As of the March calls, the proposal form will include a new section on retracted articles. The new solution will complement the evaluation of applicants’ publication track record based on the DORA Declaration and will provide a more comprehensive overview of grant applicants’ publication track record.
Since 2018, NCN has been a signatory of the DORA Declaration and has evaluated the publication rack record on the basis of value and originality of research achievements rather than bibliometric indicators, such as the number of publications or citations. Funding proposals must include 1-10 most important papers of the researcher, published or accepted for publication over the past 10 years. The proposal review is based solely on the information included in the proposal, thereby fostering equal treatment of applicants and limiting bias.
New requirement
In order to ensure a more comprehensive overview of the applicants’ publication track record, the NCN Council has introduced a requirement that all researchers must disclose information on retracted papers (Resolution of 12 February 2026).
A retracted paper is an article published or accepted for publication and then formally withdrawn by the journal editors. Retraction may indicate a breach of publication standards. It is identified by the journal editors, has a certain status, reason and context described.
According to the modifications, the proposal form must include information on any articles retracted over the past 10 years, reasons for retraction, co-authors and DOI of retracted articles.
The modification will enter into effect as of the launch date of OPUS 31 and PRELUDIUM 25 (16 March 2026). The new requirement will apply to researchers whose publication track record will be evaluated, i.e. principal investigators, as well as (depending on the call) mentors, senior researchers and PIs of LAP proposals.
The new information will form an integral part of the evaluated proposal and will provide expert-reviewers with a more comprehensive overview of the publication track record of applying researchers without increasing discretion in the process.