First calls of the National Science Centre in numbers

Public research units and individuals submitted the largest number of research proposals under the National Science Centre’s first calls for proposals closed on 17 June 2011. Public universities from the largest Polish academic centres were ranked in the Top 10 among all public research units, and the vast majority of the proposals was submitted by the Jagiellonian University in Krakow (along with the Collegium Medicum UJ), the University of Warsaw and the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan.

In total 7890 proposals were submitted under four calls for proposals for: general projects; pre-doctoral projects; post-doctoral projects and non co-financed international projects. 7826 of electronically submitted proposals met the initial eligibility requirements and passed on to the first stage of the evaluation.

For the first time in the history of Polish science funding system individuals are eligible to apply for funds. Individual researchers have prepared 1473 proposals and applied for over PLN 250 million. However, the majority of the proposals submitted under the first calls for proposals were issued by research units from the public sector, usually universities and research institutes with extensive research background. Proposals of this kind constituted almost 68% (5306 of 7826 in total) of all applications received by the NCN and further qualified for evaluation. Of all public research units, the universities apply for almost PLN 1.5 billion with 4500 proposals.

Top 10 institutions with the largest number of applications submitted.

Research units from the private sector also may submit their proposals in the National Science Centre’s calls. Research institutes, universities, museums and other units that are not funded from Polish public means issued almost 12% of applications that met the eligibility criteria (930 of 7826).

Polish scientists pursuing basic research applied for over PLN 2.5 billion within calls closed on 17 June  2011. The total budget that will be distributed to the best projects is PLN 500 million. The results of the evaluation will probably be published at the end of October 2011.