Poland should use ERC as a catalyst for improving conditions, say institutes
Poland should do all it can to improve the working conditions for scientists in order to fully benefit from the opportunities available through the European Research Council (ERC), the presidents of two of the country's leading science institutes have said. The ERC, which got off the ground in February, aims to fund curiosity-driven research, with researchers competing on excellence for the awards. Grants will be offered to young and more experienced scientists, who will be free to select their research teams and where they wish to conduct the research. 'The funds are given to an individual not an institution,' explains Professor Michal Kleiber, President of the Polish Academy of Sciences and a member of the ERC Scientific Council. For this reason, Professor Kleiber, believes that it is really worth creating the best possible work conditions in Poland to attract scientists. The potential of the ERC is great for a country like Poland, which already boasts a large number of young scientists - over 30,000 doctoral students. 'We are trying to follow the system tried and tested for years in the USA, which is based on attracting the best scientists through offering them the best work conditions,' explains Professor Kleiber. 'We would like at least some of the 400,000 European scientists working in the States to come here.' But the ERC should not be seen as a source of mass subsidies for science. According to President of the Foundation for Polish Science, Professor Maciej Zylicz, funding the research infrastructure will be the work of national governments and research agencies. 'Both our Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, as well as different scientific bodies, must add something from themselves for young scientists to want to implement their grants in Poland and install their research laboratories here,' he said. 'We should make society aware of the fact that if we, ourselves, don't do anything for the development of science in our country and if we don't make use of the potential of the European Research Council, we will miss a huge opportunity,' warned the professor. It is estimated that the ERC will award approximately 200 grants on a yearly basis (each for five years). Professor Kleiber estimates that 'Poland will probably get up to 20 grants'.
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