Together with the Copernicus Centre, we are pleased to invite you to an online lecture by Łucja Kowalewska (Membrane Labyrinths in the Nanoworld of Cells: From Geometry to Biological Functions) on 10 December, 6pm, as part of the “Science at the Centre” series.
Łucja Kowalewska, photo by Łukasz BeraDr hab. Łucja Kowalewska works at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw. Her research focuses on plant cell biology, particularly on the structure and dynamics of plastid membranes. Last October, she was presented with the NCN Award for outstanding scientific achievements.
Her work focuses on periodic membranes, whose organisation plays a crucial role in cellular functioning – including plastid biogenesis and photosynthetic efficiency. Dr. Kowalewska’s team investigates how membrane structure influences biological function and which molecular and physicochemical mechanisms govern membrane transformations.
Dr Kowalewska’s research makes a significant contribution to understanding the relationship between membrane geometry and function. The researcher has demonstrated that the spatial organisation of membranes is not merely the result of the self-assembly of their structural components, but also actively regulates cellular processes – marking a shift in the existing paradigm of cell biology.
While her studies are primarily fundamental in nature, understanding the principles of biological membrane self-organisation also holds significant application potential. It provides a foundation for the design of biomimetic nanomaterials that may be used in medicine, pharmacy and food technology – for instance, as drug carriers, materials supporting tissue regeneration or smart coatings.
Footage on Dr Kowalewska’s research
An online lecture organized by the Copernicus Center will be streamed on 10 December, at 6 pm.
In November, a lecture by Maciej Stolarski was delivered. On 17 December, a meeting with Bartosz Szyszko will be held. We encourage you to join it!
The first “Science at the Centre” lectures were delivered by the 2020 NCN Award winners. So far, 16 meetings have been held and we truly appreciate the Copernicus Centre’s support and assistance in their organization.
Dates have been released for interviews in the calls launched on 16 June 2025. The results of the first stage of merit-based evaluation under MAESTRO 17 and SONATA BIS 15 will be published in the second half of December.
MAESTRO 17
NZ – Life Sciences: 27-29 January 2026
HS – Humanities, Social Sciences and Art Sciences: 4-6 February 2026
ST – Physical Sciences and Engineering: 4-5 February 2026
SONATA BIS 15
NZ – Life Sciences: 27-29 January 2026
HS – Humanities, Social Sciences and Art Sciences: 4-6 February 2026
ST – Physical Sciences and Engineering: 3-5 February 2026
Principal investigators will be interviewed in English. Researchers whose proposals will be recommended for the second stage of evaluation will be notified of the interviews 14 days in advance at the latest. Interviews will be held at the premises of the National Science Centre in Krakow and although principal investigators are required to participate in person, in exceptional and well-justified cases interviews may be held via available telecommunication tools. Failure to attend the interview will be regarded as a resignation from applying for funding. The cost of travel to and accommodation in Krakow will not be reimbursed.
Under international SHENG 4 call for Polish and Chinese research projects, funding will be awarded to 21 projects with a value of over PLN 38 million.
Under SHENG 4 that has just been concluded, researchers could submit proposals to selected disciplines within three research domains. Out of 337 proposals, 229 were submitted to Physical Sciences and Engineering, 103 to Life Sciences, and only 5 to Humanities, Social Sciences and Art Sciences. Nearly PLN 22.5 million was awarded to 13 projects in Physical Sciences and Engineering and nearly PLN 16 million to 8 projects in Life Sciences. The success rate was 6.23%.
One of the awarded projects in Life Sciences, titled “Synthesis and Functionalization of Hyperbranched Polypeptides for Osteoarthritis Treatment”, will be headed by Dr hab. Monika Gosecka from the Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences.Osteoarthritis is a disease mainly affecting the elderly that involves pain, stiffness and restricted movement. Currently, treatment usually involves anti-inflammatory drugs or joint replacement, which are known for their side effects and inability to regenerate joint cartilage. In healthy joints, cartilage is well hydrated, which results in an extremely low coefficient of friction, but is degenerated and damaged as the disease progresses. Hyaluronic acid injections, which are widely used today, have limited efficacy and require frequent injections. The aim of the project is to develop new formulations for delivery injections using hyperbranched polypeptides, the structure of which will make them durable and will provide excellent lubrication of the joint, easy application and drug delivery. To this end, a library of polypeptides with different structures will be synthesised and studied, and knowledge gained in this project will show the relationship between the structural features of these molecules and their biological activity, leading to a development of more effective methods in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
From Natural Grasslands to Agricultural Sustainability
One of the projects awarded in Life Science will be carried out by Dr inż. Piotr Niezgoda from the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, who will study biodiversity and functionality of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In the face of continuous population growth and climate change, sustainable agriculture is becoming increasingly important, with its limited use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are replaced by microorganisms. Such microorganisms include arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which live in symbiosis with most terrestrial plants. They improve plant productivity and nutrition, and alleviate the effects of stress. Despite their importance for the ecosystems and agricultural potential, little is known of the diversity of AM fungi in the world, their activity, response to climate change and the possibilities of using them in practice. The project “Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Biodiversity and Functionality” aims to fill the void by comprehensive studies of AM fungal communities in croplands and grasslands located in China and Poland that differ greatly in terms of climate and soil properties. Modern techniques will be used, such as amplicon sequencing, phylogenies, reconstruction, isolation of single spores, and mycorrhizal functional tests, to characterize the structure and function of AM fungal communities, reveal the mechanisms underlying agricultural impacts on AM fungal symbiotic functions, and explore their response to environmental factors. The results will enhance our understanding of AMF ecology and evolution, support biodiversity conservation, facilitate their agricultural application, and contribute to the classification of new species, e.g. under transcontinental AM fungal resource bank. The project continues former joint research that resulted in the description of new AMF species in 2022.
SHENG 4 is theinternational bilateral Polish-Chinese Funding Initiative organised by the National Science Centre in cooperation with the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) pursuant to the parallel evaluation procedure, which means that both agencies perform a parallel eligibility check and merit-based evaluation and funding is awarded to projects recommended by both agencies. SHENG 4 was open to basic research proposals submitted to one of the following panes: HS6_01-HS6_08, HS6_14-HS6_15, ST4, ST5, ST8 and ST11, or NZ1-NZ9.
The winning projects will be performed in Poland and China, and each project will be supervised by two principal investigators, one for the Chinese research team and one for the Polish team. The Polish research team may use the awarded funds for research, remuneration of the research team, scholarships for students and PhD students, purchase or manufacturing of research equipment or other cost crucial to the Polish part of the project.
In the latest episode of our NCN podcast “Science in a Frontline Country”, hosted by Anna Korzekwa-Józefowicz, Prof. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk, NCN Council Member and expert in social and spatial aspects of energy transition and Dr hab. Michał Parniak, physician and leader of a research group at the Centre of Quantum Optical Technologies, University of Warsaw, explain how research becomes a true foundation for a resilient state.
In this podcast, we aim to explain how research findings can enhance a state’s resilience in the face of crises. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk emphasises that ‘science-based, reliable knowledge is essential when addressing developmental challenges, including those related to a state’s security’. Basic research - whether in the physical sciences and engineering, social sciences, humanities or arts - provides this knowledge and enables a systemic perspective on security issues, without which nothing can be planned’. She adds that ‘basic research is not a mere luxury but a key foundation of a modern and resilience state’.
Michał Parniak, the first Polish scientist to develop and demonstrate multiplex quantum memory and a quantum processor, says that majority of key technologies have been created within the so-called Pasteur’s quadrant, which refers to basic research of a fundamental nature, but with future applications in mind. He explains that this approach allows one to take a step back to the fundamental laws of physics and develop innovations from scratch, unbound by the limitations of existing technologies. Thereby, his team could develop Rydberg atom-based quantum sensors that can be applied in radar technology and secure communication systems.
Michał Parniak recalled the story of Robert Wilson, Fermilab’s Director, who, when asked by the US Congress how the new accelerator might impact the nation’s security, replied that laboratory’s developments and inventions make the country ‘worth defending’. Dr Parniak emphasised how accurately the sentence captures the essence of basic research, which may not have a specific application in mind but instead generates knowledge, skills and technologies over time, ultimately contributing to the country’s safety, security and sovereignty.
The interview included perspectives of humanities, social sciences and arts. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk recalled that according to the researchers from the Johns Hopkins University ‘the human brain is the current battlefield’. Social disintegration is largely driven by information bubbles, in which algorithms trap us. Therefore, social innovations, public acceptance and conscious communication are essential for building a secure state, alongside research on local communities, critical infrastructure, and the energy transition.
Civil and Military Cooperation
Experts agree that civil and military sectors must cooperate to ensure that the army benefits from the latest research and expertise. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk says that such cooperation is essential not only to respond to current threats, but primarily to anticipate them. By focusing on immediate, ‘here and now’ solutions, we fall behind other countries, while true security requires anticipating future events and the ability to predict them in advance.
She also points out that the NCN Council takes measures to ensure that the National Science Centre can pursue research for the safety and security of the state and launch calls funded with resources secured by the Polish Ministry of National Defence. According to Michał Parniak, partial funding of basic research with army resources would strengthen technological competencies and long-term resilience of the state.
The NCN budget is ca. PLN 1.7 billion, while the 2026 budget of the Polish Ministry of National Defence is expected to reach ca. PLN 125 billion.
Sovereignty and resilience — selected statements:
Prof. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk on the role of the Social Sciences and Humanities in state security:
As researchers from Johns Hopkins University aptly put it in one of the Nature Review reports, the battlefield today is the human mind. We do not even need to fall victim to fake news when discussing disinformation. It is enough, for example, that we close ourselves within our own information bubbles defined by algorithms on our digital devices — and we already have the disintegration of the local community.
Activities related to social innovation are extremely important, because every change, every initiative, every developmental challenge — including those connected with building national security — requires social change, acceptance, approval, and the cultivation of awareness. This is precisely where there is enormous scope for research, whether social or humanistic. I would even venture to say that the arts also have a role to play.
On bio-waste and local energy autonomy:
Discussions on energy security still tend to revolve around the same triad: solar, wind, and hydro power. Meanwhile, one of the most underestimated resources we have literally at hand is bio-waste. As a consumer society, we produce it in enormous quantities and will continue to do so. Such waste requires management, but is available locally, continuously, and regardless of weather conditions. Bio-waste can serve as the basis for producing biofuels, biogas, and energy that can power local, autonomous energy hubs.
This solution supports the bioeconomy and helps to address environmental challenges. At the same time, it strengthens energy resilience for both local communities and the military. These are systems that can be scaled, adapted to a specific municipality or region, and that do not require importing raw materials from outside. Bio-waste has the potential to become one of the pillars of crisis-resistant energy, both in civil and defence terms.
Michał Parniak on quantum sensors and defence applications:
I am developing my own technology — highly precise microwave radiation detectors based on atomic systems, representing an entirely new method of receiving microwave signals — and it quickly becomes apparent to anyone working in this field that there are potential applications in radar technology alone. It is worth noting that when I began working on this, the Americans were the first to contact me, long before any talks with the Polish Ministry of Defence had taken place – which I will mention in a moment. It turns out that the US operates very broad support programmes for research related to defence. Agencies such as the Office of Naval Research, Army Research Laboratory, and DARPA frequently announce calls in which Polish laboratories can also participate, as we have done in the past. They organise so-called “challenge” calls, where several laboratories compete to solve a fundamental technical or engineering-physics problem. Those who solve it best receive further funding. We would certainly be capable of implementing something similar in Poland as well.
On purchasing quantum computers and technological sovereignty:
Quantum computers are currently surrounded by a thick fog of media coverage. We often hear that they are “much faster than classical computers”, which is simply not true. They solve different kinds of problems, and we are only just learning which ones they can actually solve better. This is still an area of basic research that requires patience and a deep understanding of physical foundations. Against this backdrop, the question of purchasing ready-made quantum computers arises. If we buy such equipment from a large corporation, there is a real risk that by the time it arrives, it will already be obsolete.
When purchasing a ready-made quantum computer, our involvement is limited to naming it – for example, “Piast” Any modification of its operation, however, requires contact with the manufacturer in Austria. This is not the path towards technological sovereignty. A far better approach would be to set specific challenges for Polish research groups: to build different types of quantum computers in Poland. Such a programme would be a huge boost for science and the economy. It would enable the development of real competences, the creation of proprietary solutions, and, most importantly, true technological independence.
Maciej Stolarski, Łucja Kowalewska and Bartosz Szyszko will deliver open lectures organised by the Copernicus Centre on 26 November, 10 December and 17 December 2025. Lectures will be available on the YouTube channel of the Copernicus Centre and on the ‘Science at the Centre’ playlist.
