The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has launched a new programme, “Science for the Development of Society” (Nauka dla Rozwoju Społeczeństwa), aimed at supporting cooperation between research institutions and organisations operating in the socio-economic environment.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
The total programme budget is PLN 180 million. The Ministry may provide up to PLN 2 million per project. Own contribution is permitted but not required. Each institution may submit a maximum of three applications per calendar year.
A letter or letters of intent confirming cooperation with a socio-economic partner must be attached to the application. Applicants are therefore encouraged to carefully review the Communication of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of 29 May 2025 establishing the programme and setting out the application rules. The programme does not impose restrictions on the legal or organisational form of the socio-economic partner. The type and scope of cooperation should be tailored to the specific project.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to develop the concept and define the framework for cooperation with the partner, including how the solutions developed during the project will be implemented or used in the socio-economic environment. Cooperation with the partner does not necessarily have to involve the transfer or expenditure of project funds. An important aspect of the partnership may be the partner’s ability to implement and use the solutions developed within the project after its completion.
Cooperation with the socio-economic partner will be assessed by the Minister’s advisory team during the substantive evaluation of proposals. The assessment will consider, among other aspects, the project’s alignment with the programme objectives and the organisational capacity of the socio-economic partner.
The selection of projects will therefore depend on the quality and completeness of the proposal and its alignment with the evaluation criteria established by the Ministry, with particular attention to the requirements set out in the programme documentation.
