First recipients of IRAP FENG financing announced

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The Foundation for Polish Science has announced the results of the first and second calls for proposals under the International Research Agendas programme funded by the European Funds for Smart Economy programme.

The International Research Agendas (IRAP FENG) programme supports the establishment and development of specialized research teams and organizations with a cutting-edge global impact and potential to achieve scientific excellence and international research competitiveness.

In call no. 1/2023, funding totaling more than PLN 96 million was awarded to three projects:

  1. The RNA and Cell Biology Platform for Research and Innovation in Medicine (RACE-PRIME)– this project has received more than PLN 36 million and will be implemented at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw. The main objective of RACE-PRIME is to transform the IIMCB into a world-class center of excellence in RNA and cell biology. Researchers would like to use the results of core research to develop therapies and diagnostic methods, discover new therapeutic objectives, and identify molecules with desirable properties so that they can be developed into medications. The project will be headed by Prof. Marta Miączyńska, an eminent Polish researcher in molecular cell biology.
  2. The Center for Terahertz Research and Applications (CENTERA 2) project has been awarded PLN 30 million for research into the practical use of THz radiation and developing technologies and devices based on T-waves. The project will be carried out at the Warsaw University of Technology. The research work will be headed by Prof. Wojciech Knap, a Polish physicist with international renown and achievements relating to the study of THz waves.
  3. The International Center for Translational Eye Research (ICTER)– is a center of excellence that has been awarded PLN 30 million for the purpose of advancing knowledge of the functioning of the human eye and developing innovative diagnostic methods. The research agenda aims to develop new tools for safer and more effective surgical interventions and therapies for eye diseases, as well as diagnostic methods to improve prognosis and restore vision. The key technology to be developed as part of the agenda will be a cutting-edge automated system for delivering eye therapeutics and performing tissue biopsy, in which micromanipulations with an injection device will be aided by a robotic system providing 3D image localization technology. The research will be carried out as part of the ICTER center of excellence at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The work will be overseen by Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski, a leading Polish physicist working in physical optics and the use of optics in medicine.

Call no. 1/2023 was aimed at applicants who are coordinators of a consortium that had been awarded a grant or Seal of Excellence in the Teaming programme under Horizon Europe. All three projects which took part in the call for proposals have received funding.

 

Sixteen applications were submitted under Call no. 2/2023, which was open to the general public (the ranking list published below shows the projects that reached Stage III). Funding was recommended for four of these projects. The funds, totaling just under PLN 120 million, will be used to develop international research agendas carried out at the three research centers.

  1. The International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies 2.0: The R&D Industrial and Experimental phasehas received PLN 30 million. The objective of the project is to develop new and groundbreaking quantum technology methods and their new applications. The work should contribute to success in the area of commercialization. Research will focus on developing quantum devices such as quantum random number generators, quantum communication links, more advanced sensors, and quantum software, among others. The project will be implemented within the ICTQT center of excellence at the University of Gdansk. The research will be headed by Prof. Marek Żukowski, an eminent Polish theoretical physicist who specializes in aspects related to the foundations of quantum mechanics.
  2. The Quantum Optical Technologies project has received funding of PLN 30 million. The project aims to develop quantum optical signal processing technologies. The results of the research will help to develop methods for safe communication. The project will be implemented at the University of Warsaw within the QOT center of excellence. The research team will be headed by Prof. Konrad Banaszek, a celebrated physicist and specialist in quantum technologies.
  3. The International Centre for Interfacing Magnetism and Superconductivity with Topological Matter (MagTop)has received funding of almost PLN 30 million. The project will be developed at the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The subject matter of the project concerns condensed matter physics and nanomaterials. Its aim is to develop knowledge and applications regarding topological materials and to create new materials. Among others, the project’s research will contribute to the advancement of energy-efficient electronics. The research will be overseen by Prof. Tomasz Dietl, a world-renowned Polish physicist specializing in topological, magnetic, and superconducting semiconductor applications.
  4. The Science for Welfare, Innovations and Forceful Therapies (SWIFT) project has received funding of PLN 30 million and will be implemented by the International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science (ICCVS) at the University of Gdańsk. The researchers aim to develop a comprehensive anti-cancer therapy that will be taken to the clinical trial phase and open up new avenues of research in oncology. The research is headed by Prof. Natalia Marek-Trzonkowska, a prominent immunologist specializing in the therapeutic use of immune cells.

The selection of projects for funding in both calls was based on an assessment that consisted of three stages: a formal review and a two-stage substantive review. The evaluation was carried out by the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), comprising experts in the respective fields and representatives of the Foundation for Polish Science. The Committee assessed the projects on the basis of the approved criteria relating to formal and substantive reviews.

Congratulations!

The subsequent calls for proposals under IRAP FENG will be conducted according to the schedule available at:
www.nowoczesnagospodarka.gov.pl/strony/dowiedz-sie-wiecej-o-programie/nabory-wnioskow

More information on IRAP FENG can be found here:

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