Research and Innovation Programme provides 41 million Swiss francs for scientists and the opportunity to cooperate with world-class researchers. The programme started at the beginning of April along with the announcement of the call for proposals in the area of basic research. On April 10, 2024, a conference officially opening the programme was held, attended by the Deputy Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Konrad Wojnarowski and State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation of the Swiss Confederation, Martina Hirayama
Poland will receive over 320 million Swiss francs from the second edition of the Swiss Funds. The domestic contribution should also be added to this pool which means that Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme is worth nearly 375.5 million Swiss francs in total.
From the left, first row: Fabrice Filliez, ambassador of Switzerland to Poland, Konrad Wojnarowski, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, prof. Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, Swiss Confederation, Jasmina Opardija-Susnjar, scientific adviser at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, Andrzej Szeptycki, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education
Chances and possibilities of Polish-Swiss cooperation, examples of successfully implemented joint projects and general principles of the Research and Innovation Programme - these are the key issues discussed at the conference opening the programme. The conference was also a place for discussion and an opportunity to establish and strengthen contacts between Polish and Swiss research and business institutions.
A key element of the Research and Innovation Programme is international cooperation. Polish scientists will cooperate with leading R&D entities in Switzerland and several EU countries that have decided to participate in the multilateral instrument for supporting basic research.
"Swiss scientists are perceived as one of the best in the world. We hope that funding from our programme will translate into important discoveries and patents" - said Konrad Wojnarowski, Deputy Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy.
Prof. Dr. Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation of the Swiss Confederation spoke about very good Polish-Swiss cooperation in the field of education, research and innovation. She emphasized that Switzerland, which is at the top of many global innovation rankings, devotes significant resources to creating international interdisciplinary research networks.
"Our world is currently facing many changes, to name just a few: climate change, geostrategic competition and conflict, migration and the public health crisis. One thing is certain: no country can face the challenges of our times alone, no matter how competitive and strong it is in terms of knowledge and experience. Our cooperation within the framework of an open dialogue based on common European values is all the more important" - said the Swiss minister.
Deputy Minister Konrad Wojnarowski during a conversation with the Nobel Prize winner, astronomer and physicist, prof. Didier Queloz
About Research and Innovation Programme
The programme is intended to improve the quality of applied research in Poland by strengthening scientific and research cooperation between Poland and Switzerland. It is also intended to increase the degree of internationalization of basic research, which includes multilateral cooperation. This is due to the implementation of Multilateral Academic Projects, in which entities from Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Hungary will be able to participate. These entities will form partnerships with Swiss entities.
Roles in the program:
- applied research - the National Center for Research and Development is responsible for the part related to applied research (it cooperates with Innosuisse),
- basic research – the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is responsible for the part of the program related to basic research (it operates in partnership with the Polish National Science Center).
Call for proposals in the area of basic research was announced on April 2, 2024. In the applied research area, the first call for proposals will be announced in April 2024, and the second one vis planned to be announced in 2025.
Deputy Minister Konrad Wojnarowski during his speech at the conference opening the Research and Innovation Programme
Research and Innovation Programme is a great opportunity for:
- stronger research cooperation between research centers (but also enterprises) in Poland and Switzerland,
- achieving a synergy effect thanks to cooperation between research centers and enterprises in both countries,
- strengthening scientific excellence and innovative capabilities of Polish research units, universities and enterprises (with emphasis on the SME sector).
About Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme
Poland is the largest beneficiary of the second edition of the Swiss Funds. Switzerland allocated 1.3 billion Swiss francs to 13 countries. This funds are intended to reduce socio-economic disparities within the EU.
Within the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme, Poland and Switzerland have jointly developed the details of two programs to be implemented in Poland: