THE MOST IMPORTANT POLISH INSTITUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE

Ministry of Education and Science

Ministry of Education and Science 

Ministry improves the quality of science and higher education in Poland creating the best working conditions for students, academic teachers and researchers. 

Ministry is responsible for coordination of scientific activities at the national level, financial plan regarding science budget, funding of statutory activities of research units and large research infrastructure and construction investments, as well as promotion and financing of international co-operation in the area of research.

The Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP)

The Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP) 

was formed by Polish institutions of higher education which had the right to award the doctor's degree (or equivalent) in at least one scientific discipline. CRASP is the institution representing higher education and science community (as defined in Act – Law on higher education and science). The Conference was founded on 7 June 1997 by rectors of higher education institutions, being members of conferences of rectors of the various types of these institutions, namely universities, technical universities, institutions of agriculture, pedagogy, economics, medicine, and fine arts. Currently, CRASP has 107 members (including 10 non-public schools) and 10 institutions have the status of an associated institution. CRASP safeguards traditional academic values, including the constitutional principle of higher education institutions autonomy which guarantees the right of these institutions to present their positions on all issues of interest to the academic community. The Conference is governed by the Statutes.

 

CRASP is a member of the European University Association – European University Association

The Polish Academy of Sciences

The Polish Academy of Sciences

PAS is a national research institution founded in 1952. Its mission is to work comprehensively to further the advancement of science, in the service of society and for the enrichment of Poland’s national culture, while adhering to the highest standards of research quality and ethical norms. The academy is an elected body of scholars.

The basic scientific unit is the research institute. 70 institutes are currently in operation. The heads of the research institutes together comprise a Council of Directors.

Most PAS Institutes rank as leading institutions in their scientific or R&D activity.

PAS institutes also form part of consortia and centers set up to carry out specific research projects.

INSTITUTES

Collaborative research units

Since 2010, certain PAS institutes have been cooperating with one another as well as with other, non-PAS research centers and business entities, under the framework of collaborative research units. These include:

Polish Science Contact Agency (PolSCA)

Polish Science Contact Agency (PolSCA)

The PolSCA is a Brussels-based RTD liaison office of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its mission is to promote, facilitate and foster participation of the Polish R&D community in European projects and initiatives and in particular to reinforce Polands position in the EU framework programs. A particular attention and priority is given to researchers and innovators linked to the structures of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Among mains routes of PolSCA’s activities are monitoring the EU research and innovation policies, organisation of events, workshops and study visits as well as providing relevant information and support to its stakeholders.

 

Main Council of the Research Institutes (RGIB)

Main Council of the Research Institutes (RGIB)

is the elective representative body acting pursuant to Article 33 of the Act of 30 April 2010 on reaserch institutes. As many as 116 reaserch institutes has been run nowadays in Poland. They employ 39600 people – including 11600 reaserchers.

RGIB represents interests of the research institutes to the state and local government authorities and to the scientific, economic and public organizations as well as to the opinion-forming elites.
Furthermore, it participates in economic, public and specifically in scientific and innovational policy. Apart from this, it submits the opinions and requirements to the authorities and the state administration, takes action with the intention of solving common problems among groups of institutes, becomes involved in scientific development as well as in improvement of economic innovativeness and effectiveness. Apart from that, it contributes to the development of research staff and highly supports the young scientists.


Fields of activity of research institutes:


Materials engineering
High-Tech production technologies and machines
Inspection and Measurement Systems
Security and Control Systems
Health and Medicine
Military and Safety
Agriculture
Construction
Education
Ecology
Geology
Mining industry
Informatics
Aviation Communication Meteorology Oceanography
Environment protection
Industry
Transportation
Arms


Technical institutes

Air Force Institute of Technology – www.itwl.pl
Automotive Industry Institute – www.pimot.org.pl
Building Research Institute – www.itb.pl
Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police – www.clk.policja.pl
Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection – www.clor.waw.pl
Central Mining Institute – www.gig.eu
Chemical Apparatus  Research and Development Center CEBEA – www.cebea.eu
COBRO – Polish Packaging Research and Development Centre – www.cobro.org.pl
COBRPP – Research & Development Centre for the Graphic Arts – www.cobrpp.com.pl
Electrotechnical Institute – www.iel.waw.pl
Fertilizers Research Institute – www.ins.pulawy.plwww.ichn.gliwice.pl
Forest Research Institute – www.ibles.pl
Foundry Research Institute – www.iod.krakow.pl
Industrial Chemistry Research Institute – www.ichp.pl
Industrial Institute of Agricultural Engineering – www.pimr.poznan.pl
Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal – www.ichpw.zabrze.pl
Institute for Engineering of Polymer Materials and Dyes – www.impib.pl
Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy – www.imz.pl
Institute for Sustainable Technologies – National Research Institute – www.itee.radom.pl
Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology – www.ios.krakow.pl
Institute of Applied Optics – www.inos.pl
Institute of Aviation – www.ilot.edu.pl
Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres – www.ibwch.lodz.pl
Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials – www.icimb.pl
Institute of Electron Technology – www.ite.waw.pl
Institute of Electronic Materials Technology – www.itme.edu.pl
Institute of Geodesy and Cartography – www.igik.edu.pl
Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis „Blachownia" – www.icso.com.pl
Institute of Industrial Organic Chemistry – www.ipo.waw.pl
Institute of Innovative Technologies EMAG – www.emag.pl
Institute of Labour and Social Studies – www.ipiss.com.pl
Institute of Logistics and Warehousing – www.ilim.poznan.pl
Institute of Mathematical Machines – www.imm.org.pl
Institute of Mechanized Construction and Rock Mining – www.imbigs.org.pl
Institute of Medical Technology and Equipment ITAM – www.itam.zabrze.pl
Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals – www.imn.gliwice.pl
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology – www.ichtj.waw.pl
Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion – www.ifpilm.waw.pl
Institute of Power Engineering Research & Developing Centre –  www.itc.edu.plwww.ien.com.pl
Institute of Precision Mechanics – www.imp.edu.pl
Institute of Security Technologies MORATEX – www.moratex.eu
Institute of Urban Development – www.irm.krakow.pl
Institute of Welding – www.is.gliwice.pl
Institute Organization and Management in Industry „ORGMASZ” – www.orgmasz.pl
Information Processing Institute – www.opi.org.pl
Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements – www.piap.pl
KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology – www.komag.eu
Leather Industry Institute – www.ips.lodz.pl
Metal Forming Institute – www.inop.eu
Military Communication Institute – www.wil.waw.pl
Military Institute of Armament Technology – www.witu.mil.pl
Military Institute of Armoured and Automotive Technology – www.witpis.eu
Military Institute of Chemistry and Radiometry – www.wichir.waw.pl
Military Institute of Engineer Technology – www.witi.wroc.pl
Motor Transport Institute – www.its.waw.pl
National Centre for Nuclear Research – www.ncbj.gov.pl
National Institute of Telecommunications – www.itl.waw.pl
Oil and Gas Institute – www.inig.pl
Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute – www.pgi.gov.pl
Poltegor-Institute – www.igo.wroc.pl
Rail Vehicles Institute „TABOR” –  www.tabor.com.pl
Railway Institute – www.ikolej.pl
Research and Academic Computer Network – www.nask.pl
Research and Development Centre for Building Insulation Industry – www.cobrpib.katowice.pl
Research And Development Centre of Electric Machines “Komel” – www.komel.katowice.pl
Research and Development Centre of Hoisting Machinery and Mechanical Conveying Equipment “Detrans” – www.detrans.pl
Research and Development Centre of Textile Machinery “Polmatex-Cenaro" – www.polmatex.lodz.pl
Road and Bridge Research Institute – www.ibdim.edu.pl
Scientific and Research Centre for Fire Protection – National Research Institute – www.cnbop.pl
Tele and Radio Research Institute –  www.itr.org.pl
Textile Research Institute – www.iw.lodz.pl
Wood Technology Institute – www.itd.poznan.pl

Medical institutes

Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute – www.ciop.pl
Children’s Memorial Health Institute – www.czd.pl
Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics – www.iba.waw.pl
Institute of Cardiology – www.ikard.pl
Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine – www.ihit.waw.pl
Institute of Mother and Child – www.imid.med.pl
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health – www.imp.sosnowiec.pl
Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing – www.ifps.org.pl
Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology – www.ipin.edu.pl
Institute of Rheumatology – www.instytutreumatologii.pl
Institute of Rural Health – www.imw.lublin.pl
Institute of Sport – www.insp.waw.pl
Oncology Institute – www.coi.pl
Pharmaceutical Research Institute – www.ifarm.waw.pl
Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital- Research Institute – www.iczmp.edu.pl
Military Institute of Aviation Medicine – www.wiml.waw.pl
Military Institute of Hygiene & Epidemiology – www.wihe.waw.pl
Military Institute of Medicine – www.wim.mil.pl
National Food and Nutrition Institute – www.izz.waw.pl
National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene – www.pzh.gov.pl
National Medicines Institute – www.nil.gov.pl
National Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Institute – www.igichp.edu.pl
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine – www.imp.lodz.pl

Environmental and Agricultural institutes

Inland Fisheries Institute – www.infish.com.pl
Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas – www.ietu.katowice.pl
Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology – www.ibprs.pl
Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute – www.ios.edu.pl
Institute of Meteorology and Water Management –  National Research Institute – www.imgw.pl
Institute of Natural Fibers & Medicinal Plants – www.iwnirz.pl
Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute – www.ior.poznan.pl
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute – www.iung.pulawy.pl
Institute of Technology and Life Science – www.itep.edu.pl
Maritime Institute – www.im.gda.pl
National Marine Fisheries Research Institute – www.mir.gdynia.pl
National Research Institute of Animal Production – www.izoo.krakow.pl
National Veterinary Research Institute – www.piwet.pulawy.pl
Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute – www.ihar.edu.pl
Research Institute of Horticulture – www.inhort.pl

Economic and Humanistic institutes

Centre for Scientific Research – www.obn.olsztyn.pl
Educational Research Institute – www.ibe.edu.pl
Institute for Market, Consumption and Business Cycles Research – www.ibrkk.pl
Institute for the Development of Social Services – www.irss.pl
Institute for Western Affairs – www.iz.poznan.pl
Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute – www.ierigz.waw.pl
Institute of East-Central Europe – www.iesw.lublin.pl
Institute of Spatial Management and Housing – www.igpim.pl
Silesian Institute – www.instytutslaski.pl

The Łukasiewicz Research Network

The Łukasiewicz Research Network established on 1 April 2019 is the third largest research network in Europe and the largest network in Poland. Its major purpose is to enhance the transfer of innovative technology to the Polish economy.

Łukasiewicz offers businesses an attractive model of collaboration in key areas in the process of building a competitive edge on the rapidly changing market: sustainable economy and energy, digital transformation, clean and smart mobility and health. Łukasiewicz operates in such a manner so as to minimize the capital expenditures of a business, while maximizing the prospective benefits from research and development cooperation.

It is expressed in a unique system of initiating research and development work that has been in place since November 2019. The Łukasiewicz Challenges bring together a group of 4,500 scientists and engineers who within a term of 15 business days accept a company’s business challenge and offer to develop an effective implementation idea. At the same time, it involves unparalleled scientific apparatuses in Poland, including 440 R&D laboratories and nearly 500 research machines unlike any others available in the country.

At present, Łukasiewicz consists of 32 research institutes and the Łukasiewicz Center, which was established to plan and coordinate the scientific research and development work done by these institutes.

