The objective of the Leader programme is to encourage young scientists’ cooperation with companies and support the development of skills related to independent research planning, grant management, and leading a research team.

"Leaders are people who have ideas, have prepared projects and will have the chance to organize a group of co-workers. They will involve others, chart new directions in science" - said Minister of Science and Higher Education Prof. Lena Kolarska-Bobińska during the award ceremony.

Among the research projects that have received the highest funding (1 million 200 thousand zlotys) is the work of Dr. Ksenia Ostrowska from Cracow University of Technology. "This is and amount for which you can already carry out a solid scientific project, including the purchase of necessary equipment" - the winner told PAP. She will use the funding to produce devices similar to robots that allow to conduct highly accurate measurements.

Top rated is the research project of Dr. Aleksander Jamsheer, MD from the University of Medical Sciences in Poznań. His work concerns the identification of genes involved in the development of congenital limb defects. Funding has also been granted to research into a compact, portable laser projector; work on shape memory biomaterials for the manufacture of intelligent drug carriers; development of an effective, edible dining and cheap influenza vaccine for birds; development of new methods for measuring magnetic fields, which will allow to study deposit of raw materials and effectively diagnose heart disease.

In the course of the competition, young researchers had to demonstrate being prepared to independently carry out a research project, which would be applied in practice. Authors of best applications were invited for interviews, during which they had to convince a group of outstanding experts of the importance of the proposed solutions for science and economy.

"Previous editions of the Leader programme showed the enormous potential of Polish researchers. I believe that with the transferred funds we will not only finance the scientific dreams of young researchers, but also strengthen the confidence in the potential and entrepreneurship of Polish science" - said the NRDC director Prof. Krzysztof Jan Kurzydłowski.

In the Leader programme, young scholars (below the age of 35) can obtain research funds in the amount of aprox. 1 million zlotys. The programme emphasises cooperation of young scientists with enterprises and stimulating research mobility of the science and industry sectors. The four editions of the programme have funded research projects of 141 young scientists who received a total of 141 million zlotys. Applications for the fifth edition of the competition can be submitted from January 2 to March 3, 2014.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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