MINIATURA 5 - Frequently Asked Questions

Prepering a new proposal

1. When can I submit my proposal for the MINIATURA 5 call?

The call for proposals will be open between 5 May and 30 September 2021. The call for proposals can be suspended if the total amount of requested funds exceeds twice the value of funds allocated by the NCN Council for the research activities to be carried out under the call.

2. How to submit a proposal?

The proposals under the MINIATURA 5 call are filed exclusively electronically via the ZSUN/OSF (Integrated System of Services for Sciences/ Funding Streams Service) system available on the website www.osf.opi.org.pl in compliance with the proposal submission procedure.

3. Is there a limit to funds that can be applied for under MINIATURA 5?

YES. Under MINIATURA 5, proposals may be submitted for funding of 5,000 to 50,000 PLN. Indirect costs may not exceed 10% of direct costs.

4. What is the duration time for a research activity?

The duration time for a research activity shall be a maximum of 12 months. The ZSUN/OSF submission system provides information about research activity duration: 12 months. This box is non-editable.

5. Can the research activity duration time be shorter than indicated in the proposal?

YES. The submission of the final report on the implementation of the research activity is equivalent to the completion of its implementation.

6. How long does it take to process the proposal?

The funding decision will be issued within 4 months of the proposal submission date.

7. Who receives the decision, person carrying out a research activity or the applicant?

The funding decision shall be delivered to the applicant at the address of the Electronic Mailbox indicated in the proposal. In addition, a justification for proposal evaluation is provided in the ZSUN/OSF submission system.

8. I have received information about the eligibility of my proposal for funding, but I have not yet received a decision – can I already bear the first costs in connection with the granting of funding?

NO. The costs for the research activity must be incurred during the period of implementation of the activity, i.e. from the date when the award decision has become final and binding until the end of the research activity.

In the event that the applicant has the results of the proposal evaluation available in ZSUN/OSF submission system, but has not yet received a decision, the correctness of the electronic address (ESP) provided in the proposal must be verified. If you provide an incorrect address, please contact the proposal manager specified in the ZSUN/OSF submission system.

Formal questions

9. I am the winning applicant of the MINIATURA 4 call. May I apply for funding for a research activity under the MINIATURA 5 call?

NO. Carrying out a research activity under the MINIATURA call may be performed by a person only once.

10. Is it possible to re-submit a proposal in the MINIATURA 5 call that has been rejected in the merit-based evaluation?

NO. A proposal in which a person is designated to carry out a research activity and which has been rejected at the stage of the merit-based evaluation, may not be re-submitted under the same edition of the MINIATURA call.

11. Can a proposal that has been rejected on formal grounds be re-submitted under the MINIATURA 5 call?

YES. A proposal in which a person is designated to carry out a research activity may be re-submitted only if it was rejected as ineligible at the stage of eligibility check. This proposal can only be re-submitted once the decision of the NCN Director to refuse funding has become final and binding.

12. Is it possible to submit a proposal under the MINIATURA 5 call where the person designated for a research activity is the winning applicant of the ETIUDA call?

NO. Under the MINIATURA 5 call, proposals may be submitted where a person designated for a research activity has not acted as the principal investigator in any of the projects funded by the NCN, nor is this person a winning applicant of an ETIUDA call for doctoral scholarships or a call for fellowships (including FUGA and UWERTURA) funded by the NCN.

13. Is it possible to file a proposal under the MINIATURA 5 call where the person designated for a research activity is the winning applicant of the FUGA call?

NO. Under the MINIATURA 5 call, proposals may be filed where a person designated for a research activity has not acted as the principal investigator in any of the projects funded by the NCN, nor is this person a winning applicant of an ETIUDA call for doctoral scholarships or a call for fellowships (including FUGA and UWERTURA) funded by the NCN.

14. I am designated as a principal investigator in the proposal submitted under the call announced by the NCN. Can I be designated in the proposal for a research activity under the MINIATURA 5 call?

NO. Under the MINIATURA 5 call, one may not submit proposals where the person designated for a research activity is an applicant, principal investigator or fellowship candidate under a proposal that has been submitted or qualified for funding under another NCN call.

15. I am the principal investigator of a research project funded by the NCN. May I carry out a research activity under the MINIATURA 5 call?

NO. Under the MINIATURA 5 call, one cannot submit proposals where the person designated for a research activity has acted as the principal investigator in any of the projects funded by the NCN.

16. I am implementing a grant awarded under the GRIEG call - may I be designated as a person who intends to carry out a research activity under the MINIATURA 5 call?

