Up to 4 billion euros in European Union funds is available to Poland to finance the development of scientific research in the next several years.

The money will be used to train researchers, expand research institutes and higher education establishments, and transfer new technologies from laboratories to industry.

Individual scientists, schools, undergraduates, postgraduates, businesses and research centers can all apply for funding. The government is preparing to announce competitions for applicants to determine which projects will eventually be co-financed by the EU.

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education and other government agencies dealing with fund allocation under EU programs plan to provide training sessions for individuals and institutions applying for funding. The first such session took place in October in Warsaw, attracting academics, researchers and businesspeople.

Funding for science comes from four different EU operating programs: Innovative Economy, Human Resources, Infrastructure and Environment, and The Development of Eastern Poland, said Olaf Gajl, an undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Funds will primarily be allocated for the expansion of schools and research institutes, and they will also be used to improve researchers' qualifications, to educate and hone the skills of young scientists, and to train specialists such as engineers needed in the job market.

EU funds are also available to researchers whose work has a practical application in industry or public administration. Research into the national health service is a case in point.

Schools and research institutes are especially interested in attracting young scientists. "They will not come without adequate financial support," Gajl said. "This type of funding will boost research manpower, offer grants and pay for young contract employees with money coming from these grants."

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education plans to support researchers and academic teachers as well as students, both undergraduates and postgraduates. It will also try to cover the costs of visiting professors. "The idea is to attract professors from the best schools to lecture and lead research projects over a semester or several months," Gajl said. Individual scientists, research institutions, firms and consortiums of research institutes and businesses can submit their research projects to the ministry for co-financing. Higher education establishments wanting to expand can apply for funding to the Information Processing Center (OPI), which the ministry supervises.

The ministry's Agnieszka Grydzik says EU funds will be used "above all to expand schools and research institutes, though human-resource training is no less important." This means training not only scientists but also specialists for key business sectors. "Technical, mathematics and life science graduates could play a strategic role in the development of a knowledge-based economy and help improve the country's competitive advantage and innovativeness," Gryzik said. "Currently, these students make up a small percentage of all graduates. It is necessary to stimulate the supply of science graduates by persuading young people to take up scientific, mathematical and environmental studies. Schools will be able to obtain funding to offer studies via the internet, and to pay students for practical work and for working with firms."

Although detailed plans for the use of EU funds for scientific development have yet to be drawn up, the ministry wants to start spending as soon as possible. It is necessary to make sure there is sufficient interest in the competitions for scientific funding, Gajl says; otherwise these funds may be allocated elsewhere. "We want to announce the first competition by the end of the year, and we expect to be able to sign the first contracts in the first quarter of next year," Gajl said.

Urszula Rybicka

Detailed information about EU funding can be found at www.funduszestrukturalne.gov.pl and
www.mrr.gov.pl