The National Science Centre (NCN) has announced the results of the Coordination and Capacity Kick-off Call, which aimed to support Polish researchers in building international research teams and developing interdisciplinary project ideas. The published ranking list includes 53 proposals recommended for funding, with a total value of nearly PLN 630,000.
The largest number of grants was awarded in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Art Sciences (HS) and Physical Sciences and Engineering (ST), with 24 proposals funded in each. A further five grants were awarded to proposals representing Life Sciences (NZ). Each successful proposal received funding of PLN 11,879 (EUR 2,800).
Call unlike any other
The Coordination and Capacity Kick-off Call differed from standard NCN funding schemes primarily in its purpose. Instead of funding research activities, it aimed to create opportunities for researchers from Poland and the EEA Grants Donor States (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) to jointly plan future research projects.
Grants can be used to cover travel expenses and subsistence costs incurred by principal investigators during their visits to potential partners in the Donor States. When duly justified, funding may also cover visits to Poland by researchers from these countries. These face-to-face meetings are intended to enable researchers to exchange expertise and develop the foundations of future interdisciplinary projects.
The funding and reporting arrangements are also unusual. Each beneficiary will receive the same fixed lump-sum grant. For reporting purposes, beneficiaries will be required to submit an Expression of Interest signed by a representative of an institution from a Donor State. This document must confirm that a meeting has taken place and that cooperation on a project concept has been initiated. Beneficiaries will also be required to prepare an interdisciplinary research project concept.
First step towards LANGSPIL
The C&C Kick-off Call was designed as a preparatory initiative for LANGSPIL, a funding call for international, interdisciplinary basic research projects supported by the EEA Grants 2021–2028.
LANGSPIL will support three-year projects carried out by international research consortia. Particular emphasis will be placed on integrating different scientific disciplines, including the social sciences and humanities, and fostering cooperation with partners outside the academia. Projects are expected to address challenges related to three priorities: the green transition in Europe; democracy, the rule of law and human rights; and social inclusion and societal resilience.
The C&C Kick-off Call aims to help researchers establish cooperation with partners from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein and jointly develop research concepts that may form the basis of future proposals to LANGSPIL. However, participation in the C&C Kick-off Call does not require beneficiaries to submit a proposal to LANGSPIL, nor does it guarantee funding under that call.