab formula. Moreover, the amount EUR 11,7 million will support researchon carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS), and EUR 5 million is provided for small grants fund for women-researchers in applied technical sciences. The programme will include activities supporting young researchers in development of their carriers, as well.
The essential evaluation criterion in relation to all thematic areas will be scientific value of the project and innovativeness of the chosen solution. The assumption of the programme is also to enhance bilateral collaboration between Poland and Norway. This objective will be supported through the Bilateral Fund.
"Since a decade Norway and Poland collaborate in the frame of Polish-Norwegian Research Programme, which is probably the largest bilateral research programme in the world. We are proud of this partnership. More than ever we rely on science and its achievements to create a better life and solve global challenges. This programme under EEA and Norway Grants creates a platform of collaboration for Polish and Norwegian scientists and supports them in delivering new knowledge with benefit to all of us." – said Olav Myklebust, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Poland.
First calls for proposals have been launched
On the 23rd September the POLNOR and the POLNOR CCS calls for proposals were announced. The POLNOR is the main competition for bilateral projects in the following areas: health and social services, industry and information technologies; transport and climate; food and natural resources; social and economic development; unmanned vehicles. For grants will be available almost EUR 50 million. The allocation for a single project is in the range from EUR 0,5 million to EUR 1,5 million. A maximum duration of the project is 36 months, and the latest date of eligibility of expenditures is April 30, 2024. The POLNOR CCS is one of the accompanying calls for proposals, which focuses on capture and storage of carbon dioxide. The budget of the call is over EUR 11.5 million.
One of the projects, which received funding under the EEA and Norway Grants 2009-2014, is the project implemented by the Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the National Institute of Drugs and the Norwegian partner: the University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway. The project PLATFORMex concerned extension of research of the academic platform to seek compounds with antidepressant properties.
"The history of collaboration of two institutes – the Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences with the Norwegian partner – the University of Tromsø, is based on two projects, successfully implemented under the previous editions of EEA and Norway Grants – projects, which concerned creation and implementation of research academic platform to seek new potential drugs. The next edition of the programme is a chance for a further platform development and for most promising compounds" – said prof. Andrzej Bojarski from the Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The POLNOR and the POLNOR CCS calls for proposals are open until December 2019. The NCBR partner in the implementation of the Polish-Norwegian Research Collaboration is the Research Council of Norway.
More information concerning calls is available on the NCBR webpage.