NO. A person carrying out a research activity may not be the person who acts as the principal investigator in any of the projects funded by the NCN.

17. I am the principal investigator of a research project which is not funded by the NCN. May I carry out a research activity under the MINIATURA 5 call?

YES. Persons who manage the implementation of research projects funded from other sources than the NCN may be designated as persons carrying out a research activity under the MINIATURA 5 call.

18. Under the MINIATURA 4 call, I filed a proposal which, following merit-based evaluation, was not qualified for funding. May I resubmit that proposal under the MINIATURA 5 call?

YES. Please note that under MINIATURA 5 call, the scope of information on the research achievements of a person designated for a research activity requested in the proposal has been extended. Please read all call documents.

19. Is it allowed to submit more than one proposal under the MINIATURA 5 call where the same person is designated for a research activity?

NO. Only one proposal may be submitted under the MINIATURA 5 call where the same person is designated for a research activity.

20. Is it allowed to submit more than one proposal under the MINIATURA 5 call where the same institution is acting as the applicant?

YES. There is no limit to the number of proposals submitted by one institution.

21. May an applicant under the MINIATURA 5 call be a natural person?

NIE. Z wnioskiem o przyznanie środków finansowych na realizację działania naukowego, mogą wystąpić podmioty posiadające siedzibę na terytorium Polski mające poniższy status:

1. Higher Education institutions;
2. federations of science and HE institutions;
3. research institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences operating pursuant to the Act on the Polish Academy of Sciences of 30 April 2010 (Journal of Laws of 2019, items 1183, 1655 and 2227);
4. research institute operating pursuant to the Act on Research Institutes of 30 April 2010 (Journal of Laws of 2019, items 1183, 1655 and 2227);
5. international research institute established pursuant to other acts and acting in the Republic of Poland;
6. scientific libraries;
7. Łukasiewicz Centre operating pursuant to the Act on the Łukasiewicz Research Network of 21 February 2019 (Journal of Laws of 2019, items 534 and 2227) and
8. institute operating within the Łukasiewicz Research Network.

22. What can the subject-matter of proposals cover?

Proposals may be submitted to the call covering basic research in any of 25 NCN panels comprising three groups: HS – Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; ST – Physical Sciences and Engineering; NZ – Life Sciences. Please note that the topic of the proposal must concern a single research activity carried out in one of the following forms: preliminary/pilot studies, library and archive searches, fellowships, research visits, and/ or consultations

23. What language should be used for the title of the research activity?

The title of the research activity should be provided in Polish and in English. Both language versions have to be identical.

24. What language should be used for the keywords?

The keywords should be provided in Polish and in English. Both language versions have to be identical.

25. Which research activity may be funded under MINIATURA 5 call?

DIt is permitted to submit proposals that involve the implementation of one of the research activities listed below:

1. preliminary/pilot studies,
2. library and archive searches,
3. fellowships
4. 4. research visits
5. consultations

26. Do you have definitions of the research activities that may be applied for under the MINIATURA 5 call?

NO. The terms and regulations of the call do not define the research activities that can be funded under MINIATURA 5. Therefore, applicants shall themselves choose the type of activity that they wish to be founded.

27. Is it permitted to apply for funding for two research activities under a single proposal?

NO. The applicant must specify a single research activity that she/he wishes to carry out under the MINIATURA 5 call.

Data of the Host Institution

28. May an applicant be an institution that does not receive any operating support for research activity?

YES. In such a case, the proposal should be accompanied by information on research carried out by the institution over the last 2 years, together with a list of publications and information on research equipment and other instruments crucial to research. The document has to be signed by the authorised representative of the applicant with a qualified electronic signature in the PAdES format or by hand. The proposal must be accompanied by a document in PDF format, depending on the form of signature in place: Scanned document (scanned handwritten document) or File signed electronically (a document signed with a qualified electronic signature in the PAdES format).

State aid

29. May the applicant be an institution for which funding will represent state aid?

NO. No state aid will be granted under the call. In order to determine if project funding does not represent state aid, it is necessary to review the Principles of instances of public aid, available in the ZSUN/OSF submission system and in the call announcement.

Description of a research activity

30. How to prepare a description of the research activity to be carried out?

A brief description of research activity to be carried out shall be provided only in the Polish language. To the proposal, in the Description tab, please attach a PDF file (max. 10 MB). Maximum word count: 1 page in A4 format. Recommended text formatting: top and bottom margins min. 1,5 cm, left and right margins min. 2 cm, font: Times New Roman or equivalent, min. font size 11 points, single interline.