Maciej Stolarski, photo by Łukasz Bera/NCNProfessor Maciej Stolarski from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Warsaw studies the phenomenon of mental time travel. He has provided empirical evidence for the crucial role of thinking beyond the present moment in shaping the quality and effectiveness of human life. Dr hab.Łucja Kowalewska works at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw. Her research focuses on plant cell biology, particularly on the structure and dynamics of plastid membranes. The research carried out by Dr hab. Bartosz Szyszko, Professor at the University of Wroclaw who specialises in supramolecular chemistry, focuses on the synthesis and investigation of rotaxanes, catenanes and molecular knots – mechanically interlocked molecules that resemble the links of a chain.
Last October, they all received the 2025 NCN Award, the most prestigious award in Poland recognising early-career researchers working in Poland. They will soon discuss their research in a series of online lectures organised by the Copernicus Centre.
Lecture by Maciej Stolarski
26 November 2025, 6 p.m.: Psychological Time as Meta-Dimension of Personality: A Theory of Temporal Navigator
The ability for mental time travel allows us to relive the past and anticipate the future. Hence, we can plan and understand our life much better.
‘My lecture will include examples of research and theoretical considerations that enabled me to form the theory of temporal metacognition, develop a model of temporal regulation of emotions and design a new conceptual model – temporal navigator – understanding personality as a cognitive and affective system whose ultimate purpose is to reach (future) goals through mindful or involved presence here and now (the present) using the experience, knowledge and inspirations gathered over a lifetime (past). The model combines knowledge of episodic memory, prospection, emotion regulation and goal-directed motivation, demonstrating that it is not individual contents, but dynamic actions over time that organise human subjectivity and enable effective self-regulation. I will also try to explain how the temporal navigator integrates the concepts of leading personality theories and will talk about how findings from temporal psychology can shed light on the core of psychopathology (the p factor), and whether temporal models might offer a framework for integrating key concepts from positive psychology. Furthermore, I will look into the gaps in existing temporal theories that have kept them from achieving recognition as the psychological ‘theory of everything’, says Maciej Stolarski.
Maciej Stolarski also appeared as a guest in our podcast ‘NextGen Science. The Future is Now’.
The first ‘Science at the Centre’ lectures were delivered by the 2020 NCN Award winners. 15 meetings have been organised so far, together with the Copernicus Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies.
How to store research data? Who can have access to research data? What are the best research data management practices? Researchers ask these, and many more, questions every day. Answers are provided during a free online MOOC course developed by the NCN Open Science Team, which is now available on the Navoica platform.
The first English-language research data management course is addressed to researchers and prospective researchers as well as all those interested in learning about research data management and open data sharing.
“The idea for the course originated from discussions with researchers. We can all see that contemporary science relies on huge volumes of data from various sources. They are often generated automatically although the mere data production is not enough. One needs to know how to classify, store, share and reuse data in compliance with the FAIR Principles and Open Science policies. Meanwhile, many researchers told us that they lacked knowledge and support in this respect. That is how the idea for the course came about. First, in Polish and now, in response to the needs of English-speaking researchers working in Poland, in English,” says Dr Aneta Pazik- Aybar, Head of the Open Science Team at the National Science Centre.
The English-language course is based on four Polish-language courses prepared by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical and Computational Modelling at the University of Warsaw at the request of the National Science Centre. The development of the English-language course was coordinated by the NCN owing to funding from the EOSC Focus project.
Modules and Topics
The course is divided into four modules comprising key research data management issues, from core aspects of open science, through data planning and legal issues, to data storage and sharing in scientific repositories, all in accordance with the guidelines of the National Science Centre and European Commission.
During the course, participants will find out about open scientific communication and open science policies applied by the research-funding agencies, and learn how to produce a Data Management Plan (DMP) in line with the NCN guidelines. They will also receive practical guidance on data management and data sharing in line with the FAIR Principles. Moreover, participants will learn about various types of research data repositories, their functions and the way they are used. Thus, they will be able to better understand the basic legal aspects of work with research data and research data sharing. After the course, attendees will be familiar with data types and databases, persistent identifiers, metadate, and will know the role of data stewards at scientific institutions.
At the end of this free online course, each participant will receive a participation certificate. User-friendly course materials will be available, alongside presentations, video recordings and interviews with experts. Participants will also benefit from a discussion board where they will be able to ask questions and exchange experience with other attendees. The course developed by the NCN Open Science Team is available on the NAVOICA platform until June 2026.
