The impact of innovations that arise from the dialogue between science and business on specific areas of life was the leading theme at a conference to mark the 15th anniversary of the National Centre for Research and Development. The Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski was invited to participate in the international plenary panel.
During the anniversary conference, which took place on October 27-28, 2022, NCRD's achievements to date in supporting the Polish R&D sector in innovative projects by Polish scientists and entrepreneurs were presented. An important part of the conference was devoted to international cooperation in the implementation of European projects under the Horizon programme.
The Rector of UG, prof. Piotr Stepnowski participated in the international panel, and the discussion included the need for even greater interest among Polish scientists to participate in international programmes.
- 'Today I can proudly say that our university is becoming the undisputed leader in the effectiveness of acquiring projects under Horizon Europe. We have already signed as many as nine agreements, we are the leader in one of the projects, and another 37 applications are pending,' - said prof. Piotr Stepnowski. - 'I realise how important it is not only to support the best and most effective research groups applying for European funding but also, or perhaps above all, to create a favourable and stimulating climate at the university, in which applying for grants in international consortia will become something natural and common for most of our scientists.'
The National Centre for Research and Development was established in July 2007 as the first government agency established to carry out tasks related to the state's scientific, scientific-technical and innovation policy. The first competitions were quickly launched and, already in the second year of operation, activities related to Poland's participation in international research projects were taken over. Subsequent NCRD programmes and undertakings cover more and more areas of the economy and science and strengthen R&D cooperation between Polish scientific entities and enterprises.
- 'It is important to remember that in this case, it is not only about project "engineering", but also about supporting scientists who so far have not cooperated on a large scale with foreign partners,' - emphasised the UG Rector during the panel. - 'At the university, we have decided that one of the Vice-Rectors will deal exclusively with international relations in terms of academic exchange, internationalisation of education, cooperation within the European University programme and building strategic relations with foreign universities.'
In 15 years, the National Centre for Research and Development has become a key centre for supporting and creating innovative technological and social solutions, which at the same time builds an ecosystem of knowledge about them. It brings together the worlds of business and science, creating the right conditions for conducting research and development work resulting in innovative products and services.
NCRD initiates and implements projects contributing to the civilization development of the country - no longer on its own, but within the NCRD Group, which, apart from the Centre, comprises: NCRD+ sp. z o.o., NCRD Investment Fund ASI S.A., IDEAS NCRD and the youngest company, Akces NCRD, established in December last year.
