FNP START

Outstanding young researchers with significant research achievements in their area of study who:

• have a documented research track record (i.e. articles in widely recognized journals and/or scholarly books);
• meet one of the following conditions:
  • are PhD candidates in Poland;
  • hold a PhD and carry out research activities in Poland;
  • carry out R&D activities at a Polish institution (research institutions, business or non-for-profit institutions whose statutory purposes include scientific research or conducting R&D activities);
• are no more than 30 years old in the calendar year (exact birth date is not relevant) of submitting their application to the FNP START scholarship. This age limit may be extended in the following cases:
  • due to the birth or adoption of a child, by a year for each child, regardless of the date of the birth/adoption:
    • to women who have given birth;
    • to persons, regardless of their gender, who have adopted a child.
  • following a break in research activity and by a maximum of two years:
    • by a year for all documented breaks, lasting a total of no less than 12 months;
    • by two years for all documented breaks, lasting a total of no less than 24 months.

To recognize the most talented young researchers and encourage them to further develop their research careers by providing additional support for their research.

The Foundation also grants distinctions to outstanding scholarship recipients whose research achievements receive the highest ratings from reviewers in four fields: the humanities and social sciences, life and medical sciences, exact and technical sciences, and chemical and materials sciences.

Their scholarships are funded from donations received by the Foundation as a public benefit organisation through the allocation of 1.5% personal income tax. These scholarships are increased; in the previous edition of the FNP START, they amounted to PLN 38,000.

Applications submitted to the FNP START programme will also be considered for the Professor Barbara Skarga Scholarship. The scholarship may be awarded to one person in a given edition for research that boldly crosses the boundaries between different fields of study, opens up new research perspectives, and makes original contributions to knowledge. The scholarship awarded to this person will be increased to PLN 38,000.

Since 2022, the FNP START programme has offered the Professor Wacław Szybalski Distinction Scholarship, intended for outstanding young researchers working in the fields of science pursued by its founder: biotechnology, genetics or molecular biology. This distinction was made possible thanks to a bequest from Professor Wacław Szybalski.

The Prof. Adam Sobiczewski Fund has been established as part of the FNP START programme to provide additional funding for selected scholarships awarded to outstanding FNP START recipients in fields related to the Founder's research interests: theoretical physics, mathematics, and astronomy.

The competition focuses primarily on the quality and originality of the candidate's research achievements to date.

Applications undergo a multi-stage evaluation process, described in detail in the Application Preparation Instructions, involving external experts and reviewers. The final decision on the award of the scholarship is made by the Foundation's Board and approved by the FNP Council.

Institutions where candidates are enrolled (i.e. in a PhD programme) or conduct research may act as Applicants in the competition.

Applications for the FNP START must be signed by the rector/vice-rector in the case of a university, or by the head of the institution or a person authorized to represent it in the case of another institution.

For the FNP START 2027 competition, applications must be submitted through a new online system: https://wnioski2023.fnp.org.pl/.

Applications may be signed electronically, using a Polish trusted signature (podpis zaufany) or a qualified electronic signature, or signed by hand. Handwritten and electronic signatures may not be combined on the same application form. Different types of signatures may, however, be used on attachments.

The electronically signed application form or a scan of the hand-signed application form must be uploaded to the system at https://wnioski2023.fnp.org.pl/. In the case of a hand-signed application form, a hard copy must also be sent or delivered to the Foundation's office. You do not need to submit a paper copy of electronically signed applications.

Before completing the application, please read the FNP START Programme Rules and the Application Preparation Instructions, both available in Files for download section.

Important note: Several significant changes to the application requirements have been introduced starting with the 2027 edition, including a dedicated CV template and new editorial guidelines. Please read carefully the Instructions and make sure that your application complies with these new requirements.

Under an agreement between the FNP and the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings (Nobelpreisträgertagungen in Lindau), the FNP START scholarship recipients selected by the Foundation have the opportunity to participate in the annual Lindau Meetings, which bring together young researchers from around the world and Nobel Laureates. Participation costs are covered by the organisers and the Foundation.

Since 2004, FNP START scholarships have been funded from resources transferred to the Foundation under the Polish 2000 Privatisation Act. Under the Act, 2% of the proceeds from the privatisation of wholly state-owned enterprises were transferred to the Foundation's endowment in 2003-2004. Following an amendment to the Act, 2% of the proceeds from subsequent privatisations were allocated to the State Committee for Scientific Research, which no longer exists.

Currently, the main sources of funding for the FNP START competition include the Foundation's own funds, donations from individual and institutional donors, as well as contributions from the 1.5% personal income tax allocation.

In/Since the 2026 edition, the TVN Foundation has been a partner of the FNP START programme.