PKN Orlen and the National Center for Research and Development have announced the NEON grant program addressed to consortia of scientific and scientific-industrial organizations. The partners intend to spend a total of PLN 200 million on innovative research and development projects.

The areas of interest of PKN Orlen include innovative solutions in the production and use of biomass, decarbonisation, closed-loop economy and industry 4.0. The results of the best works carried out by grants will be used in the activities of the concern, supporting its sustainable development.

In the NEON program, four competitions are planned – two in 2022 and two in 2023. This year the competitions will refer to the topics of “Biomass” and “Closed Circulation Economy”, while next year they will be on “Decarbonisation” and “Industry 4.0”. The first program will be launched by the end of March.

Daniel Obajtek, the president of PKN Orlen admits “We know which areas and issues are particularly important to us and how to accelerate the idea to the stage of industrial implementation. We use the potential of Polish science, cooperating with the National Center for Research and Development. We are starting a new joint project that may provide us with access to innovative global solutions.”

Participants qualified for the NEON program will have four years to implement their ideas. During this time, the technological advancement of each project should be developed by at least two levels. The results can be implemented by the concern or the project contractors themselves.

The program is implemented under an agreement signed by PKN Orlen and the National Center for Research and Development in December 2021. Both entities will allocate PLN 100 million for financing works on projects with the highest development potential.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński