Instructions for submitting proposals under the HARMONIA 10 call

The following entities may submit applications for the funding of research projects;

1) academic or research organisations;

2) research consortia;

3) research networks and units within institutions of higher education (HE) that do not constitute their basic administrative units;

4) science and technology facilities;

5) research centres of the Polish Academy of Sciences;

5a) academic research centres shared by HE institutions;

6) scientific libraries

7) enterprises with the status of a research and development centre as defined in the act of 30th May 2008 on certain forms of support for innovation activities;

8) other legal entities established in the territory of the Republic of Poland;

9) enterprises conducting research in a form not specified in points 1-8.

PLEASE NOTE: under the HARMONIA 10 call, natural persons may not act as applicants submitting research proposals.

In the Status wnioskodawcy [Applicant legal status] section, please select the relevant status from the drop-down list. Upon selection, the system will create an appropriate application form.

The applicant may be selected from the OPI database (Wybierz z bazy OPI [Select from the OPI database] button) or entered as a new entity (Spoza bazy [Select from outside OPI] button). Before importing any information from the OPI database, make sure that the data included in the system is up-to-date.

The Host Institution data must be accurate and complete.

Should the data be out of date or incorrect, please contact the Ośrodek Przetwarzania Informacji Państwowy Instytut Badawczy (OPI PIB) by dialling: (+48) 22-351-71-01, (+48) 22-351-71-04, (+48) 22-351-70-89.

PLEASE NOTE: it is possible to change the applicant status while working on the proposal, however this requires other data in the form to be updated as appropriate.

Once the Wnioskodawca[Applicant]/Podmiot realizujący [Host Institution] has been named, this section will split into two parts:

• Wnioskodawca/Podmiot realizujący poziom 1 [Applicant/Host Institution (level 1)]
• Wnioskodawca/Podmiot realizujący poziom 2 [Applicant/Host Institution (level 2)]

Wnioskodawca poziom 1 [Applicant level 1]

1. Nazwa podmiotu [Entity name] (in Polish and English) and adres siedziby [registered office address]

2. Siedmiocyfrowy identyfikator gminy [7-digit Community Identification Code]: give the full code of the community where the Host Institution has its registered office. To find the code please click on the Wykaz identyfikatorów (the register is in compliance with the List of Identifiers and Names of the Units of Territorial Division of the Country by the Central Statistical Office). Choose “Przeglądanie” [“Browse”] to display the relevant community and enter its 7-digit number in the form. The system will use the number to complete the name of the community. 

3. Adres korespondencyjny [Address for correspondence]: phone no, email address, Electronic Correspondence Register ESP (ePUAP), website etc.

Please note that all proposal-related correspondence, including the funding decision will be delivered to the ESP (ePUAP) address given here. Entering the ESP (ePUAP) address of the Host Institution is mandatory. Should these data change in the course of the project’s evaluation or implementation, the NCN must be notified of the fact immediately.

4. Status organizacyjny [Organisational status]: please select the relevant code from the given list: A.1, A.4 to A10 and B.1. If the Host Institution is a higher education institution (A.1.), specify also its rodzaj podmiotu sprawującego nadzór [classification by regulatory authority], zakres uprawnień do nadawania stopni naukowych [rights to award degrees] and profil działalności [the activity profile of the institution]. Select the relevant category from the drop-down menu.

5. Question: Czy podmiot stanowi jednostkę zaliczaną do sektora finansów publicznych? [Does the organisation belong to the public finances sector?]: please answer “tak” [“yes”] or “nie” [“no”]. The answer will be incorporated into the text of the statement by the authorised representative(s) of the entity.

6. Question: Czy podmiot pozostaje pod zarządem komisarycznym lub znajduje się w toku likwidacji albo postępowania upadłościowego? [Is the institution under forced administration or the subject of liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings?]: please use the Edytuj [Edit] button to select either “tak” [“yes”] or “nie” [“no”].

PLEASE NOTE: Pursuant to art. 9a section 1 of the Act on the Principles of Funding Science of 30th April 2010, institutions under forced administration or subject of liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings are ineligible to apply for funding for the tasks referred to in art. 5 of the act.

7. Enter NIP [tax identification number], REGON [statistical number] and KRS [national court register number] as appropriate. If the Host Institution is not registered in the National Court Register (KRS) please tick the nie dotyczy [not applicable] box on the right.

8. Kwestionariusz występowania/niewystępowania pomocy publicznej [State aid questionnaire] must be filled out by ALL applicants. Qualification depends on the entity’s status. In the case of joint entities the declaration on receiving/not receiving state aid should be presented by each member of the joint entity. If the funding for the institution constitutes state aid, please consult Instrukcja pomocnicza sporządzania wniosku o finansowanie projektu badawczego i załączników dla podmiotów wnioskujących o pomoc publiczną. [Auxiliary instructions on how to prepare proposals for funding a research project and attachments for entities applying for state aid]

9. Wielkość przedsiębiorstwa, współpraca z organizacją prowadzącą badania [Enterprise size, cooperation with a research organisation] applies to entities applying for state aid. Use the Edytuj [Edit] button to select from the list: Mikro, Małe, Średnie, Duże [Micro, Small, Medium, Large] micro, small, medium or large enterprises – as defined in Annex I to the Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty;

10. Question: Czy projekt jest realizowany we współpracy z organizacją prowadzącą badania, o której mowa w art. 2 pkt 83 Rozporządzenia Komisji (UE) nr 651/2014 z dnia 17 czerwca 2014 r. uznające niektóre rodzaje pomocy za zgodne z rynkiem wewnętrznym w zastosowaniu art. 107 i 108 Traktatu? [Is the project carried out in collaboration with a research organisation referred to in Article 2 (83) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty?] A research organisation is to be understood as the organisation referred to in article 2 (83) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty.

11. Dane Kierownika jednostki [Information regarding the Head of the Host Institution]: please complete with the data of the authorised representative of the Host Institution. In cases where the required documents will be signed by the authorised representative(s) of the Host Institution, an authorisation should be attached.

Wnioskodawca poziom 2 [Applicant (level 2)]

In the “Wnioskodawca poziom 2” section enter the data of the second level applicant the unit acting as the Host Institution.

Then answer the question:

Czy jednostka otrzymuje dotację na działalność statutową z budżetu nauki? [Does the institution receive any operating support grant from the budget for science?]

(Operating support refers to the implementation of certain tasks set out in its statute of a research centre and related to research or development conducted by the centre on a continuous basis).

If the unit in question does not receive any operating support grant from the budget for science, provide information on:

• research carried out over the period of 2 years before submitting the proposal, together with a list of publications by employees,
• research equipment and other instrumentation/facilities crucial to research activities.

The proposal should be accompanied by a document bearing an electronic signature, or a scan of the document signed in the signatory’s own hand in PDF format.

If the proposal is submitted by a single entity, this section may be completed with information on another faculty collaborating on the project within the same Host Institution. To add another faculty, click Dodaj wydział [Add faculty].

When filling out the subsequent tabs, the editor will be able to assign individual faculties as well as investigators to, for example, individual tasks in the research project.

For proposals submitted by joint entities, the data required in the tab should be entered for all members of the joint entity, apart from the applicant/leader. Please follow the guidelines given in the Wnioskodawca [Applicant] section while entering the data.

1. Type of international cooperation. Use the Edytuj [Edit] button to select one of the four possible forms of international cooperation for the research project to be carried out. Additionally, specify whether the cooperation is new or established.

   PLEASE NOTE: International cooperation is understood as implementing research tasks together with researchers employed by research institutions abroad. The following are not deemed international cooperation: participation in international conferences, dissemination of knowledge of the project abroad, implementation of the research tasks by a Polish research team abroad without the participation of researchers from foreign research institutions, cooperation with researchers from abroad employed by Polish research institutions.

   Eligible under the call are research projects:

   1. carried out as international cooperation under a direct agreement with partners representing foreign research institutions,
   2. carried out as bilateral international programmes and initiatives,
   3. carried out as multilateral international programmes and initiatives,
   4. whereby Polish research teams use large-scale international research infrastructure.
2. Foreign research institution(s) This tab appears if a form of international cooperation from points a, b or c has been selected. Enter the names of the institutions (data to be entered in the original language, without diacritical marks; for institutions from outside the European Union – data to be entered in English) and the addresses of their registered offices.

   If the principal investigator collaborates with more than one foreign partner, use the Dodaj [Add] button to enter the names of all institutions employing the foreign partners.

3. Name of the international programme or initiative constituting bi- or multilateral cooperation This tab appears if the form of international cooperation from points b or c has been selected. Here enter (using the Edytuj [Edit] button):
   1. the type of programme or international initiative – choose from a drop-down list the programme in which they participate.  Should the programme be missing from the list, choose the option others and enter the programme or initiative in question,
   2. the Programme No/Programme name – this field is optional. Fill out if the programme or initiative has its own unique additional name or number,
   3. has the project been registered with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education as the subject of a programme or an implementing protocol in an international agreement on scientific or scientific and technical cooperation between countries (so-called personal exchange)? Tick the correct option: YES or NO. 
4. Research infrastructure This tab appears if a form of international cooperation from point d has been selected. Data (upon clicking the Dodaj [Add] button) to be entered in the original language, without diacritical marks. If the implementation of the research project envisages the use of more than one piece of large-scale research infrastructure, list all the names of the large-scale research infrastructure envisaged in the project.
5. Tytuł projektu [Project title]: the title must be entered in Polish and in English; both language versions must be identical.  The title may be modified at will as the proposal is being worked on. The title should be concise and give a proper idea of the project’s topic.
6. Obszar badawczy [Research domain], to be followed by Numer panelu dyscyplin [No of NCN review panel]: the primary research field has been selected at the point of creating the proposal form; to change it while in this tab use the Wybierz [Select] button.
7. Pomocnicze określenia identyfikujące [Auxiliary NCN review panels]: please click on the Dodaj [Add] button and select from a list. First select the research domain, i.e. NZ [Life Sciences], HS [Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences] or ST [Physical Science and Engineering], and then the review panel of subordinate level. The review panels of subordinate level may be selected from outside the panel and research domain to which the project is being submitted. Choose between 1 and 3 auxiliary review panels, but at least one auxiliary review panel must be selected from the main project domain to which the project is being submitted.
8. Planowany okres realizacji projektu [Project duration]: 12 months, 24 months or 36 months. Project duration counts from the day of signing the funding agreement.
9. Liczba wykonawców projektu [Number of investigators in the project]: includes the principal investigator, foreign partner(s) and other investigators. Collective investigators are not counted as investigators in the project . The number of investigators given in this tab must equal the number listed in the section on remuneration.
10. Słowa kluczowe [Key words]: they must be in Polish and English, they must not be identical to the words used in the panel descriptions, whereas they should give a proper idea of the project’s topic. The words must be separated with commas or semicolons. Polish and English key words must be identical.
11. Planowane nakłady [Estimated budget], Ogółem [Total] and Na pierwszy rok realizacji projektu [In the first year]: these fields will be filled out automatically by the system once you have completed the Kosztorys [Breakdown of project costs] tab.
12. Question: Czy projekt jest realizowany we współpracy międzynarodowej? [Is the project carried out as an international collaboration?]: if so, choose the relevant country/countries from the list. This information is used for statistics compiled by the Centre, and in no way influences the evaluation.
13. Termin rozpoczęcia i zakończenia realizacji projektu [Research project’s start and end dates]: applies to entities applying for state aid. Project start date is 1st July 2019: the system will import the date automatically.
14. Lokalizacja projektu [Research project’s location]: applies to entities applying for state aid. Enter the address, town, gmina, powiat, voivodeship and be as specific as possible. Should the project be carried out at several locations, they should all be listed in descending order according to the criterion of the project’s largest or most significant portion (up to 2,500 characters).

The project’s abstract should be written in English and it may be no longer than 1 standard page (page format: A4; font: Times New Roman; font size: at least 11; lead: single; margins left and right: 2 cm; margins up and down: 1.5 cm). The only acceptable file format is PDF.

