Postdoctoral Fellowships in Poland to Boost International Mobility and Skills Training

Project Information

POLONEZ BIS

Grant agreement ID: 945339

DOI

10.3030/945339

EC signature date 14 May 2020

Start date 1 June 2021

End date 31 May 2027

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 17 654 400,00

EU contribution

€ 8 827 200,00

Coordinated by

NARODOWE CENTRUM NAUKI
Poland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - POLONEZ BIS (Postdoctoral Fellowships in Poland to Boost International Mobility and Skills Training)

Reporting period: 2023-06-01 to 2024-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

POLONEZ BIS is a postdoctoral Fellowship Programme addressed to excellent experienced researchers interested in developing their professional skills within the stimulating environment of best research institutions in Poland. Open to candidates of any research background, discipline or nationality, the programme planned to recruit at least 120 talented scientists with a PhD degree or equivalent research experience, in 3 globally advertised calls. Selected in a transparent, merit-based evaluation process based on international peer-review, Fellows were offered 2-year full-time employment contracts to work on projects combining basic research with a cross-sectoral secondment phase. Fellows are independent in designing their own career development plans and will collaborate with outstanding mentors at academic host institutions of their choice.

The project defines its objectives in terms of Fellows’ benefits – by the end of their participation in the project the Fellows will:
• develop maturity as a researcher and gain experience as a financially independent project leaders;
• successfully combine conducting their own research projects with transferable skills training and intersectoral secondments;
• actively participate in the transfer of knowledge, including transfer between academic and non-academic sector;
• create new research teams and foster new cooperations within their Host Institutions.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Despite adverse circumstances (COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine), by June 2023 the National Science Centre succesfully completed the call preparation and recruitment phases.

The three globally advertised POLONEZ BIS calls attracted the total of 534 individual international researchers. After a transparent, merit-based evaluation process based on international peer-review, the Centre invited 149 POLONEZ BIS Fellows to carry out their basic research in institutions all over Poland.

During the second reporting period the contracting phase of the project was completed, with the total of 132 POLONEZ BIS Fellows accepting the fellowship and placed at the Host Institutions of their choice. With the help of their Mentors, Fellows created new research teams and engaged in both research and the transfer of knowledge.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The MSCA POLONEZ BIS Fellowship in Poland will significantly strengthen the Fellows' professional resumes by providing them with:
• a leadership opportunity to execute a major project, managing own team and budget;
• an immersion experience in a new country – working in a new cultural and legal context;
• new competences and skills relevant to the Fellows’ profiles;
• professional network resulting from working with established leaders in their fields (mentors).

POLONEZ BIS Poster

Results of POLONEZ BIS Call 1

Results of POLONEZ BIS Call 3

Results of POLONEZ BIS Call 2