31. Should the link between research activity and research project to be submitted under future NCN calls as well as other national or international calls be justified?

YES. Under the MINIATURA 5 call, justification of the link between research activity and research project to be submitted under future NCN calls and other national or international calls as well as justification thereof in view of the potential impact on the scientific level of the future research project should be prepared as a separate document.

The document must be prepared in Polish. To the proposal, in the Description tab, please attach a PDF file (max. 10 MB). Maximum word count: 1 page in A4 format. Recommended text formatting: top and bottom margins min. 1,5 cm, left and right margins min. 2 cm, font: Times New Roman or equivalent, min. font size 11 points, single interline.

Research team

32. Under the research activity of the MINIATURA 5 call, may I designate investigators for the research team?

NO. Under the MINIATURA 5 call the research team may consist only of a principal investigator. The number of team members is entered automatically into the system: 1.

The exception is the so-called collective investigator, i.e. in the case of the MINIATURA 5 call, at least two persons with one type of responsibility, e.g. interviewers or research participants. The category does not cover technicians and laboratory staff. The collective investigator is not involved on subject matter grounds in the activity’s implementation. They must not be employees of the host institution for the research activity.

33. Is it possible to employ a collective investigator who is hired by an institution that is an applicant under a contract of mandate/contract for a specific task?

In the proposal, the collective investigator remuneration may be planned for persons who are not employees (in the light of applicable laws) of the host institution for the research activity. 

Researcher to carry out research activities

34. What requirements must be met by the person designated for a research activity?

A research activity must be carried out by a researcher:

• who has been employed by the applicant pursuant to an employment contract on the proposal submission date;
• whose scientific achievements include at least one paper published or, in the case of research activities in arts, at least one artistic achievement or achievement in the research in art;
• who has been conferred their PhD degree after 1 January 2009. In the case of multiple PhD holders, the reference date is the date of award of the first PhD.

This period may be extended by a time of long-term (in excess of 90 days) documented sick leaves or rehabilitation leaves granted on account of being unfit to work. In addition, this period may be extended by the number of months of a child care leave granted pursuant to the Labour Code and in the case of women, by 18 months for every child born or adopted, whichever manner of accounting for career breaks is preferable.

35. May the person designated for a research activity hold a habilitation degree or title of professor?

YES. Obtaining further degrees and scientific titles does not affect the option of carrying out a research activity under the MINIATURA 5 call. The only relevant date is the date of obtaining the PhD degree, which is necessary to be able to participate in this call.

36. I am employed by the applicant under a civil-law contract. May I file my proposal under the MINIATURA 5 call?

NO. Under the terms and regulations of the call, the person carrying out the research activity must be employed by the applicant under an employment contract as of the proposal filing date.

37. I am employed by the applicant under a part-time employment contract. May I be pinpointed in the proposal as the person designated for a research activity?

YES. The terms and regulations of the call do not prescribe the working time of a person designated for a research activity, employed by the institution acting as the applicant.

38. I am employed by the applicant under an employment contract in a non-research position. May I be pinpointed in the proposal as the person designated for a research activity?

YES. The terms and regulations of the call do not specify the post for which the person designated for a research activity must be recruited.

Scientific achievments

39. What information should be provided in the scientific achievements section?

All tabs in the scientific achievements section must be completed (all information should be provided in Polish):

• Scientific achievements – please provide information on their career in research, including the most important publications/ artistic achievements/ achievements in research in art, participation in research projects, research experience, scholarships, prizes and awards (no more than 6000 characters);
• Selected publication – please attach one selected publication (in a PDF format file, max. 10 MB) and provide background information about the publication. Additionally, please complete the box with justification for choosing the publication (no more than 1500 characters).
• Note: In the case of artistic achievements or achievements in research in art, do not select the Selected publication tab.
• Artistic achievement – please complete only for arts. A description of the most important artistic achievement or achievement in research in art of international or national importance should be added here, e.g. authorship of a work of art and its publication (e.g. score, recording), directing of a film, theatre or opera performance, leading role, authorship of an individual exhibition, participation in a foreign or national festival of international renown, artistic management of an international artistic event. Additionally, please complete the box with justification for artistic achievement or achievement in research in art  selection (justification may not exceed 1500 characters).

Note: The Artistic Achievements tab should be completed only in the case of arts.

40. What information should be included in the section Scientific achievements of a person designated for a research activity?