PLEASE NOTE:  the project’s abstract may not be identical to its short description.

The description for general public should be written in Polish and in English. The language versions must be identical. The description may be no longer than 1 standard page (page format: A4; font: Times New Roman; font size: at least 11; lead: single; margins left and right: 2 cm; margins up and down: 1.5 cm). The only acceptable file format is PDF.

Filling out of this tab is optional. The justification should be up to 2,500 characters, incl. spaces.

List of up to 3 persons who in the applicant’s opinion should not be involved in the proposal’s review because of a likely conflict of interest. Specify the person(s)’s name, surname and affiliation. The final selection of expert reviewers is made by the NCN.

PLEASE NOTE: under the HARMONIA 10 call, the scientific achievements section is filled out by the principal investigator and the foreign partner/leading foreign partner.

First enter the data of the principal investigator, foreign partner, then continue with the other investigators:

To select the principal investigator and foreign partner click the Wybierz z bazy OPI [Select from the OPI database] button or Spoza bazy [Select form outside OPI] button.

• To select a person from the OPI database, enter their PESEL number, which identifies each individual listed in the Polish Science database.

Should the data be out of date or incorrect, please contact the Ośrodek Przetwarzania Informacji Państwowy Instytut Badawczy (OPI PIB) by dialling: (+48) 22-351-71-01, (+48) 22-351-71-04, (+48) 22-351-70-89. 

• To select a person from outside OPI, enter all data required by the system (given names, surname, academic title/degree, phone number, email address, address of the Electronic Correspondence Register ESP (ePUAP), PESEL no etc.).

PLEASE NOTE: the principal investigator’s data should be entered in chronological order, with particular regard to the correctness of the data imported from the OPI database. Should the proposal editor find the data imported from the OPI database to be out of date or incorrect, they should inform OPI of the fact. Pay special attention to data concerning: the title, given names, surnames, PESEL number, as well as workplaces, since these may not be edited directly in the ZSUN/OSF system.

PLEASE NOTE: The NCN makes no data updates. Should the data imported from the OPI database be out of date or incorrect, please contact the OPI database directly by dialling: (+48) 22-351-71-01, (+48) 22-351-71-04, (+48) 22-351-70-89.

Modification of the data may require a new import and removing the contents of all components in the scientific achievement section, i.e.: Academic and Research Career, Publication Record etc.

SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS is to be filled out by the principal investigator and the leading foreign partner (section to be filled out in English)

1. Nature of contribution to the project: the system will automatically assign the role of the given person in the project based on the data already entered in the form,

2. Entity: completed automatically by the ZSUN/OSF system with the organisation indicated as the host institution in the APPLICANT,

3. Personal data: fill out using the Edit option,

4. Type of employment in the project – may be selected from the list:

   • additional remuneration: under the HARMONIA 10 call for the principal investigator and investigators from the Polish institutions, salaries may be provided from the pool for additional remuneration. Under the HARMONIA funding scheme, the budget for additional remuneration calculated for each month of the project’s implementation, for the principal investigator and all other investigators, amounts in total to no more than PLN 5,000.

     

     The resources for the payment of additional remuneration may be used to finance employment pursuant to full- or part-time employment contracts as well as pursuant to civil law contracts.

     PLEASE NOTE: A member of a research team employed pursuant to a contract of employment by a host institution may not receive the additional remuneration pursuant to a civil law contract.

   • bez wynagrodzenia [without remuneration]: select this option in the case of individuals who have declined their remuneration or persons that must not receive remuneration as recipients of a full-time salary or scholarship in another NCN-funded research project.

     PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information on salaries, please refer to the document:  Koszty w projektach badawczych finansowanych przez Narodowe Centrum Nauki:

     PLEASE NOTE: under the HARMONIA 10 call it is not allowed:

     • for the investigators from the foreign partner’s institution to plan and receive remuneration; 
     • for the principal investigator to receive a salary from the pool for full-time salaries;
     • to employ investigators on the post-doc type position;
     • to pay scholarships.
5. Rodzaj stanowiska [Type of position]:
   • pozostałe: [other]: the principal investigator should choose this option for their contribution to the project.
6. Okres pobierania wynagrodzenia w projekcie [Period of receiving remuneration]: state the planned period for receiving remuneration, which may be different than the project’s duration.
7. In the window for the principal investigator’s data provide answers to additional questions:
   • Is the principal investigator a holder of a doctoral degree? Choose answer: YES or NO.

     If the answer is YES, answer the questions regarding career breaks.

   • Czy kierownik projektu przed rokiem wystąpienia z wnioskiem korzystał z urlopu macierzyńskiego, urlopu na warunkach urlopu macierzyńskiego, urlopu ojcowskiego, urlopu rodzicielskiego i wychowawczego, udzielanych na zasadach określonych w kodeksie pracy lub pobierał zasiłek chorobowy lub świadczenia rehabilitacyjne w związku z niezdolnością do pracy w tym spowodowaną chorobą wymagającą rehabilitacji leczniczej: [Had the principal investigator, before the year of submitting the proposal, benefited from maternity leave, adoption leave, paternal leave, parental leave granted in compliance with the Labour Code, or periods of sickness benefit or physiotherapy benefit granted on account of being unfit for work, including any caused by a health condition requiring rehabilitation:] If so, specify the number of months.

     The period of a career break may be extended:

     • based on the number of children born or adopted: women may extend the period after the award of doctoral degree by 18 months for every child born or adopted. A woman may choose whichever manner of accounting for career breaks she finds preferable.
     • based on career breaks as defined by law:

     - within 5 years before the proposal submission? (this subsection appears only in proposals submitted to NZ and ST panels). An additional question regarding the period of 5 years for NZ and ST panels serves the purpose of adding the period of leave to the period for which the PI may list publications.

     - within 7 years before the proposal submission? Based on the answers provided in the part on the 7-year period, the system will determine whether the PI is a person at the beginning of their career in research.

     PLEASE NOTE: For the ST and NZ panels enter career breaks for both the 5-year period and the 7-year period.

