Co-financing of Polish participants in Horizon Europe projects has increased by more than half compared to the equivalent period of Horizon 2020 FP. Horizon Europe is the largest programme in the history of the European Union supporting scientific research and innovation. Its budget for 2021-2027 is more than €95bn.

The latest figures provided by the European Commission relate to 185 competitions that have been held so far. Grant agreements amounting to EUR 207.35 million have already been signed by 319 Polish participants, who are implementing 472 projects, including 51 in the role of coordinator. For comparison, according to the National Contact Point for Horizon Europe, in the Horizon 2020 FP (also in 185 competitions) 296 Polish beneficiaries have signed agreements worth EUR 136.79 million for 399 projects.

The Polish leader is the University of Warsaw, whose researchers are involved in a record 40 projects, with 7 coordinated by them. The capital’s university has already received more than EUR 15.5 million. Jagiellonian University was second, receiving nearly EUR 14.6 million for 27 projects. The third place is occupied by the National Centre for Research and Development, which received more than EUR 14.4 million.

The leading scientific institutions are: Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) (€7m), AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków (€4.1m), Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (€4m), Institute of High Pressure Physics PAN (€3m), Silesian University of Technology (€2.9m), Łódź University of Technology (€2.9m), University of Gdańsk (€2.8m).

EUR 15.24 billion has already been allocated in the entire programme. This sum includes 4,969 projects involving 13,809 entities from 145 countries. The top countries that have received the most money so far are: Germany (€2.4 billion), France (€1.7 billion), Spain (€1.6 billion). Poland maintains its 14th position.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński