This award is a tangible proof that the Foundation attaches considerable importance to the facilitation of international co-operation and the exchange of ideas between scholars and research workers world-wide. It was designed to be granted under bilateral agreements between FNP and respected foreign institutions and organisations, either involved in research or seeking to promote science.

The Copernicus Award is to be granted every two years under an agreement between FNP and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), to two renowned scientists in collaboration with each other, one from Poland and one from Germany. Each of them should have significant achievements in their field of study, and a documented record of activities in promoting the participation of young research workers in Polish-German co-operation.

The beneficiaries will be selected from a shortlist of candidates by a jury appointed jointly by DFG and FNP. The awards will be granted in turn in Poland and in Germany.

Press release Copernicus Award, 13.05.2005

The DFG and the Foundation for Polish Science have established the first-ever Copernicus Award, which will be conferred every two years to recognise the achievements of two researchers - one from Germany and one from Poland.

50.000 euro for German-Polish Cooperation in the Promotion of Young Researchers

The first call for nominations for the Copernicus Award is a further step towards closer scientific cooperation between the neighbouring countries of Germany and Poland. With the Copernicus Award, the DFG and the FNP will honour researchers who have made outstanding and lasting contributions to German-Polish research cooperation, especially in the joint promotion of young researchers . The prize money of 50,000 euro will be divided equally among the laureates. The recipients may use the money for any scientific purpose that is within the scope of the funding programmes of both organisations. In doing so, the focus should be on further advancing the joint promotion of young researchers.

Nominations will be accepted from 1 June through 15 October 2005. The first award ceremony will take place on 1 May 2006, the second anniversary of Polish accession to the European Union.

The Copernicus Award - named after the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) - is awarded on the basis of nominations. Researchers working at universities or research institutions in Germany or Poland, or at scientific institutions devoted to German-Polish cooperation, are eligible to submit nominations. Laureates will be selected by a jury consisting of three German and three Polish researchers. German representatives will be appointed by the DFG and the Polish representatives will be appointed by the FNP. Members of the jury will serve a three-year term of office. The award ceremony will be held alternately in Germany and Poland. The award programme is initially scheduled to run for ten years.

Contact person for the Copernicus Award at the FNP is Adam Zieliński, Programme Officer (phone +48 22 845 95 15, e-mail: adam.zielinski@fnp.org.pl ).

Contact person for the Copernicus Award at the DFG is Dr. Torsten Fischer, Programme Officer, International Affairs (phone: +49 (0)228/885-2372, e-mail: torsten.fischer@dfg.de ).