Ministry of Science
and Higher Education

Ministry of Science at the center of key discussions

Discussions at the meeting focused on topics such as the European diploma, strengthening European competitiveness through innovation, and the role of research freedom.

One of the main items on the agenda was the “European Diploma” initiative, which would integrate higher education systems while respecting the educational diversity of member countries. Deputy Minister Mrówczyńska emphasized the Polish side’s support for joint efforts to create a European diploma, while stressing the need to preserve national autonomy in education and training. In order for the European diploma to become an instrument that strengthens cooperation in European higher education, its form and criteria must be determined by a consensus reached by member states. Poland has declared its willingness to seek a compromise in this regard during its presidency of the EU Council.

Strengthening European competitiveness

The gathering considered how to increase competitiveness in research and innovation while preserving the Union’s core values and its social, economic and environmental priorities. As an example of best practice, the Polish side presented the “Polish Bridges of Technology” initiative, which supports the development of small and medium-sized enterprises internationally. This program has successfully helped Polish SMEs enter new markets and build strategic international partnerships, increasing Poland’s global technological reach and innovation capacity.

Participants also debated how to facilitate effective cooperation among EU member states. Initiatives involving the development of regional specialization strategies combined with complementary interregional cooperation were cited as an example. Country- or region-specific strategies capitalize on local strengths and promote specialization in high-potential sectors. This approach encourages complementary research and innovation activities in different regions, promoting interregional and cross-border projects that capitalize on the unique strengths of each region.

Discussions also focused on enhancing the contribution of the European Research Area (ERA) to European competitiveness and creating a more integrated research landscape in the EU. The need to support researcher mobility and activities that broaden participation, especially in regions with lower research and innovation performance, through initiatives such as Horizon Europe and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie programs, was emphasized. Attention was also paid to the role of Poland, which contributes to the development of the ERA through its open science and research infrastructure.

In the context of the new Political Agenda for the European Research Area, the need to focus efforts on cooperation between member states, the development of research infrastructure and cross-sectoral synergies to strengthen EU innovation was pointed out.

Contribution of research freedom to the competitiveness of the European Union

The third session dealt with the contribution of research freedom to enhancing the competitiveness of the European Union. The meeting identified features that support and strengthen the existence of such freedom, namely open science and transparent access mechanisms, diverse sources of funding and institutional and individual autonomy. They also discussed the need for an objective monitoring system for research freedom and the need to develop new forms of research cooperation in the context of increasing globalization and challenges, such as foreign interference and the dangers of artificial intelligence. Questions were also raised about balancing open science with research security, especially in areas such as defense, biotechnology and cybersecurity.

Budapest – the place for strategic talks on innovation

The visit to Budapest was an important step in further strengthening Poland’s commitment to innovation and competitiveness within the European Union.