01.08.2014 change 01.08.2014

Ministry of Science wants to check how the Pact for Horizon 2020 is implemented

More than 300 research institutions have signed the Pact for Horizon 2020, which provides for the increased effort for the participation in the EU programme. At the end of the year the Ministry of Science will check how institutions perform tasks to which they have committed in the document.

Horizon 2020 is the EU\'s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation for 2014-2020. Its budget will amount to nearly 80 billion euros. By signing the "Pact for Horizon 2020", Polish universities commit to broader participation in Horizon 2020 competitions, and the Ministry of Science - to rewarding researchers applying for European grants. The pact has been signed by more than 320 universities, faculties and institutes.

"In late December and January we will ask the units that signed the pact what has been done. We do not consider the pact an ornament, but a commitment to concrete action" - announced Minister of Science and Higher Education Prof. Lena Kolarska-Bobińska during a meeting with journalists.

By signing the pact, universities, research institutes and PAS institutes undertook to build effective facilities that support researchers who apply for funding from Horizon 2020. They will also take into account the Horizon 2020-related activity in the process of evaluation and promotion of research staff. In addition, the Pact signatories declare their willingness to build the optimal conditions for the approval of research projects funded under Horizon 2020, and acquired abroad, at Polish universities and institutes.

Data from the ministry show that Poles managed to recover only 1.7 percent of the total budget of the 7th Framework Programme (the programme preceding Horizon 2020). "We had penultimate position when it comes to the number of grants won in Europe" - admitted the minister. She emphasized that "we want to double the number of scientists who apply for participation in Horizon 2020". The head of the department hopes that not only there will be more grant applications, but that they will also be better prepared.

The Ministry of Science have already taken efforts toward achieving that. In the recently launched "Grants for Grants" programme, academic units may apply for funds to cover the cost of preparing a grant application. Reorganization is already underway of National Contact Points and 11 regional points that help researchers in obtaining grants. The work of these institutions will now be more focused on direct collaboration with applying teams.

The Minister of Science announced that in October a Horizon 2020 information website will be launch. "We will provide detailed information about the projects and competitions. We also want the website to serve as a space for comments of those who have managed to win grants" - she said.

The Ministry also wants 11 conferences to be held in various locations between October and December. "We will lead discussions, offer training, and provided information about Horizon 2020, mobilizing all universities" - announced Kolarska-Bobińska.

Ministry of Science points out that Poland continues to receive additional money from the EU structural funds. However, these funds will run out in 2020. By that time, the Ministry wants Polish scientists to be ready to fight for the money from the common European basket.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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