We have launched the MINIATURA 9 call addressed to researchers who have been awarded their PhD in the past 12 years and are not former NCN call winners. The call budget is 20 million zlotys.
The purpose of the call is to fund basic research activities for the purposes of future research projects submitted to NCN calls and/or other national and international calls. Research activities may be carried out in the form of preliminary studies, library and archive searches or research visits. Research activities can be carried out in one or more forms, as long as it is well-justified. Funds of PLN 5,000 to PLN 50,000 can be requested to finance a research activity carried out over a period of up to 12 months.
Applicants must hold a PhD degree awarded no earlier than 1 January 2013. The eligibility period may be extended to account for a childcare leave or a break due to incapacity to work. Applicants must also demonstrate at least one paper published or one artistic achievement or achievement in research in art. On the proposal submission date, they must be employed by a host institution pursuant to an employment contract. Eligible applicants must not be former winners of NCN calls or fellowship grantees under FUGA, UWERTURA or ETIUDA. MINIATURA funds may only be awarded once.
A new list of review panels is now in place, comprising 26 panels on the basis of which proposals are reviewed. Inter-panels have been modified, in particular as regards Life Sciences, and Humanities, Social Sciences and Art Sciences.
NCN Mentoring has been launched for the first time, to provide mentor’s guidance to investigators performing a research activity. Our database includes nearly 600 names of researchers registered as potential mentors. They are experienced in managing research projects funded by the NCN, international projects and/ or are winners of ERC calls. Proposals may specify a particular mentor or include a notice that the applicant wishes to use mentor’s support.
Call procedure and peer review
Proposals may be submitted to the OSF submission system between 3 February and 31 July 2025, 4 pm CEST. They will be evaluated on an ongoing basis and the results will be published on a monthly basis.
The call budget of 20 million zlotys is divided proportionally so that the same pool of resources is available each month. Accordingly, researchers are encouraged not to put off their decision to apply until the very last month to make sure their proposal is not rejected only because of insufficient funds left over for that month.
Intake may be suspended when the total amount of resources requested by applicants is more than double the budget of the call.