University of Warsaw teams up with the University of Cambridge

In the Teaming action, part of the EU framework program Horizon 2020, the best scientific institutions, including those in Poland, have an opportunity to launch strategic partnerships with leading research centres in Europe. The institutions selected in the competition will gain the title of centres of excellence and receive funding of up to 15-20 million euros per project.

"The centre of excellence, which will be created in the framework of the cooperation, will focus on research at the highest level. It will be a place with favourable conditions for the development of innovative ideas. We will benefit from the experience of the University of Cambridge. We would also like to create a module that will train students and young scientists in the area of entrepreneurship, and assist them in establishing companies that can commercialise the best ideas" - rector of the University of Warsaw, Prof. Marcin Pałys said at a press conference.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Prof. Leszek Borysiewicz explained that several companies commercialise his university. He said that while Cambridge was a fairly small town, yet to this day, 600 new businesses and 18 percent of all technology companies in the UK have formed around Cambridge.

The two institutions already cooperate in the field of biotechnology, genetics, new materials for electronics. "In the longer term, we would like to develop the cooperation with regard to structural chemistry, development of new materials or vaccines for particular types of cancer" - explained Prof. Marcin Pałys.

Although the formal end of cooperation, in accordance with the principles of the Horizon programme, is the year 2020, the presidents of the two universities want the cooperation continue even after the formal completion. "We would like the program to develop using financial resources in the new EU perspectives, but also with private money" - said the rector of the University of Warsaw.

Processing of proposals in the Teaming action takes place in two stages. The first stage, the most interesting proposals are selected and receive funding to prepare detailed action plans. Later, on the basis of these detailed plans, projects that will receive funding from the EU are selected. "This first stage should be completed by next February - March. Later we will have about a year to prepare the plan. Final grant decision will be made in the beginning of 2016" - said Prof. Pałys.

Joint research and exchange of scientists between Polish and British universities is part of the British programme Innovation is Great. The programme was one of discussion topics at the Great Innovation Summit, held at the Embassy of Great Britain in Warsaw. Scientists and entrepreneurs participating in the conference also discussed cooperation opportunities between science and business, and development opportunities in both sectors in view of the Horizon 2020 programme.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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