2nd Criterion – Projects

The evaluation of financial effects of scientific research and developmental studies is performed based on the amount of the funds awarded to the entity for the implementation of research projects and the amount of the funds acquired by the entity as a result of commercialisation of the results of the scientific research or developmental studies implemented in particular scientific disciplines. In the evaluation, the following types of accomplishments shall be included under this criterion:

• projects involving scientific research or developmental studies, financed under a call procedure by foreign or international organisations, projects with the contribution of funds originating from the budget of the European Union or with the contribution of non-refundable funds from the support granted by the member states of the European Free Trade Agreement on (EFTA) or from other non-refundable funds from foreign sources;
• projects funded by the National Centre for Research and Development and National Science Centre;
• research services provided at the request of entities from outside of the science and higher education sector;
• commercialisation of the results of scientific research or developmental studies.

The evaluation includes research projects and services whose theme is substantively related to the scientific research conducted in the entity in a given scientific discipline as well as commercialisation of the results of scientific research or developmental studies whose themes are related to the scientific discipline indicated in the POL-on system. As for research projects included under this criterion, also the project lead  (if the evaluated entity is or was the leader of a group implementing a project) or research team lead (if the evaluated entity is or was one of the co-investigators of the project) will be of great importance. 

As part of the evaluation of the financial effects of scientific research and developmental studies, 1 point will be granted for each:

1)   PLN 50,000 of the sum of funds awarded in the period subject to evaluation for the implementation of projects conducted independently by the evaluated entity or implemented by a group of entities the leader of which is or was the evaluated entity or another entity belonging to the higher education system;

2)  PLN 25,000 of the sum of funds awarded in the period subject to evaluation for the implementation of projects, if the project is or was implemented by a group of entities to which the evaluated entity belongs, whose leader is an entity not belonging to the science and higher education system;

3)   PLN 10,000 of the sum of income obtained in the period subject to evaluation by the evaluated entity or another entity created by it for the purposes of commercialization of the effects of the scientific research or developmental studies for commercialization of the results of the scientific research or know-how related to those results and for research services provided at the request of an entity from outside of the science and higher education system.

The evaluation will take into consideration the income mentioned in item 3 achieved by the evaluated entity or a spin-off company set up by it for the purpose of commercialization of the results of the scientific research or developmental studies conducted at the evaluated entity or know-how related to those results.

As for points awarded for income from the implemented projects, no limits are foreseen. The Minister’s intention is to boost the scientific activity of Polish researchers as far as call applications for research grants are concerned, and in particular when it comes to applying for foreign research grants. Also raising of the number of points awarded for the acquiring research grants from foreign sources, with special impact on the funds from the European Union, is to contribute to achieving the latter goal. Due to that, the scoring in the 2nd criterion, related to the amount of funds awarded for the implementation of research projects, shall be increased in the following manner:

1. by 400% – for projects financed by the European Research Council;
2. by 200% –  for projects financed under framework programmes on supporting research and innovation of the European Union or under programmes related to the implementation of those programmes;;
3. by 50% – for other projects than those specified in Items 1 and 2, financed by foreign institutions or international organisations, or with the contribution of those funds which are mentioned in Article 365 item 9 of the Law.

These solutions are targeted at stimulating the activity in acquiring funds from extra-budgetary sources and better use of the EU funds.

For points received for the income from commercialization of the effects of scientific research or developmental studies or know-how related to those results and from ordered studies, the number of points to be obtained may not exceed 10 times the N number, so that due to the preference score scale, income from the implementation of research projects is not marginalised. The accepted limit means that the income from commercialization and studies ordered in the period subject to evaluation translated into one employee qualified for the N number cannot exceed PLN 100 thousand.

It must be stressed that, as far as the 2nd criterion of the evaluation is concerned, when calculation of the number of points is discussed, the sum of income awarded to the entity is mentioned. Thus, this should be understood as a clear indication that it will be definitely beneficial for the entities to pursue each, even the smallest grant and even the smallest order, as each such grant or order will be included in the sum of funds acquired from a given source in the period subject to evaluation.

In the second evaluation criterion, also the cooperation of entities from the science and higher education system with entities not belonging to that system, mainly with entrepreneurs, performed in the form of mutual projects, is appreciated. It should be emphasized that in the event that a university is the leader of the group jointly implementing a research project, then for the calculation of the score under that accomplishment, they will be able to include the entire amount of funds awarded to all entities co-implementing a given project. Whereas in the event that an entity from the science and higher education system is one of the co-investigators in the project, and not the group leader, for the calculation of the score for that accomplishment, only the amount of the funds which were awarded to it will be taken into account. It is worth-noticing here that cooperation with entities from outside of the science and higher education system (e.g. with entrepreneurs) will be especially strongly scored. Consequently, in the event that such an entity is the leader of the group implementing the research project, a university being a member of such a group will be able to obtain twice as many points as in a situation where the group leader were the evaluated entity or another entity belonging to the science and higher education system.