“Science for the future – Łukasiewicz Report 2019 – 2020"

INSTITUTES

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial Chemistry Institute

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis “Blachownia" 

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Electrical Engineering

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute for Engineering of Polymer Materials and Dyes

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Logistics and Warehousing

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Aviation

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Precision Mechanics

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Mechanised Construction and Rock Mining 

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Electrical Drives and Machines KOMEL

Łukasiewicz Research Network – New Chemical Syntheses Institute

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Metal Forming Institute

Łukasiewicz Research Network –  Institute of Organisation and Management in Industry

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Rail Vehicles Institute “TABOR"

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Industrial Organic Chemistry

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Leather Industry 

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Instytute of Welding

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Innovative Technologies EMAG

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Medical Technology and Equipment

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Wood Technology Institute

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute for Sustainable Technologies

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Tele and Radio Research Institute

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Textile Research Institute

Łukasiewicz  Research  Network –  Krakow Institute of Technology

Łukasiewicz Research Network – PORT Polish Center for Technology Development

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements PIAP

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial Institute of Agricultural Engineering

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Automotive Industry Institute

Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics

The Łukasiewicz Center

Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences

Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (PAU) was founded in 1872 as a result of the transformation of the Kraków Learned Society. After Poland regained its independence in 1918, the institution was renamed the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and became an official national representative of Polish learning, which entailed its participation in works of international organizations. PAU was a founder member of the International Union of Academies (IUA). 

Universities

Higher Schools of Professional Education

In the education system in Poland, higher education institutions are divided into university-type and non-university-type higher education institutions:

  • A university-type higher education institution conducts research activity and has the A +, A or B + research rating in at least one scientific or artistic discipline, provides first-cycle and second-cycle programmes or long-cycle programmes, and may also provide education for doctoral students;
  • A non-university-type higher education institution is an institution which does not fulfil the criteria for a university-type HEI and offers only practically oriented programmes. It provides first-cycle programmes and may also provide second- and long-cycle programmes, as well as specialist education.

A crucial component of the scientific sector in Poland are research institutes. This group comprises the following types of entities:

According to Statistics Poland (GUS), state budget spending on higher education amounted to 0.8% GDP and on science – 1.7% GDP in 2018.

In the period 2012–2019, Polish scientists won 31 grants funded by the European Research Council.

In the academic year 2018/2019:

  • 392 universities operated in Poland, the majority were non-public universities (248);
  • public universities offered 5,214 degree programmes, non-public universities – 1,529 degree programmes, and church universities – 51 degree programmes;
  • PhD was awarded to 5,945 persons, the post-doctoral degree – to 1,894, and the title of professor – to 481 persons.

Patents:

  • The Polish Patent Office granted 2,906 patents and 769 protection rights in 2018. The most successful universities were Lublin University of Technology (139 applications for patents and utility models) and the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin (106 patents and utility model protection rights);
  • The European Patent Office granted Polish scientific and research institutions 231 patents in 2019 (out of 469 applications, which amounts to 12.2 applications per 1 million inhabitants). The largest number of applications were submitted by: Ryvu Therapeutics S.A. (8), the Jagiellonian University (8), 3D Gence SZ POO (7), the Silesian University of Technology (7), and Adamed Pharma S.A (5). Most applications concerned the fields of pharmacy, transportation, thermal processes and equipment, and medical technology.

Ever more foreign students and foreign academic teachers at Polish universities

The current organisational and legal basis underlying the Polish system of higher education and science is the Act of 20 July 2018 on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws from 2020, item 85, consolidated text from 20/01/2020) along with the implementing acts.

Download the Act here

The analysed data refers mainly to the period in which the previous legislation was in force, i.e. the Act of 27 July 2005 on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws from 2007, item 2183, consolidated text from 28/11/2017).


Further information on the system may be found on the websites: