FNP announces support for innovative projects

"The Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) has announced the launch of new support programmes for researchers, which will be financed by the European Funds for the Smart Economy 2021-2027 (FENG) programme. The aim of the projects will be to develop scientific research with high innovative and social potential, as well as to support the commercialization of results. FNP plans to support more than 250 projects in various fields of science, which will be carried out in research organisations across the country. FNP programmes are also aimed at stimulating international cooperation, strengthening cooperation between science and entrepreneurs, and attracting and supporting the most talented scientists in the Polish research community to Polish. Funding will be available under the following programmes: FIRST TEAM, Proof of Concept, International Research Agendas, TEAM-NET. The Foundation is also planning to launch the PRIME program, which is an unique offer in Poland for scientists who will create project teams capable of bringing an idea to the market in any form, especially by setting up spin-offs. The above programmes are to be financed under the European Funds for the Smart Economy (FENG) programme. Researchers and groups of scientists representing all fields of knowledge, conducting high-end research with high commercialisation potential, will be able to apply for funding. Funding will be awarded through a competition. “The new EU perspective is a great opportunity for the development of science in our country. We are glad that the Foundation for Polish Science will continue to be able to support outstanding scientists carrying out research at the highest world level thanks to the funds planned in the FENG programme. The Foundation's programmes under the FENG are intended to help research teams create spin-offs to commercialize research results and scientific consortia to commercialize specific scientific achievements. Our programmes are also intended to help build centres of scientific excellence, develop international research teams supporting the careers of young scientists, and strengthen cooperation with research centres in Poland and abroad. We are also very keen to create attractive jobs in Poland for both Polish researchers and those who are currently working abroad, regardless of their nationality”- says the President of the Foundation for Polish Science, Prof. Maciej Żylicz. The two programmes offered by the Foundation for Polish Science are completely new (Proof of Concept and PRIME) and are particularly focused on building the competences of teams in the field of market interaction and commercialisation, as well as on the development of the implementation potential of research results that were created at an earlier stage. Proof of Concept (PoC) is a new program addressed to scientists working in Polish research organizations who have obtained commercially promising results as part of their research to date. The program is to allow the implementation of further research and development works, verification of the implementation potential and an increase in the level of technological readiness of the solution, which is to facilitate the commercialization of the results. Research teams can apply for the programme, but the programme can be implemented in cooperation with companies. The total budget of the PoC program is over PLN 102 million, which will allow to finance approx. 160 annual projects by 2029. The amount allocated for one project will amount to PLN 700 thousand. PRIME, on the other hand, is a program for scientists in Polish research organizations who want to introduce the results of their research to the market, with an additional commercialization path in the form of a spin-off. The program enables the creation of professional project teams and the development of their competences in the field of market interaction and commercialization. The program supports the development of products that respond to market needs and the preparation of a strategy for the most effective way to introduce the product into business practice. Financial and non-financial support is also provided for newly established spin-offs during the first 12 months of their operation. Projects are selected through a competition. Each edition of the program is divided into 3 phases: team development (6 months), product development (up to 12 months) and spin-off development (approx. 12 months). This programme is in the final stages of preparation. Its launch is planned for this year. The other three programmes developed by the FNP are a new stage of activities that in recent years have already allowed us to build world-class research teams and centres of excellence in our country. International Research Agendas (IRAP) is a programme for outstanding scientists from Polish or abroad who want to create a centre of excellence in Poland that is a recognisable centre in their field in the world. The programme enables the launch of new (or the development of already existing) research centres of international importance in our country in cooperation with foreign centres and the development of cooperation with economic partners. The programme's budget is over PLN 445 million. It is expected to fund about 12 research projects by 2029. One project may receive funding of up to PLN 30 million (and up to approx. PLN 37 million for applicants running Teaming of Excellence projects). Criteria for the selection of projects in the IRAP at FENG FIRST TEAM is a programme addressed to young scientists from all over the world (up to 12 years after obtaining their degree) who want to conduct groundbreaking research in Poland. Co-financing with a total value of over PLN 253 million will go to approx. 60 projects in 2023-2029. Each project lasts 4 years and will receive about PLN 3-4 million in funding. This is to allow their creators to build scientific teams carrying out groundbreaking research in Poland, as well as to develop cooperation with business and research centers from around the world. The TEAM-NET programme is designed to help bring innovative solutions, products and technologies to the market. The aim of the programme is to select and support consortia that will conduct scientific activities in the field of health, environment and industry 4.0. Its budget of PLN 178 million is to finance about 10 consortia by 2029, in which researchers will work closely with business partners. The financing will be granted for a period of 4 years and will amount to approx. PLN 15-17 million per project.