Gowin about changes in the National Centre for Research and Development and research institutes

During a meeting with students at the University of Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Science and Higher Education Jarosław Gowin presented the assumptions of the government\'s plan, so-called Morawiecki plan. He noted that one of the main goals of the plan is to change the Polish economy. "Until now it has been derivative, imitative, and we want to move to the phase of innovation" - he said.

Gowin noted that the Ministry of Science and Higher Education was also planning activities that would help Poland make the transition to innovative economy.

One of the measures Gowin mentioned are changes in the provisions on innovation. Deputy Prime Minister admitted that Polish inventions die in the so-called valley of death, the space that stretches between invention and implementation. Changes to the provisions on innovation are intended to remedy this situation. Among the planned changes Gowin named the introduction of tax relief for implementation and facilitating the process of commercialisation of research solutions.

Gowin also spoke about the reform of the National Centre for Research and Development. "More than 40 million zlotys will pass through this institution by the year 2020. This money should not simply be spent. It must be invested" - the minister said and added: "The new principles of operation of the National Centre for Research and Development should allow it". He admitted that if money is spent instead of investing it - the effects are negligible.

Ministry of Science - as Gowin announced - also wants to reform the law on research institutes. According to the minister, in Poland there are institutes that conduct research at a high level. However, there are also institutes that are at an average level. "We could actually do without them, but we can also reach out to them and try to pull them up to the level of the better research institutes. There are also dozens of research institutes, which do not conduct any research, for example they only lease space. Such institutes should be commercialised, transformed into companies" - said Gowin.

Another proposal of the Ministry of Science is to allow for an implementation-based path of a scientific career. Jarosław Gowin announced that doctoral degree, habilitation, the title of professor may also be awarded for industrial implementation. "We want to launch this type of career path in the next academic year" - reminded the minister.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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