MOOC research data management courses for researchers and data stewards are increasingly popular. They are available to anyone, regardless of affiliation.
Over five thousand people participated in two Polish-language courses (for beginners and intermediate participants) so far, i.e. a total of over ten thousand participants enhancing their research data management competences. The latest course launched by the NCN in English has attracted more than five hundred people over a period of just 4 months of its launch on the Navoica platform.
Principal Investigator
:
dr Anne-Marie Weber
Uniwersytet Warszawski
Panel: HS5
Funding scheme
: SONATA 19
announced on
15 września 2023
The project examines the phenomenon of financial exclusion of the elderly in the context of the progressive digitalisation of financial services. Although on-line banking and electronic payments facilitate the everyday lives of many consumers, for some senior citizens they become a barrier to accessing basic financial services, such as withdrawing cash or paying bills. This phenomenon is gaining increasing social significance – not only due to the population ageing, but also because of the rapid pace of digital transformation in the financial sector, which was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
dr Anne-Marie Weber, fot. Łukasz BeraThe aim of the project is to develop a scientific foundation for regulations that could effectively counteract the financial exclusion of the elderly. The research combines legal, economic and sociological perspectives, thereby creating an interdisciplinary roadmap for public policies and legal solutions. The starting point is the assumption that access to financial services is a prerequisite for independence and the full participation of senior citizens in social life.
The project consists of two stages. In the first stage, the team will conduct qualitative research in selected regions of Poland – in large cities, smaller urban centres and rural areas – including interviews with senior citizens, local civil society organisations and representatives of financial institutions. The research will make it possible to identify the actual barriers to the use of financial services: ranging from a lack of digital skills and low levels of trust in on-line transactions to financial constraints that prevent the purchase of devices and access to the Internet. The data collected will be used to provide a precise description of the mechanisms that lead to financial exclusion.
In the second stage, the project will analyse legal provisions and solutions adopted in other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and other Member States of the European Union. The research will cover, inter alia, consumer law and financial market regulations, as well as anti-discrimination and constitutional provisions. The team will seek to answer the question of how the law can support the financial inclusion of senior citizens.
dr Anne-Marie Weber, fot. Łukasz BeraThe project combines empirical research with doctrinal legal analysis, thereby creating a comprehensive picture of financial exclusion in the context of an ageing society. The results will serve not only the academic community, but also public decision-makers and financial institutions, indicating how to shape a more inclusive market for financial services.
The project will produce, inter alia, a set of regulatory recommendations and good practices that may help reduce digital barriers and, in consequence, improve the quality of life of the elderly. In the longer term, the research is intended to contribute to formulating new foundations for financial and social policy based on intergenerational solidarity.
Project title: Combatting Financial Exclusion of the Elderly in the Digital Era – A Regulatory Roadmap
dr Anne-Marie Weber
Kierownik - dodatkowe informacje
Doctor of Law, assistant professor at the Department of Commercial Law, Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Warsaw. Graduate of Master of Laws (LL.M.) studies at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Scholarship holder of the Max Planck Institute for Private International and Foreign Law in Hamburg, the French Government and the National Agency for Academic Exchange. Currently manages the NCN OPUS 23 and NCN SONATA 19 projects.
Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwiak, Director of the National Science Centre, has been elected to the Science Europe 2025–2027 Governing Board, which plays a key role in shaping strategic direction of Science Europe, an organisation connecting major European research funding agencies and research institutions.
Science Europe brings together 40 institutions from 30 countries and represents them in dialogue with EU institutions, prepares research policy recommendations, and reinforces international collaboration and research funding standards. The NCN has been a member of Science Europe since 2012, and as such has actively participated in its working groups, advanced research policy consultations and initiatives advancing research development across Europe.
Science Europe 2025–2027 Governing Board Members:
President (second term of office): Mari Sundli Tveit (Research Council of Norway)
Vice-President: Marcel Levi (Dutch Research Council, NWO)
Vice-President: Francisco Javier Moreno Fuentes (Spanish National Research Council, CSIC)
Katja Becker (German Research Foundation, DFG)
Katarina Bjelke (Swedish Research Council, VR)
Anna Di Ciaccio (National Institute for Nuclear Physics, INFN)
Tjaša Dobnik (Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency, ARIS)
Christoff Gattringer (Austrian Science Fund, FWF)
Krzysztof Jóźwiak (National Science Centre, NCN)
Torsten Schwede (Swiss National Science Foundation, SNSF)
Christopher Smith (UK Research and Innovation, UKRI)
The Governing Board was elected at the General Assembly of Science Europe in Oslo, on 18-20 November. The event was accompanied by the annual High-Level Workshop on the European Research Area, a platform to discuss priorities of the next Framework Programme (FP10) to replace Horizon Europe, science diplomacy, responsible international collaboration, research culture, etc..
