Research & Development

"Thanks to a tradition of scientific excellence and a newly restructured and revitalized research infrastructure, Poland is experiencing rapid development in many high-tech sectors. Already fully engaged in pan-European collaborative programs, Poland is now seeking to further develop overseas partnerships. A Polish Science and Technology forum in London aims to ensure British businesses are first in line to benefit.

From Copernicus to Marie Curie Sklodowska, Poland has long had a presence on the world's scientific stage. Over the last 13 years strengthening its position has been a priority for the State Community for Scientific Research (KBN), which is responsible for policy and funding. Committed to both innovation and implementation of new technologies, it has overseen the creation of centers of excellence through the joining of resources of the country's five state-owned universities, 81 institutes of Polish Academy of Sciences and 214 research and development unites. It has also endured a continuation of the tradition of excellence in chemical and physical sciences and astronomy, in addition to cultivating most scientific disciplines. The great strides being made by the Polish scientific community are reflected in its high level of participation in Eureka, the NATO science program, COST, CERN and the Framework Program, with which 823 Polish research teams are currently associated. In a bid to maintain this momentum through international interaction as it moves toward membership of the EU Poland will be presenting the opportunities to other countries." (1)

"KBN - The State Committee for Scientific Research is a governmental body that was set up by the Polish Parliament on 12th January 1991. The Act has established the Committee as the supreme authority on State policy in the area of science and technology. According to the Act, the Committee is the major central governmental source of funds for research. The Committee became active during the period of transition from centrally planned system to market economy.

The main tasks of the Committee are:
· to present to the government and the parliament guidelines for the country's scientific policy,
· to submit to the government plans for budgetary expenditure in the area of research in science and technology,
· to distribute funds among institutions and research teams and to control their spending,
· to sign international agreements on cooperation in the field of science and technology.

In short, the Committee combines the role of a "typical" ministry of science and technology with that of a funding agency. The work of the Committee is headed by its chairman the Minister of Science. The chairman is appointed by the President at the request of the Prime Minister. KBN consists of 5 ministers or heads of central offices appointed by the Prime Minister at the request of KBN chairman, secretary (in the rank of a deputy minister) appointed by the Prime Minister at the request of KBN chairman and 12 representatives of the scientific community in Poland, elected through general election by all academics holding a doctoral degree. From among those twelve representatives, two deputies of KBN chairman are elected. Each elected KBN member heads one of 12 KBN Units representing different sciences, namely:

· Humanities
· Social, Economic and Legal Sciences
· Mathematical, Physical and Astronomical Sciences
· Biological, Earth Sciences and Environmental Protection
· Medical Sciences
· Agricultural and Forestral Sciences
· Mechanics, Construction and Architecture
· Materials Engineering and Materials Technology
· Electrotechnics, Energy and Metrology
· Chemical Sciences, Technical Chemistry, Process Engineering and Environmental Protection
· Electronics, Automatics and Robotics, Computer Science and Telecommunications
· Mining, Geodesy and Transport" (2)

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