The National Centre for Research and Development

The EEA and Norway Grants is an informal name for two mechanisms with the formal names: Norwegian Financial Mechanism and European Economic Area Financial Mechanism. These are funds from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (the so-called Donor States), intended to reduce social and economic disparities in EU countries (Beneficiary States), including Poland. In return, these three countries benefit from access to the European Union's internal market, even though they are not EU members.

Under the fourth edition of the The EEA and Norway Grants, for which the first calls for proposals will be announced soon, Poland has received EUR 925 million. These funds will be allocated to the implementation of eight programmes. An additional instrument is the Civil Society Fund, which will finance the activities of non-governmental organisations.

The signing of agreements for the first five programmes was the highlight of the conference entitled ‘The EEA and Norway Grants 4.0. START!’, which took place on 4 February this year in Warsaw. The agreements were concluded between the Polish Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy (MFiPR) and partners from the Donor countries.

- We have a record €925 million at our disposal, which is almost PLN 4 billion. This is the largest amount in the history of the The EEA and Norway Grants in Poland and the largest amount of all 15 countries that will benefit from this support. We have a support instrument that perfectly complements the EU's cohesion policy and the National Recovery Plan - said Jan Szyszko, Deputy Minister of Funds and Regional Policy.

- I am glad that we can be together for the next stage of our long-standing cooperation. The programmes planned in the fourth edition of the The EEA and Norway Grants will contribute to making Poland greener, more prosperous and more resilient, while strengthening relations between our countries - said Kristin Hansen, Chair of the Financial Mechanism Committee.

The programmes for which agreements were signed on 4th February are:

• Applied Research and Innovation programme – the programme operator will be the National Centre for Research and Development,
• Basic Research Programme – the programme operator will be the National Science Centre,
• Local Development Programme – the programme operator will be the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy,
• Green Business and Innovation Programme – the programme operator will be the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development,
• Culture Programme – the Programme Operator will be the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Applied Research and Innovation Programme under the supervision of the National Centre for Research and Development

Each programme is managed by a Polish public institution, the so-called Programme Operator. The National Centre for Research and Development is the Operator of the ‘Applied Research and Innovation’ Programme. The total budget for this programme is over EUR 94 million.

- This is the third time that the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) has acted as the operator of a research programme under the Financial Mechanisms. We are continuing our excellent cooperation with the Research Council of Norway, which was our partner in the two previous editions of the programme. In the new perspective of the EEA Financial Mechanism, we are also joined by a new partner – Rannis, the Icelandic Centre for Research, which expands the possibilities for cooperation with the Donor countries - said Prof. Jerzy Małachowski, Director of the National Centre for Research and Development.

In the previous edition of the The EEA and Norway Grants, beneficiaries implemented a total of 81 projects under the auspices of the NCBR. These included both bilateral research projects (50 projects in three calls) and a support scheme for female scientists (31 projects). In turn, as a result of the IdeaLab call, in which innovators sought solutions and services for the cities of the future, six interdisciplinary projects were implemented, which, although demanding, brought very valuable experiences and results.

Green transition, democracy, inclusion and resilience

The Applied Research and Innovation Programme aims to improve the quality of scientific research and innovation in Poland and increase their practical application in the economy and its societal impact. The Programme idea is based on integrating science with the environment so that research results translate into specific solutions that respond to contemporary challenges, in line with the three priorities of the Funds:

• European green transition;
• Democracy, the rule of law and human rights;
• Social inclusion and resilience.

Poland – as an ‘Emerging Innovator’ according to the European Innovation Scoreboard – needs to accelerate research excellence, internationalisation and better use of research results. Despite gradual improvement in European innovation rankings, we still have a lot to do in this field as a country. Therefore, we can benefit greatly from the programme, which responds to the need to strengthen applied, interdisciplinary research focused on real economic and social challenges. At the same time, it supports the development of the competences necessary for better participation in European Union programmes and the building of international cooperation networks.

The Applied Research and Innovation Programme provides support in several key areas. First and foremost, it offers significant funding for research and innovation projects, both in the form of international projects involving partners from Poland and Donor States, and in the form of grants supporting the early stages of scientific careers for female researchers. In addition, it emphasises the development of the competences of researchers and research support staff by financing activities that build skills in the use of research results for social and economic benefit.

An important element of the programme is also the promotion of interdisciplinarity and cross-sectoral cooperation, which enables the creation of innovative solutions with high implementation potential.

- It is no coincidence that the programme focuses on interdisciplinarity and cross-sectoral cooperation as essential conditions for solving complex social and technological problems. Currently, Polish institutions rarely implement projects that transcend disciplinary boundaries, and cooperation between science, business and the public sector still faces institutional, cultural and competence barriers. The programme creates space for combining different fields, perspectives and sectors to create solutions with greater implementation potential and social impact. The NCBR has experience with interdisciplinary projects from the previous edition of the programme. In the new edition, we want to strengthen the participation of interdisciplinary activities so that the results of the projects are used as effectively as possible by society and the economy - says the head of the NCBR.

The new instrument promotes openness, equal opportunities and the internationalisation of Polish science, increasing its ability to participate in European research initiatives. At all stages of implementation, the programme will incorporate gender equality and digitalisation issues, covering both management and research content. Where appropriate, projects should take gender into account in their methodology, data analysis and interpretation of results, support the removal of barriers for women researchers, the development of skills and the building of balanced teams. At the same time, the programme promotes the development of digital competences, the use of digital tools, data, artificial intelligence and open science standards, supporting projects that contribute to the digital transformation of the economy and the public sector, and to improving the quality and efficiency of research.

- One of the key challenges is to strengthen human capital in Polish science, including women in technical sciences and early-stage researchers. The programme will support researchers in overcoming barriers to promotion and taking on leadership roles in projects, entering international environments, and building the networks and competences needed for further career development. This is an investment in the future leaders of the Polish research and innovation system - emphasises Director Prof. Jerzy Małachowski.

He notes that another challenge is the still limited culture and practice of widespread dissemination of research results (knowledge valorisation). In Poland, the broader concept of knowledge dissemination is poorly established – often narrowed down to commercialisation and rarely understood as a broad process of translating knowledge into benefits.

By using this tool, the National Centre for Research and Development also wants to respond to the institutional challenges of the Polish R&I ecosystem, including insufficient support for research managers and research project specialists. As Prof. Jerzy Małachowski points out, the lack of support for professional project management structures and support for scientists limits the effectiveness of research, commercialisation and internationalisation. The programme will support the development of the profession of research managers and administrators, strengthening the institutional infrastructure necessary for the functioning of a competitive research and innovation system.

As a result, the programme is not limited to financing research – it is a comprehensive mechanism supporting the advancement of science, its practical application and the building of lasting links between science, the economy and society.

Planned calls for proposals

Applicants who meet the criteria specified for a given call by the National Centre for Research and Development will be eligible to apply for funding under the ‘Applied Research and Innovation’ programme. The requirements for the calls will be available in the first half of 2026.

The programme provides for three funding opportunities– two calls aimed at supporting the R&I system and one in the field of dissemination of scientific research results. The Bilateral Cooperation Fund will implement activities aimed at strengthening relations between institutions from Poland and Donor Countries, as well as projects supporting the participation of Polish entities in the Horizon Europe programme.

Call 1 – Bilateral research and innovation projects

• Allocation: €70,000,000
• Project value: €1,000,000 – €1,750,000
• Call for proposals: planned for autumn 2026
• Who can apply: research consortia composed of research organisations, enterprises and other relevant stakeholders, such as public sector entities and non-governmental organisations.
• Key assumptions:

The call supports projects that are aligned with at least one theme: green transition, democracy and human rights, and social inclusion and resilience. The participation of a partner from Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein is mandatory, and the programme encourages cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary cooperation.

Call 2 – Projects for early-stage female researchers

• Allocation: €15,000,000
• Project value: €200,000 – €400,000
• Call for proposals: call planned for Q1 2027
• Who can apply: research organisations
• Key assumptions:

The aim of the call is to strengthen the position of women in engineering and technical sciences, where women are most underrepresented. The call will support the development of research independence, team building and the preparation of female researchers for the role of project leaders. Activities that strengthen internationalisation (mobility, networking, training) are encouraged.

Call 3 – Support for the dissemination of research results (knowledge valorisation)

• Allocation: €3,086,765
• Project value: up to €100,000
• Call for proposals: multiple rounds in 2027
• Who can apply: research organisations
• Key assumptions:

The call aims to support the development of competences in the areas of knowledge transfer, commercialisation, cross-sectoral cooperation and scientific entrepreneurship. It also supports research administration, the building of international networks and the professionalisation of research support offices. The aim is to increase the impact of research on the economy, society and public policy, and to improve the readiness of institutions for international cooperation.

Bilateral Cooperation Fund

• Allocation: €500,000
• Call for proposals: starting in 2026 until funds are exhausted
• Who can apply: research organisations
• Key assumptions:

The main objective of the Bilateral Cooperation Fund is to increase the participation and effectiveness of Polish entities in the Horizon Europe programme and in future EU framework programmes in the field of research and innovation. Through the ‘Grants for grants’ mechanism, the Fund supports the establishment of Polish-Norwegian-Icelandic partnerships and the joint preparation of applications for Horizon Europe and future framework programmes.

• For more information, visit: https://eeagrants.org/en/poland