We now know the winners of JPND Call 2025. Researchers from Wrocław and Warsaw will develop systemic solutions aimed to improve the quality of life for people with neurodegenerative diseases.
Two Polish research teams were awarded funding for projects addressing the impact of neurological diseases to the quality of life of patients and their families.
Researchers from the Wrocław Medical University, headed by Dr hab. Dorota Maria Szcześniak, will develop a system of support for people living with rare forms of dementia in moderate to advanced stages of the disease.
Their project brings together researchers, patient organisations, practitioners and, above all, patients and their caregivers from six European countries. A key element is the participatory approach – people with lived experience co-develop tools and solutions aimed to adjust the form of care to the needs of the person with dementia and their caregivers.
The Polish research team will be awarded over PLN 900 thousand for their three-year project.
A research team from the Medical University of Warsaw, headed by Prof. Dr hab. Magdalena Kuźma-Kozakiewicz, will use the grant to evaluate biological underpinnings and QoL impact of BD and PBA in moderate to severe stage of ALS in patients and their caregivers.
A transnational comparison approach will allow document cultural, ethical, and healthcare system differences in management of BD and PBA and will improve individualised patient care and meaningful caregiver support. The project will involve participation of professionals with expertise in neuropsychology, speech pathology, social science and neuroimaging, as well as all those with long-term ALS care experience
The budget for the Polish part of a three-year project is PLN 890 thousand.
JPND Call 2025
The call launched by the National Science Centre in cooperation with the JPND (EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research), was open to international research projects to better understand the factors that contribute to the quality of life of patients and their families, and to develop more adequate concepts of easily accessible support for people with neurodegenerative diseases at moderate, advanced and end of life stages. The title of JPND Call 2025: Health and social care research with a focus on the moderate and late stages of neurodegenerative diseases
Funding was available to international consortia composed of at least three, and no more than seven, research teams from at least three countries participating in the call. The principal investigator in the Polish research team was required to hold at least a PhD degree.
Countries participating in the call: Belgium, Canada, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.
Seven projects were awarded funding in the call, including 2 with Polish participation.
The National Science Centre (NCN), in cooperation with the LEAP-SE (Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy) Network, is launching the LEAP-SE Cofund Call 2026 for international research projects in the area of energy transition and renewable energy. Funding may be requested by international consortia comprising partners from at least four European and African countries participating in the call.
LEAP-SE Cofund Call 2026 is open to funding proposals for research projects carried out over a period of 2 or 3 years in one of the following topics:
Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and integration of RES in sustainable energy scenarios
End-of-life and second‐life management and environmental impact of RE components
Smart stand‐alone systems
Smart grid (different scales) for off grid application
Processes and appliances for productive uses (agriculture, mobility and industry)
Innovative solutions for priority domestic uses (clean cooking and cold chain)
Production and utilization of Green Hydrogen
Research consortia may comprise the following countries participating in the call:
Africa: Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and LGI (African partners without funding organisations),
Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, United Kingdom.
At least two project partners must originate from two different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries and at least two partners must originate from two Member States of the African Union.
The call procedure is divided into two stages. In Stage I, joint pre-proposals are submitted with a foreign partner, and top-rated research teams are invited to submit their joint full proposals in Stage II. Submission deadline for joint pre-proposals is 5 February 2026 and the call results will be published by the end of November 2026.
The NCN Council has allocated EUR 750,000 for research projects carried out by Polish research teams participating in the LEAP-SE Cofund Call 2026.
Anyone interested in the call is welcome to take part in a webinar for applicants on 4 November. Register in advance here (mandatory).
Łucja Kowalewska, photo by Łukasz Bera
Dr hab. Łucja Kowalewska works at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw. Her research focuses on plant cell biology, particularly on the structure and dynamics of plastid membranes. Last October, she was presented with the NCN Award for outstanding scientific achievements.
