Government backs embattled national science funding agency

Poland’s government maintains a strong backing for its main innovation funding agency, the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), following a turbulent period for the agency which is being investigated for corruption and was threatened with closure by the previous government, writes Thomas Brent for Science|Business.

Police last year launched an inquiry into the agency after just two companies were awarded 22% of the overall funding of a €174 million (US$185 million) call backed by European Union funds. NCBR has denied any wrongdoing and said it will fully cooperate with Poland’s anti-corruption bureau (CBA).

Maria Mrówczynska, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, told Science|Business that the NCBR is “pivotal”, especially as a link between research and the general economy. “There is no need to liquidate this kind of institution,” she said. “The NCBR has been very important for the digitisation of universities and it largely supports young scientists, and its leadership programme is very important, especially given that we as a country still struggle with democratic problems.”
Full report on the Science|Business site