The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) is launching the eighth edition of the Polish Returns NAWA programme.
This prestigious NAWA programme creates attractive conditions under which scientists of Polish origin can come back and take up research at Polish scientific and higher education institutions.
The aim of the Polish Returns NAWA Programme is to allow the outstanding Polish scientists to return to their homeland and take up employment in Polish universities and research institutes. The Programme will create optimal conditions for returning scientists to build their own project groups in Poland and conduct research in optimal conditions. Polish higher education institutions and research institutes will acquire specialists with international experience and knowledge in the field of the newest research trends in their scientific discipline.
The Programme includes 2 tracks, depending on the stage of the returning scientist’s academic career:
- Junior scientist
- Experienced scientist.
The returning scientist may be a person who:
- is a Polish citizen
- holds a doctoral degree (for Junior scientist – obtained not earlier than 7 years before submitting the application)
- has worked abroad as a scientist for the required period specified in the call text, and at that time has not lived nor worked in Poland
- can demonstrate scientific achievements that are internationally recognized, and stand out in the context of a given discipline and career stage
- gained experience in managing a research team or a research project as part of the research work abroad (for the Experienced scientist track).
Under the Junior scientist track the projects may last from 24 to 36 months, with NAWA financing up to PLN 1 143 200. In the Experienced scientist track, projects from 36 to 48 months are possible with NAWA financing up to PLN 2 397 600.
The Programme funding covers the remuneration:
- Returning Scientist, the members of the Project Group
- Inviting Person as well as the resettlement costs of the Returning Scientist.
Another element of the Programme is the Research Component financed by the National Science Centre (NCN) or the Applied Research Component financed by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR).
The allocation for the call is PLN 18 000 000.
The call for applications under the programme is open from 17 September to 18 December 2024, at 3:00 p.m. local time, in the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange IT system.
Detailed information about the 2024 edition is available here.