8. Dane adresowe [Contact details]: enter the legal address and address for correspondence if it differs from the legal address. Correspondence between the NCN and the project’s principal investigator will be held by means of the ESP (ePUAP) or the email address. Providing the address of one’s ESP (ePUAP) is voluntary.
   PLEASE NOTE that if the principal investigator’s PESEL number is listed in the OPI database, the system will automatically enforce importing the data from the database.
9. Miejsca pracy w jednostkach naukowych i innych instytucjach związanych z nauką oraz zajmowane stanowiska [Affiliation and positions occupied]: these will be completed automatically when the principal investigator has imported their entry data from the OPI database.

   If the entry data have been entered manually, their positions may be completed by clicking on the “Dodaj z bazy OPI” [Select from the OPI database] or the “Dodaj spoza bazy” [Select from outside OPI] button.

10. Informacje o całkowitej liczbie cytowań oraz indeksie H[The total number of citations and the h-index value]: to be completed by the principal investigator only:
    • for ST (Physical and Engineering Sciences) and NZ (Life Sciences) panels: enter the total number of citations for all publications to date, without self-citations, and the h-index value. In the case of no citations, enter “0” as the number of citations and “0” as the h-index value. The data should be taken from the Web of Science™ Core Collection.
    • for HS (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) panels: if possible, enter the total number of citations for all publications to date, without self-citations, and the h-index value. HS panels may also choose N/A, but only in the case where such data cannot be provided (e.g. where the achievements are not publications but works of art etc.). If publications have been listed as scientific achievements, the preferred source of evaluation is Web of Science™ Core Collection or Scopus.
11. Szczegółowa ankieta dorobku naukowego kierownika projektu: poszczególne pozycje należy wpisać zgodnie z wymaganiami systemu.

PLEASE NOTE: information included in this part of the proposal must be provided in English.

The scientific achievements section is filled out by the principal investigator and the foreign partner/leading foreign partner.

If any part of the questionnaire can’t be filled out (e.g. the principal investigator has had no awards), enter “not applicable” in the relevant tab.

1. Przebieg kariery naukowej [Academic and Research Career] – (filled out by the principal investigator and leading foreign partner) provide an account of the subsequent stages of academic career (degrees), including names of the university, institute or other organisational unit, specialisation, date of receiving the BA, MA (and equivalents), academic degree or title. In this section provide also any information on circumstances that may be considered of consequence for the research career and research achievements, e.g. longer career breaks, maternal/parental leaves and names (e.g. maiden names) used in publications. 

   In this tab one may also enter projects that have been approved for funding under NCN calls but whose implementation has not started yet (on the date of submitting the proposal, the funding agreement has not been signed).

2. Publikacje naukowe [Publication record] – (filled out by the principal investigator and leading foreign partner)
   • Name 3 to 10 most important research works. The publications should date from the period of 5 (for ST and NZ) or 10 years (for HS) before the proposal submission. Older publications will be disregarded in evaluation.
   • The three most important publications from amongst those mentioned above must be attached as PDF files (each of them no larger than 10 MB).

   In the case of monographs attach a file containing at least the title page, masthead area, contents and a selection of fragments with the author’s chief theses. Moreover, when filling out the tab, enter the following bibliographic data: name of the author(s), title of the publication, source (journal, publisher etc.), year, current 5-year Impact Factor (IF; enter 0 if the journal has no IF), number of citations, without self-citations (enter 0 if the publication has had no citations).

   PLEASE NOTE: If more than 3 publications have been attached, upon checking the completeness of the proposal the system will report an error.

   The principal investigator may mention unpublished works as long as they have been accepted for publication. If the work has been accepted for publication, state that it has not been published yet (the publication status is: Accepted for publication), and upload communications that may serve as proof that the work has been accepted for publication in the ZAŁĄCZNIKI [ANNEXES] tab.

   PLEASE NOTE: titles of publications, periodicals or monographs should be given in their original languages (e.g. Polish, French, German, Spanish).

3. Dorobek naukowy w ramach nauk o sztuce (HS): muzyka, sztuki plastyczne, film (Scientific Achievements – Art.) – up to 10 of the most important artistic achievements and achievements in research in art with a nationwide or international impact, e.g. authoring and publishing a work of art (a musical score, a record), directing a film, a play, an opera, playing a lead role, authoring an individual exhibition, actively participating in a festival with an international impact, directing an international artistic venture;
4.  Projekty badawcze (Research Projects)

   LIST ONLY PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN THE CAPACITY OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR.

   In this section, name projects that have been funded from the budget for science under nationwide or international calls. Do not mention projects financed from the operating support grant. The projects must be completed within 5 years prior to submitting the proposal or must be in progress.

   Acting as principal investigator is also to be understood as leading/ coordinating the research team carrying out an international research project or program.  

   In this tab one may not enter projects that have been approved for funding under NCN calls but whose implementation has not started yet (the funding agreement has not been signed).

   For ongoing projects, do not specify the date of completion. The system will automatically label the project as a project in progress.

   To enter the projects use the Add button. Provide the following information:

   • role in the project,
   • project title in the original language version and, if applicable, title’s translation into English,
   • project ID,
   • sources of funding,
   • amount of funding/currency code,
   • host institution,
   • start date/finish date and
   • list of the most important publications.

   In addition, for each project listed in the questionnaire enumerate the most important publications issued as a consequence of the research tasks performed under the project. Publications at the stage of peer-review should not be included in this section. Failure to list publications will be considered as no effects of the research project(s).

5. Zbliżone zadania badawcze [Similar research tasks] – (filled out only by the principal investigator) The tab should contain information on thematically similar research tasks performed by the principal investigator and funded by the NCN and from other sources.

   Please provide the following: project title and ID number, principal investigator’s given name and surname, main research tasks and information, source of funding, and present justification of the funding for the research tasks outlined in the proposal against the abovementioned similar research tasks.

   The purpose of this information is to determine the proposal’s status in the context of double funding.

   If similar research tasks have not been performed by the principal investigator, tick the not applicable field.

