ANNUAL REPORT Supporting only the best, so that they can become even better www.fnp.org.pl ISSN 2299-2588 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 The programmes WELCOME, International PhD Projects (MPD), TEAM, VENTURES, PARENT-BRIDGE, and HOMING PLUS are co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund within the Innovative Economy Operational Programme. The SKILLS project is co-financed from the European Social Fund within the Human Capital Operational Programme. SUPPORTING ONLY THE BEST, SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME EVEN BETTER The Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) has been The Foundation’s founding capital of 95 million beneficiary of the IE OP’s key programmes, the FNP will active since 1991. It is a non-governmental, apoliti- zlotys originated from the Central Fund for the receive 408 millions zlotys (this funding is being spent cal, non-profit organization with a mission to sup- Development of Science and Technology, which in 2007-2015). In addition, thanks to funding from the port science. It is the largest Polish non-governmen- was liquidated in 1990, whereupon the capital was Human Capital Operational Programme (Measure 4.2 tal source of funding for research. directed to the FNP by a decision of the Polish par- “Development of R&D system staff qualifications and liament. For 20 years, these funds have been effec- improving the awareness of the role of science in eco- tively increased by way of investment, for example nomic growth”), the Foundation launched the SKILLS THE FOUNDATION CARRIES OUT in bonds, investment fund units and shares, allowing project in 2011 and will receive 36 million zlotys for its ITS STATUTORY TASKS BY: the Foundation to create a stable and secure finan- implementation in 2011-2015. • supporting leading scientists and research teams, cial base. Thanks to the funds raised from financial • modernizing research facilities in all fields of market operations, the Foundation had allocated a By the end of 2011, the Foundation had spent almost science, total of more than 408 million zlotys to science by 148 million zlotys on programmes supported by • assisting innovative projects and the com- the end of 2011. The value of the Foundation’s funds European funds (IE OP and HC OP). mercialisation of scientific discoveries and is currently more than 335 million zlotys. inventions. Since 2005, the Foundation has held the status of a In 2003 and 2004, the Foundation received extra fund- public benefit organization, which entitles it, among THE FOUNDATION OPERATES IN ACCORD- ing for supporting science on the basis of the privatisa- other things, to accept donations from private ANCE WITH ITS GUIDING MOTTO: SUPPORTING tion law of 29 March 2000, “On amendments to the law individuals of 1% of their personal income tax for ONLY THE BEST, SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME on the privatisation of enterprises...”. The law stated its statutory activity. The funds obtained from such EVEN BETTER AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING that 2% of the revenue obtained from privatising State donations are directed towards supplementing the sti- PRINCIPLES: Treasury companies was to be added to the Founda- pends for beneficiaries of the competitions for young • support is provided directly to scientists and tion’s assets. The resulting amount of 51.7 million zlotys scientists – from 2006 to 2009, these were stipends research teams, was used to form a separate fund earmarked solely for for scientists returning from abroad (the POWROTY/ • all grants, prizes and stipends are awarded by financing domestic stipends for young scientists (the HOMING programme), and from 2010 – stipends for way of a competition, START programme). The 1 March 2002 amendment to the most outstanding beneficiaries in the START pro- • the leading criterion in awarding support is the above law changed the recipient of these funds - it gramme’s competition. scientific excellence, was now the State Committee for Scientific Research • the achievements and output of FNP competi- (KBN). In 2007, the Foundation received supplementary In order to ensure that its activities remain trans- tion entrants is evaluated by scientists respected funding for its POWROTY/HOMING programme from parent, the Foundation publishes extensive informa- in their fields – both Polish and international the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism. In tion on its activity in the form of Annual Reports (peer review method), the same year, it launched programmes financed by the and hires renowned auditing companies to have its • support is provided according to the “hard structural funds available under Measure 1.2 “Strength- financial statements audited. The Annual Reports money” principle (high selectivity when choos- ening the human resources potential of science” of the are