Are you a scientist with a cool research project in the R&D sector looking for funding? Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) is looking for new projects to finance, and the call for proposals is on until June 20.

The grants are available for research teams led by researchers with at least a PhD and internationally recognised achievements in the commercialisation of a research project or conducting research. You don’t need to be a Polish citizen; the nationality isn’t a criterion in this project. All that matters are your previous achievements.

Of course, you won’t be working alone. It’s advisable your team include young researchers such as students, PhD students or young postdocs. The project manager or, as FNP calls them, the principal investigator, needs to seriously commit to the project: they expect you to be employed at least 50% of full-time.

What’s at stake? A project that will be financed for up to 36 months, with the budget not bigger than PLN 3,500,000. If the scope of your project gets bigger than you’ve expected and you need an extension, it’ll be possible to get another 24 months of funding.

There are three implementation options for the projects:

• by research units when they don’t conduct an economic activity (no state aid),
• by enterprises (state aid for R&D activity available),
• by scientific-industrial consortia consisting of one research unit and one enterprise.

Research units have to participate with at least one business partner in the TEAM-TECH programme to qualify.

The best chance to get Tech-Team grant is to take up a project on the List of The National Smart Specialisation (NSS). It’s anything from biotechnologies and medical engineering, through smart architecture, and smart, creative technologies. Check out the full list here to see if you qualify. However, if your specialisation doesn’t appear on the list, don’t fret. While TEAM-TECH programme favours the projects involving the topics from the list, there’s still a chance you might get the grant. If your project is promising and may help in solving a major socioeconomic problem, thinking outside the box will definitely be promoted.

The applications are going to be assessed in three stages. First, a group of experts, a scientific and economic panel, or SEP to be precise, select the most promising projects. Those who qualify for stage two are going to have their applications evaluated by at least two third-party reviewers, to get as unbiased opinions as possible. Finally, the successful applicants who stay around for stage three will be interviewed by an interdisciplinary panel of experts.

Everyone’s chances are equal, and no one gets special treatment. The best projects out there have an opportunity to receive some serious help, so don’t hesitate to sign up now. You’ve got just until June 20 to apply for this round. The next call for proposals is planned for Autumn. For more information, go to FNP website.