6. Doświadczenie naukowe [Research stays] – (filled out by the principal investigator) describe experience gained in Poland and abroad over the last 10 years, naming the country, institution, type/nature of stay (e.g. scholarship, fellowship, visiting professor) and its duration.
7. Wyróżnienia [Prizes/Awards] – (filled out by the principal investigator) name the most important international and prestigious Polish awards for research. Name the type of award, place and date of receiving. In this section, also provide information on other research activities, such as keynote speeches at conferences and, in the case of arts, active participation in international exhibitions, festivals, artistic events in plastic arts, music, theatre and film. Use up to 1,500 characters incl. spaces.
8. Współpraca międzynarodowa [International cooperation] – the tab will appear only if in the General information tab the following option has been ticked: Type of international cooperation: Established. In the tab list publications resulting from cooperation with the foreign partner to date, including publications in renowned journals.
    

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ADDING FOREIGN PARTNERS

To select the Foreign partner, click the Wybierz z bazy OPI [Select from the OPI database] button or the Spoza bazy [Select form outside OPI] button.

The number of foreign partners is not limited.

1. Nature of contribution to the project: in the system select the role performed by a given person in the project, “leading foreign partner” or “foreign partner”.
   • Leading foreign partner: the person selected from among all foreign partners listed in the proposal, whose research achievement will be subject to evaluation by the Expert Team. In the project there may be only one leading foreign partner. Should the collaboration be limited to only one foreign partner, set their status as leading foreign partner.
   • Foreign partner – a person with whom one entered into international cooperation.
2. Entity: completed automatically by the system with the institution where the project will be carried out. If the applicant is a joint entity, indicate the appropriate institution.
3. Foreign research institution: appears automatically once all information has been entered in the General information tab.
4. Personal data: fill out using the Edit option.
5. Type of employment/Type of post/Period of receiving remuneration: the system will automatically insert “no remuneration”, due to the fact that the project does not provide for remuneration for the foreign partner and the foreign investigator.
6. Address: fill out using the Edit option. Enter legal address; obligatory for the principal investigator,
7. Posts at research centres and other institutions related to scientific and positions occupied: these will be completed automatically on the basis of data imported from the Polish Science database.

   If the post has not been completed automatically, tick the field as appropriate: no fixed post, select from the OPI database, select from outside OPI. The last option requires entering all required data.

8. The total number of citations and the h-index value: to be completed by the leading foreign partner only.
9. Scientific achievements: this section will appear only in the case of selecting a leading foreign partner.

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ADDING INVESTIGATORS

ALL CO-INVESTIGATORS ARE ANONYMOUS.

To add an Investigator click on the Dodaj wykonawcę [Add investigator] button and provide the data as required.

The number of the research team members given in this tab must match the number of investigators stated in the Informacje ogólne [General information] tab.

1. Planowany charakter udziału w realizacji projektu [Nature of contribution to the project]:  in the system select the role performed by a given person in the project, “investigator” or “foreign investigator”.

• investigator (Polish)
• foreign investigator

2. Podmiot [Host Institution]: completed automatically by the system with the organisation indicated as the host institution. If the applicant is a joint entity, please indicate the host institution in which the investigator will be employed.

3.Foreign research institution: this section will appear only if the option “Foreign investigator” has been selected.

4. Rola pełniona w projekcie [Role in the project]: in English, in this field enter the role to be performed, e.g. laboratory technician, technician, researcher;

5. Typ zatrudnienia w projekcie [Type of employment in the project]: please select from the list: additional remuneration, no remuneration.

• no remuneration: for foreign investigators the system will tick this option automatically.
• additional remuneration: under the HARMONIA 10 call, salaries may be planned only in the pool for additional remuneration. Under the HARMONIA funding scheme, the budget for additional remuneration calculated for each month of the project’s implementation, for the principal investigator and all other investigators, amounts in total to no more than PLN 5,000.

6. Rodzaj stanowiska [Type of position]: for the purposes of the product choose: pozostałe [other].

7. Okres pobierania wynagrodzenia w projekcie [Period of receiving remuneration] (in months): specify the period of receiving remuneration as planned, which does not have to equate with the duration of the research project.

PLEASE NOTE: The order in which co-the investigators are listed in the proposal can be modified as desired. To change the order, click first on the Ustaw kolejność [Set order] button and then on the arrows displayed.

Present research tasks to be carried out in the project.

Nazwy zadań badawczych [Names of research tasks] (in Polish and in English) presenting descriptions of individual research tasks – the descriptions in both language versions must be identical. If the applicant is a joint entity, please indicate the individual Host Institutions responsible for each research task by choosing the appropriate name from the drop-down list (applicant/leader/partner(s)).

For other applicant types, the Podmiot realizujący zadanie [Host Institution] tab will be completed automatically by the system.

All information should be provided in English only. The spending plan must be consistent with the document Types of costs in research projects funded by NCN.

The budget calculations must be realistic, they must follow the cost-effectiveness principle, i.e. they must aim to obtain the best effects from the given inputs. All expenses included in the budget must be justifiable against the research project implementation. All costs in the project should be planned in accordance with the terms of the call, internal regulations of the Host Institution and generally applicable provisions of law.

The sums entered in the budget table must be rounded up or down to the nearest full Polish zloty. The sums entered must include VAT (if eligible).

PLEASE NOTE: The ZSUN/OSF proposal submission system does not validate the sums entered for errors.

Project’s costs include direct and indirect costs.

The maximum limit for indirect costs amounts to 40 per cent of direct costs. Over the course of the project’s implementation, indirect costs may not be increased, but they may be reduced. Salaries must be calculated as gross amounts, with regard for their compliance with the limits for the call in question.

Zestawienie planowanego dofinansowania z Narodowego Centrum Nauki [National Science Centre contribution table]: is completed automatically by the system once the Kosztorys-podmioty [Breakdown of costs by entities] has been filled out. If the proposal is submitted by a joint entity, the costs result from the costs of particular organisations Host Institutions entered in their respective breakdowns.

The costs entered in the breakdown of project costs require justification in the section: Kalkulacja poszczególnych pozycji kosztorysu [Individual budget items] – please complete all tabs.

Under the HARMONIA 10 call, one may not purchase, or modernize research equipment. Computer hardware or laboratory equipment is not considered as research equipment.

The breakdown of costs specifies the amounts of funding planned for each calendar year of the project’s implementation. Under the HARMONIA 10 call, the amount for the entire period of funding the project may not exceed:

• PLN 500,000 for projects whose duration is 12 months,
• PLN 1,000,000 for projects whose duration is 24 months,
• PLN 1,500,000 for projects whose duration is 36 months.

PLEASE NOTE: in the case of proposals for projects with a duration of 24 to 36 months there is no limit for funds to be used in a given calendar year

1. All individuals receiving remuneration in the project should be included in the breakdown of project costs.

   The Investigator/Staff costs tab should specify:

   • Liczba wykonawców projektu  [number of investigators]: completed automatically by the system with data from the Principal investigator/investigators section,
   • Liczba osób, pobierająca wynagrodzenie z puli wynagrodzeń dodatkowych  [number of individuals to constitute the basis for the calculation of additional remuneration budget]: completed automatically by the system with data from the Kierownik projektu/Wykonawcy [Principal investigator/investigators] section,
   • Charakter udziału w projekcie/Typ i rodzaj stanowiska/Forma zatrudnienia w projekcie  [full name/nature of contribution to the project/type and character of position]: completed automatically by the system with data from the Principal investigator/investigators section,
   • Podmiot zatrudniający [employing entity]: tab will be completed automatically by the system,
   • Zakres prac wykonywanych w projekcie [scope of work within individual project tasks]: a concise yet thorough description of the function performed by the person within the project,
   • Czas pobierania wynagrodzenia w projekcie w miesiącach [project-related remuneration period months]: tab will be completed automatically by the system,
   • Całkowite planowane wynagrodzenie w projekcie [Total salary cost on grant – PLN]: In this section enter the total sum of remuneration for each individual working in the project. Funds received in the project may not be used for salaries for the foreign\partner (including the leading partner) nor foreign investigator, nor for research tasks carried out by the foreign research institution with which the foreign partner(s) named in the proposal is/are affiliated.
   2. Inne koszty [Other direct costs]: in each of the following sections enter the type of cost, its amount and its relevance for the project’s work plan (justification of spending). Such costs are, among others:
   • Materiały i drobny sprzęt  [materials and small equipment],
   • Usługi obce [outsourced services],

     PLEASE NOTE: persons receiving salaries in the project may not be involved as subcontractors therein,

   • Wyjazdy służbowe [conferences and business trips],
   • Wizyty i konsultacje [visits and consultations],
   • Inne koszty [other costs]: other costs such as do not fall under any of the other categories, including costs of disseminating the results,
   • Wykonawcy zbiorowi [collective investigators]: total cost of gratification for persons with a uniform scope of work (e.g. interviewers or study participants). The minimum number of such investigators is 5 persons. A detailed cost estimate shall be drafted, describing the objective of the expenditure and its total cost, as well as the number of persons receiving benefits, the value of a unit-rate and the form of benefit (monetary or  material). Mind that this category does not include technicians and lab managers.
2. Opis kompetencji wykonawców projektu [Investigator’s qualifications]: in this section the principal investigator will be able to present the qualifications required of the researchers hired for the project, which will have additional value for reviewers evaluating the feasibility of the planned research.

All information should be provided in English only. The spending plan must be consistent with the document Types of costs in research projects funded by the National Science Centre.

In the case of proposals submitted by joint entities, the required data should be entered as broken down for the specific entities forming them. Breakdown of data for entity should be performed manually in the text box. 

In the case of proposals submitted by joint entities, the required data should be entered as broken down for the specific entities forming them. Breakdown of data for entity should be performed manually in the text box.   

Joint entities fill out boxes corresponding to the individual entities forming the joint entity.

Entities applying for state aid complete the Szczegółowe zestawienie wydatków [Detailed breakdown of costs] tab. The other sections, i.e. Zestawienie planowanego dofinansowania z NCN [National Science Centre contribution] and Dofinansowanie poszczególnych kategorii kosztów [Funding for individual cost categories] are completed automatically based on the data entered in Szczegółowe zestawienie wydatków [Detailed breakdown of costs]. Detailed instructions for entities applying for state aid can be found at: Instrukcja pomocnicza sporządzania wniosków dla podmiotów wnioskujących o pomoc publiczną Instrukcja pomocnicza sporządzania wniosku o finansowanie projektu badawczego i załączników dla podmiotów wnioskujących o pomoc publiczną [Auxiliary instructions on how to prepare proposals for funding a research project and attachments for entities applying for state aid].

Applicants should read all declarations submitted by the principal investigator/authorised representative(s) of the applicant.

The project’s principal investigator /authorised representative of the entity acting as the applicant declares whether the proposed research requires permission of a relevant committee, i.e. bioethics committee. Should the research give rise to ethical concerns, the principal investigator may explain them in the window: Opis działań podjętych w celu zapewnienia wykonywania badań zgodnie z zasadami dobrej praktyki w danej dziedzinie / dyscyplinie naukowej [Description of actions taken to ensure that the research will be carried out conforming to the rules of good practice in the respective field/discipline] (up to 2,500 characters, incl. spaces).

In the event that the applicant at the moment of submitting the proposal has not collected the required permissions yet, they may report on the advancement of the process of applying for them.

If no permissions are required for the project to be implemented then in the section “Opis działań podjętych w celu zapewnienia wykonywania badań zgodnie z zasadami dobrej praktyki w danej dziedzinie” [Description of actions taken to ensure that the research will be carried out conforming to the rules of good practice...] the system will automatically supply it with the “bd” [no data] message, thus rendering the information in the system complete.  

If the project involves clinical research subject to the Act of 6th September 2001, as amended, on pharmaceutical law, or to the act of 20th May 2010, as amended, on medical products, an additional section will be generated: Szczegółowe uzasadnienie niekomercyjnego charakteru badania klinicznego planowanego z zastosowaniem produktu leczniczego lub wyrobu medycznego [A detailed justification of the non-commercial nature of the trial using a pharmaceutical product or a medical device] (up to 2,500 characters, incl. spaces).

