06.07.2015 change 06.07.2015

Ministry of Science: Universities will make better use of laboratories and buildings

Source: Fotolia / Source: Fotolia /

Buildings and laboratories funded in 2007-2013 from EU funds can be used for commercial purposes - announced the Ministry of Science in the release sent to PAP last Tuesday.

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education explains that universities can now work with companies, local governments and non-governmental organizations to a much greater extent than before.

Since 2007, Poland has invested more than 30 billion zlotys in the infrastructure of universities and institutes, including 20.8 billion zlotys from European funds and 9.3 billion zlotys from the state budget. "The previous interpretation of the regulations by the European Commission did not allow the commercial use of buildings, laboratories and lecture rooms. This caused much concern about the fact that they would be under-used. The Ministry of Science has been arguing with commissioners for a long time to change the interpretation of the regulations" - reads the release.

The key was to allow the commercial use of research infrastructure built with funds from the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment. "I have been raising this issue in Brussels for more than eighteen months, hoping that the new commissioners will change the interpretation and agree with our arguments. The talks have yielded positive results" - said Minister of Science Prof. Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, quoted in the release.

She reported that the ministry had opinions of two Commissioners that allow commercial use of university infrastructure. "This is the opinion of Corina Crețu - Commissioner for Regional Policy, and Margrethe Vestager - Commissioner for Competition. This position of the Commission meets the expectations of universities, and underused buildings and laboratories can now be filled with people and ideas" - she emphasised.

Currently, the Ministry of Science together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development are preparing specific terms and conditions for the commercial use of infrastructure. According to the release, it is already clear that 80 percent of the use of buildings and laboratories will have to be consistent with their original purpose. (PAP)

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