available on the Foundation’s website. ing recipients). Innovative Economy Operational Programme. As a Annual Report 2011 Annual Report 2011 Authorities of the Foundation for Polish Science Authorities of the Foundation for Polish Science 04 05 AUTHORITIES THE FOUNDATION FOR POLISH SCIENCE STAFF OF THE FOUNDATION status on 31 December 2011 FOR POLISH SCIENCE JAKUB WOJNAROWSKI Wanda krZeMińska Director – Programme Division Director – Finance and Administration, Chief Accountant Magdalena Zuberek-Wąsińska THE FOUNDATION’S COUNCIL Deputy Director – Programme Division MałgorZata PieńkoWska Deputy Director DOMESTIC PROGRAMMES – Finance and Administration (Term of office from 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2012) Krystyna Frąk Anna Jeż, PhD ACCOUNTING Chairman Tomasz Poprawka, PhD Dorota Komosa Prof. Andrzej Członkowski, PhD hab. Ewa Śliwowska Iwona Pachnowska (medical sciences) Małgorzata Świtalska-Bury Katarzyna Siemieńczuk Monika Wolińska Deputy Chairman INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES Małgorzata Zawłocka Prof. Tomasz Jasiński, PhD hab. Anna Chmielewska (humanities) Lidia Rachocka ADMINISTRATION Hubert Choma Members: The Foundation’s Executive Board (from left): Prof. W. Bolecki, T.S. Perkowski, PhD, Wojciech Janikowski Prof. M. Żylicz. Prof. Maciej W. Grabski, PhD hab. eng. Michał Pietras Piotr Urbaniak (technical sciences) Director – Division Implementing Programmes Financed THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE FOUNDATION Prof. Andrzej Jerzmanowski, PhD hab. from Structural Funds LEGAL DEPARTMENT (natural sciences) Anna Bergiel Prof. Henryk Koroniak, PhD hab. President adaM Zieliński Katarzyna Bojańczyk, lawyer Prof. Maciej Żylicz, PhD hab. (exact sciences) Deputy Director – Division Implementing Programmes Prof. Irena E. Kotowska, PhD hab. Deputy President Financed from Structural Funds FINANCIAL ANALYSES (social, economic, and legal sciences) Prof. Włodzimierz Bolecki, PhD hab. AND AUDITS PROGRAMMES FINANCED FROM EUROPEAN FUNDS Krystyna Akacka Prof. Marek Z. Świtoński, PhD hab. Deputy President (agricultural, environmental, and food sciences) Tomasz S. Perkowski, PhD Monika Biłas-Henne, PhD Aneta Antolak Aleksandra Czyż (up to 31.12.2011) Beata Frączak, PhD FOUNDATION OFFICE Aleksandra Kowalska Magdalena Borowska-Wittlin Aleksandra Krypa Katarzyna Demczuk Paweł Kulesza Agata Szostakiewicz Marcin Marcinków Aneta Michałkiewicz, PhD PUBLIC RELATIONS Justyna Motrenko Magdalena Kołomańska Danuta Pawlak Elżbieta Marczuk Katarzyna Pronobis Dominika Wojtysiak-Łańska Joanna Rutkowska, PhD Grażyna Żebrowska, PhD Mirosław Serwaczyński (contacts with U.S. institutions) Dorota Sierak Irmina Sitnicka Kinga Słomińska Magdalena Sordyl Emilia Wysoczańska Julia Zimmermann PROGRAMME ANALYSES Marta Łazarowicz-Kowalik The Foundation’s Council (from left): Professors T. Jasiński, I.E. Kotowska, H. Koroniak, A. Członkowski, M.W. Grabski, A. Jerzmanowski, M.Z. Świtoński. Annual Report 2011 Annual Report 2011 Letter from The Chairman of the Foundation’s Council Letter from The Chairman of the Foundation’s Council 06 07 LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FOUNDATION’S COUNCIL Dear Readers, Last year was very special. On the one hand the Council for no more than two four-year terms. This rable to anything else in my life; it was also an impor- already boasting outstanding achievements. I think Foundation celebrated its 20th jubilee, and on the means that three of the Council’s current members tant part of the FNP’s 20-year history. I consider it this is one of the Foundation’s most important pro- other it continued its regular activity, including are ending their work for the Foundation. To ensure a special honour that I could work with Prof. Maciej grammes, showing that we have successors we can the launch of new programmes. It was our special the stability and continuity of the Council’s work, we W. Grabski. I would also like to extend my warmest be proud of, and that they have teachers and mas- concern to make sure the global economic crisis did have worked out a system of membership changes thanks to the Foundation’s Council in the composi- ters who wanted and knew how to help them. not significantly affect the FNP’s financial condition, that involves appointing the deputies of departing tion that began its term in office on 1 September since funding for statutory activity members to the Council as well as 2004, of which I was also a member: Professors Janina I am glad that the Foundation’s activity, its stand- is obtained largely from operations persons who have some experi- Jóźwiak (chair), Kazimierz Stępień (deputy chair), ards and successful ideas for its programmes, inspires I AM GLAD THAT THE on the financial market. We diver- ence from their first term. and Włodzimierz Bolecki, Jan Gawęcki, Władysław other organizations financing science as well as pri- sified our investments by