PLEASE NOTE: if the planned research tasks require any special permissions, the applicant need not support the proposal with copies thereof, they do however declare, under penalty of perjury, that the tasks will be carried out only after such permissions have been obtained.

The short description of the project must be written in English. The description may be no longer than 5 standard pages, including references (page format: A4; font: Times New Roman; font size: at least 11; lead: single; margins left and right: 2 cm; margins up and down: 1.5 cm). The only acceptable file format is PDF.

PLEASE NOTE: the tab must be filled by attaching a PDF file before locking the proposal. After the proposal has been locked, this tab will remain active. The editor will be able to continue working on the short description of the research project up to the moment of submitting the proposal. You do not have to unlock the whole proposal in order to update the PDF file. To update the file, click on the Zmień plik [Change file] button. 

The short description of the research project must include the following information:

• Cel naukowy projektu [research objective]: the research problem the applicant aims to solve, research hypotheses,
• Znaczenie projektu [significance of the project]: the state of the art, justification for tackling specific scientific problem, justification for pioneering nature of the research, the impact of the project results on the development of the research field and scientific discipline,
• Koncepcja i plan badań [work plan]: outline of the work plan, specific research goals, results of preliminary research, risk analysis,
• Metodyka badań [research methodology]: underlying scientific methodology, methods, techniques and research tools, methods of results analysis, equipment and devices to be used in the research,
• Justification of the selection of the leading foreign partner and the advisability of international collaboration, participation in an international programme or initiative constituting bi- or multilateral cooperation, or the use of a large-scale international research facility: adequate selection of the partner with regard to the proposed research, the project’s significance to international collaboration, benefits of the international collaboration, value added of the collaboration with a foreign partner, scope of collaboration;
• Information on the terms of participation in an international programme or initiative constituting bi- or multilateral cooperation, or the terms of use of a large-scale international research facility: what are the applicable terms, what are the costs for the Polish party vs what has been paid for/provided (the section will not appear when international collaboration is being entered into directly with partners from foreign institutions).
• Literatura [references]: a reference list of publications included by the author in the research project description, with full bibliographic data.

The full description of the research project must be written in English. The description may be no longer than 15 standard pages, including references (page format: A4; font: Times New Roman; font size: at least 11; lead: single; margins left and right: 2 cm; margins up and down: 1.5 cm). The only acceptable file format is PDF.

PLEASE NOTE: The tab must be filled by attaching a PDF file before locking the proposal. After the proposal has been locked, this tab will remain active. The editor will be able to continue working on the full description up to the moment of submitting the proposal. You do not have to unlock the whole proposal in order to update the PDF file. To update the file, click on the Zmień plik [Change file] button. 

Full description of the research project must include the following information:

• Cel naukowy projektu [research objective]: the research problem the applicant aims to solve, research hypotheses,
• Znaczenie projektu [significance of the project]: the state of the art, justification for tackling specific scientific problem, justification for pioneering nature of the research, the impact of the project results on the development of the research field and scientific discipline,
• Koncepcja i plan badań [work plan]: outline of the work plan, specific research goals, results of preliminary research, risk analysis,

• Metodyka badań [research methodology]: underlying scientific methodology, methods, techniques and research tools, methods of results analysis, equipment and devices to be used in the research,
• Justification of the selection of the leading foreign partner and the advisability of international collaboration, participation in an international programme or initiative constituting bi- or multilateral cooperation, or the use of a large-scale international research facility: adequate selection of the partner with regard to the proposed research, the project’s significance to international collaboration, benefits of the international collaboration, value added of the collaboration with a foreign partner, scope of collaboration;
• Information on the terms of participation in an international programme or initiative constituting bi- or multilateral cooperation, or the terms of use of a large-scale international research facility: what are the applicable terms, what are the costs for the Polish party vs what has been paid for/provided (the section will not appear when international collaboration is being entered into directly with partners from foreign institutions).
• Literatura [references]: a reference list of publications included by the author in the research project description, with full bibliographic data.

In this tab, the system displays a list of annexes to be uploaded in the electronic version of the proposal in the ZSUN/OSF system. Adding attachments before locking the proposal is optional. After the proposal to NCN has been locked, it is possible to change the previously uploaded annexes, add missing ones or upload annexes, including documents confirming the submission of the proposal in the call. The submission of a proposal to the NCN requires attaching a complete set of confirmations and annexes.   

There are two ways of attaching the required annexes to the proposal: one may attach a scan of the document signed in their own hand or a file signed with a qualified electronic signature.

Either option is effected by clicking on the “Załącz plik” [Attach file] button and adding the document as appropriate. At the moment, in the location “Plik podpisany elektronicznie” [“Electronically signed file”] it is possible to add files in the PAdES format only.

Załącznik nr 1 [Annex no 1]

^[1] 1. Information on research carried out over the period of 2 years before submitting the proposal, together with a list of publications affiliated with the applicant/ host institution;

2. Information on research equipment and other instrumentation/facilities crucial to research activities.

Załącznik nr 2 [Annex no 2] ^[2] Umowa o utworzeniu podmiotu złożonego [Joint entity agreement]

Elements required in the joint entity agreement:

• indicating the parties to the agreement, including the leader,
• indicating the subject of the agreement,
• duration of the agreement covering the period of completion of the research project,
• authorisation for the representative of the leader to act on behalf of the entire joint entity in the course of proceedings for applying for funding and completion of the research project,
• the leader’s undertaking to pass information received from the NCN to the other parties to the agreement,
• signatures of persons authorised to represent all entities forming the joint entity.

Załącznik nr 3 [Annex no ]3^[3]

State aid declaration and questionnaire.

