The National Centre for Research and Development

All the more so that despite numerous achievements Poland is still aspiring for the Champions League in Innovation – at the conference inaugurating the Horizon Europe 2021-2027 Programme in Poland experts from the country and abroad spoke with one voice. The event organised by the National Centre for Research and Development, under which the National Contact Point for EU Research Programmes (KPK) operates, was attended, among others, by Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth; Jarosław Gowin, Minister of Development, Labour and Technology; Przemysław Czarnek, Minister of Science and Education; and Wojciech Kamieniecki, Director of the National Centre for Research and Development.

The event entitled “Europe . A horizon of opportunities” was held on 16 April 2021 in the online formula. It was addressed to beneficiaries of EU framework programmes and all people interested in implementing innovative projects.

“Thanks to a record-breaking budget of EUR 95 billion, for the next 7 years the Horizon Europe Programme will support our joint efforts to build a strong, health, green and digital Europe. This is the most ambitious research and innovation programme in the world. However, it should be emphasised that its success depends primarily on businesspeople and scientists. This is why I’m addressing today Polish innovators, whose extraordinary achievements are known to me, and I strongly encourage then to join the Horizon Europe programme. Let’s work together to develop the innovation potential of EU Member States,” said Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

The Horizon Europe programme will be to a large extent a continuation of Horizon 2020, the current EU research and innovation programme for the years 2014-2020. The following elements remain the same: the three pillars, excellence as the central aspect of research and maintaining financing rules and procedures which proved successful the Horizon 2020 programme. However, the programme was improved so as to maximise its impact, significance for society and potential for breakthrough innovations. The range of the Horizon Europe programme is very extensive: from prestigious European Research Council grants for scientists through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions supporting professional career development and mobility and projects for local and regional governments and NGOS, to highly innovative research and implementation projects for businesses.

“In recent years in Poland a number of systemic changes supporting innovation have been introduced, including the science reform and the tax relief for R&D work. Expenditures on research and development are growing systematically We support businesspeople dedicated to innovation and modernisation also as part of the Programme for Labour and Development carried out by my Ministry. In this context, the Horizon Europe programme is an opportunity for further strengthening the Polish innovation ecosystem, primarily through participation in new initiatives, such as the European Research Council  and European Innovation Ecosystems,” pointed out Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of  Development, Labour and Technology.

Participation in the programme not only involves financial support in project implementation, but first of all it provides access to knowledge and new technologies, networks of international contacts, as well as brand development and prestige. For scientific institutions it is an opportunity to obtain a higher score in parametric assessments, and, in consequence, receive higher subsidies.

“The implementation of the Horizon Europe programme with a 95 billion euro budget is an unprecedented phenomenon when compared to any other national or international programme. In the coming years this vast budget will support the development of excellent European science and the market opportunities of the best innovators,” said the Minister of Education and Science dr hab. Przemysław Czarnek. “Horizon Europe is one of the most important instruments for seeking solutions to challenges faced by European, and thus also Polish, society and economy. In Poland were strongly believe in the humanistic dimension of innovation, which is not a goal in itself, but is aimed at improving the wellbeing of societies. I’m convinced that thanks to the funds from the Horizon Europe Programme and the experience and dedication of our scientists, Poland's contribution to the fulfilment of this ambitious task will be considerable,” Minister Czarnek added.

The National Contact Point for EU Research Programmes (KPK), which was incorporated into the National Centre for Research and Development in November 2020, will play a key role in the process of supporting Poland's participation in the Horizon Europe programme.

“In the performance of activities under the Horizon Europe programme, we will use the existing potential and experience of KPK and NCBR, the leading intermediate body in our country,” said dr inż. Wojciech Kamieniecki, Director of the National Centre for Research and Development. “Although we are officially launching the project today, we have talked about the opportunities that it offers since the beginning of the year. I’m certain that information, advice and support for Polish innovators will contribute to increasing our participation in Horizon Europe projects in comparison to Horizon 2020. NCBR Office in Brussels will assist and actively support these processes,” Director Kamieniecki added.

As part of providing incentives innovators and communicating to them the participation rules in the Horizon Europe programme, on 19 April 2021 NCBR and KPK are launching a series of meetings under the common title “Week with Clusters”. In a series of webinars, experts will present to those interested the challenges identified by the European Commission as part of the 2nd pillar of HEU in the following areas: health, culture, civil security, digital technologies, climate and bioeconomy & natural resources.

It is also worth emphasising that the first competitions for entrepreneurs under the European Research Council have already been launched. Proposals can be submitted within the EIC Accelerator and Pathfinder instruments.