​The applicant decides what information should be included in this section. According to the terms of the call, information on the scientific achievements of a person designated for a research activity must include:

• their career in research, the most important publications/artistic achievements/ achievements in research in art, participation in research projects, research experience, scholarships, prizes and awards (no more than 6,000 characters);
• publications or artistic achievements: the most important publication in pdf format (in the language of publication) or the most important artistic achievement or achievement in research in art;
• justification for choosing the annexed publication or presented artistic achievement or achievement in research in art (no more than 1,500 characters).

Scientific achievements of the person designated for a research activity are subject to an evaluation.

41. Is the publication attached to the proposal (one of key importance) to be the most important publication in my scientific achievements or does it have to be connected with the research activity planned for implementation?

According to the terms and regulations of the call, the proposal has to be accompanied by one of the most important publications – and please provide justification for choosing it. Justification may indicate why this publication is important in the context of the research activity to be carried out.

42. May a proposal be accompanied by a paper that is not yet published?

43. When giving the number of citations without auto-citations, should one also give the source of the number of citations?

NO. It is not required to provide the name of the source from which the number of quotes was obtained.

Other costs

44. How to plan a budget under the MINIATURA 5 call?

The budget should be calculated realistically, while following the principle of cost-effectiveness, i.e. obtaining the best results from a given outlay.

Please note that all costs should be justified and consistent with the planned research activity.

Detailed information on budget planning is included in Costs in research activities funded by the National Science Centre under the MINIATURA call.

If unjustified costs are planned, the proposal may be rejected.

45. May I plan costs related to, e.g. the arrival of third party consultants?

NO. Under the MINIATURA 5 call, the only principal investigator is the person carrying out the research activity. Consequently, any costs associated with the participation of other persons in its implementation are ineligible.

46. Is it permitted to plan the payment of remuneration as part of the research activity?

NO. In accordance with the terms and regulations of the call, only collective investigators who are not employees of the host institution for the research activity can be scheduled to receive remuneration. It should be noted that a collective investigator is a minimum of two persons with a unified scope of responsibilities (e.g. interviewers) and survey participants. The category does not cover technicians and laboratory staff.

47. The research activity will result in a publication. Can I plan the costs of publication, including open access publication?

48. Can open access publication be co-financed from institution’s own resources?

​YES. The institution may cover a part of the open access publication costs from its own resources.

49. Do we have to plan open access costs if the publication is funded by the institution from its own resources? 

​If papers resulting from a research project are published in open access journals and the costs of such publication are covered from other sources, there is no need to plan the open access costs in the proposal. 

50. May I plan the purchase of a laptop?

NO. Purchase costs of IT hardware and office equipment are ineligible under the MINIATURA 5 call.

51. Can the purchase of scientific and research equipment be included in the costs?

NO. Eligible costs do not include, inter alia, costs of leasing, purchase, construction or manufacturing of research equipment, devices and software.

52. Does the maximum possible amount of funding equal to PLN 50,000 also include indirect costs (10%)?

YES. Funds of PLN 5,000 to PLN 50,000 can be applied for under the MINIATURA 5 call. The indirect costs must be within the maximum funding pot. Indirect costs shall be calculated on the basis of the direct costs allocated to the research activity.

Similar research activities

53. The proposal should demonstrate a similar research activity. Whether it is only about thematically similar, implemented research activities or generally implemented similar research issues (under a project implemented under the NCN umbrella or outside it).

This tab should indicate whether the applicant/person designated for a research activity applies/apply for funding for the same purpose from another source (e.g. implementation of a given trip within any given project).

Moreover, please indicate whether the person designated for a research activity carries out/has carried out activities with a similar thematic profile to the research activity covered by this proposal. If YES, please provide a description of the similar activities and justification for the need for funding of the activity under this proposal.

Ethics issues 

54. How to complete the Ethics issues tab?

The information in this tab should be provided in Polish. Details of how to complete this tab can be found in the Guidelines for applicants to complete the Ethics Issues form.

Data management plan

55. How to complete the Data Management Plan tab?

Details on how to complete this tab can be found in the Guidelines for applicants to complete the data management plan. The Information provided in this tab should be provided in Polish.

Electronic submission 

56. Where can I find confirmation of proposal submission under the call?

Under the MINIATURA 5 call, the proposal is not accompanied by a confirmation of submission. In the Electronic Submission section, a proposal in PDF format should be generated and downloaded from the NCN, signed with a qualified electronic signature by the authorised representative of the institution acting as the applicant. The qualified signature should contain a valid qualified certificate and extension in PAdES format. The signed proposal should be attached in the Electronic Submission section.