07.12.2016 change 07.12.2016

Ministry of Science summarizes intergovernmental consultations between Poland and the UK

Funding grants, cooperation between universities, student exchange - these are some of the topics discussed during the intergovernmental consultations between Poland and the United Kingdom, which took place in late November. Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Prof. Łukasz Szumowski summarized the consultations in an interview with PAP.

Szumowski, who participated in the intergovernmental consultations, noted in an interview with PAP that the discussions covered bilateral relations, and the subject of Brexit came up in work talks.

Deputy minister admitted that the Polish scientists could be concerned by uncertainty related to the financing of international EU research projects involving British scientists after Brexit. "We have obtained assurances of the British government that after leaving the European Union all scientific projects will be financed - including those implemented under Horizon 2020" - said Prof. Szumowski. He noted that this includes both the ongoing projects and those yet to begin.

"Those who want to start a project with partners from the UK, have nothing to worry about - we have assurances from the British government that these projects will be funded" - said the deputy minister. He noted that the British government would finance the participation of their scientists in EU grants until the completion of these initiatives.

Szumowski pointed out that the United Kingdom was one of the main beneficiaries of Horizon 2020. "The system of remuneration in the framework programme and the balance of Polish representation in the evaluation panels are not entirely what we would like them to be" - said the deputy minister and added that this was also discussed during the consultations.

"We raised the problem of Polish students studying in the UK. Access to student loans may be difficult there for them after the UK leaves the European Union" - he said. He noted that the United Kingdom has not yet decided how to resolve this issue. "We expressed our interest in the situation of Polish students, who are now in the UK. What we do know is that exchange between universities will surely continue" - he said.

"In addition, the UK is in favour of establishing a Polish chair at the University of Cambridge" - said the deputy minister. Since 2014 there are Polish studies at Cambridge (http://naukawpolsce.pap.pl/aktualnosci/news,408574,studia-o-polsce-na-cambridge-od-mieszka-do-maslowskiej.html). They were launched with the help of four sponsors: the Foundation for Polish Science, the Grabowski Foundation, University of Cambridge and the Zdanowicz Foundation. These institutions provided the amount of 340 thousand pounds, which ensures the functioning of the centre until 2018. Additional funds are needed for the studies to be continued.

Deputy Minister of Science admitted that the British government is also in favour of the idea to create a branch of the University of Cambridge in Poland. "It would be a joint venture of the United Kingdom and Poland" - said Szumowski. He noted, however, that the details would still have to be worked out.

The United Kingdom - as Prof. Szumowski commented - expressed interest in presenting the achievements of the scientific cooperation between Poland and the UK at a joint conference.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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