Załącznik nr 4 [Annex no 4]^[4]

Documents and declarations submitted in relation to applying for state aid:

1. Information form, completed and signed, provided on applying for other types of aid than aid in agriculture and fishery (Annex no 1 to the ordinance of the Council of Ministers of 29th March 2010);
2. Financial reports covering the last 3 fiscal years, compiled in compliance with the accountancy regulations;
3. Certificate confirming that state aid has not been received to cover eligible costs,
4. Certificate confirming VAT eligibility,
5. Statement that no disqualifying circumstances prevent the entity from receiving state aid for the completion of the research project,
6. Information on the depreciation of the research equipment, quoting depreciation rates,
7. Statement regarding the cooperation of the enterprise with a research institution confirming that the institution does not contribute financially towards the completion of the research project.

Załącznik nr 5 [Annex no 5]^[5]

Research project framework cooperation agreement between the institutions cooperating on the completion of the research project (in English).

To be included in the document:

1. Personal details of partners of each party (name and surname, academic degrees and titles, research institution, country, telephone, email),
2. Aims of new/established international cooperation,
3. Task division between project partners as listed on the work programme, stating the level of engagement and support of all the involved partner institutions and the infrastructure to be made available.

Załącznik nr 6 [Annex no 6]^[6]

A document confirming participation in an international programme or initiative.

Załącznik nr 7 [Annex no 7]^[7]

A document granting access to a large international infrastructure.

Załącznik nr 8 [Annex no 8]^[8]

Listy od redakcji potwierdzające przyjęcie prac do druku [Acceptance letters from publishers confirming that the work has been accepted for publication]

Załącznik nr 9 [Annex no 9]^[9]

Declarations by foreign partners.

Proposals must be complete. Completeness may be checked in the system using the Sprawdź kompletność [Check completeness] and Pokaż szczegóły [Show details] buttons. The system will not allow to submit proposals where the required fields remain uncompleted or obligatory annexes are missing. The validation of the proposal for completeness carried out by the system does not release the applicant from responsibility for the information entered in the tabs.

Once the individual tabs of the proposal have been filled out and the proposal validated for completeness (1), editing of the proposal should be disabled by clicking on Zablokuj wersję do NCN [Disable editing of the version for the NCN] (2).

On the left hand side of the proposal a new tab will appear: Elektroniczna wysyłka wniosku [Electronic submission of the proposal].

Upon clicking the tab Elektroniczna wysyłka wniosku [Electronic submission of the proposal] a system message will be displayed stating that the final version of the proposal has been prepared (it can no longer be edited) and is ready to be sent in electronic form to the National Science Centre. It has not been marked as “ready” yet, and is not available to officers at the NCN; at this stage the proposal’s editor may still activate the proposal for editing by clicking on (“Powrót do edycji” [Return to editing] button (3)) to enter corrections.

In this section generate the confirmation of submitting the proposal; additionally, one may attach annexes or change those already attached (options: zmień plik [change file] or usuń plik [remove file] and check them by clicking on pokaż plik [show file]). If the required annexes have not been attached earlier, add them in this section.

Personalized “Confirmations” may be downloaded from the system and attached to the proposal as signed scans or documents bearing an electronic signature. The proposal submitted in the ZSUN/OSF system should be supported with two confirmations.

The original document should be kept on file until the final date of the evaluation process, and if the research project is approved for funding, until the date of signing the funding agreement.

Should the confirmation of submitting the proposal be signed by a person other than the authorised representative of the entity, send an authorisation granted to that person to the Centre. The authorisation to sign documents may be scanned and attached in the system alongside the confirmation of submitting the proposal or sent to the National Science Centre’s ESP (ePUAP) address.

There are two ways of confirming the submission of the proposal: one may attach a scan of the document signed in their own hand or a file signed with a qualified electronic signature.

Either option is effected by clicking on the “Załącz plik” [Attach file] button and adding the document as appropriate. At the moment, in the location “Plik podpisany elektronicznie” [Electronically signed file] it is possible to add files in the PAdES format only.

PLEASE NOTE: the confirmation must refer to the final version of the proposal. After the proposal has been locked and confirmations of submission have been generated, updates can only be made to the short and full descriptions of the research project. Other tabs are unavailable for editing.

Sending the proposal to the NCN

Once the proposal has been completed and all the required annexes are in place, the electronic version should be sent to the National Science Centre using the “Wyślij do NCN” [Send to the NCN] button. (4).

The completion of the procedure will be confirmed by the proposal’s status being changed “Wysłany” [Sent].

PLEASE NOTE: no paper version of the proposal should be sent to the National Science Centre. The proposal is deemed as effectively submitted only when submitted in the electronic form.

PLEASE NOTE: once this operation has been completed, entering modifications to the contents of the proposal will no longer be possible.

[1] Applies to entities receiving no operating support grants from the budget for science. The proposal should be accompanied by this document bearing an electronic signature, or a scan of the document signed by hand in the PDF format.

[2] Applies to joint entities. The proposal should be accompanied with this document bearing an electronic signature, or a scan of the document signed by hand in the PDF format.

[3] Each member of a joint entity submits a declaration on receiving (no) state aid. In the case of entities not applying for state aid, a scan of the document signed by hand in the PDF format may be attached, or a document bearing an electronic signature.

Entities applying for state aid should support their applications with documents and declarations submitted in relation to applying for state aid.

[4] Documents bearing electronic signatures should be presented for each entity in the proposal applying for state aid.

[5] The document should be signed by: the principal investigator and the foreign partner, of whom the latter is an individual researcher.

[6] Applies to research projects carried out under international programmes or initiatives constituting bi- or multilateral cooperation. The proposal should be accompanied with this document bearing an electronic signature, or a scan of the document signed by hand in the PDF format.

[7] Applies to research projects in which Polish teams use large-scale international research infrastructure. The proposal should be accompanied with this document bearing an electronic signature, or a scan of the document signed by hand in the PDF format.

[8] Applies to persons who have named works accepted for publication in the questionnaire of scientific achievements. Attached to the proposal should be a PDF file containing all acceptance letters confirming that a given work has been accepted for publication.

[9 ] The proposal should be accompanied with this document bearing an electronic signature, or a scan of the document signed by hand in the PDF format for every foreign partner named in the proposal.