There are cases when a researcher has an interesting idea for a thorough and innovative study, yet lacks the resources to carry it out. In Poland, there is a special agency – Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN), which provides grants for researchers. Today, we will outline the functions of this organisation, the specifics of preparing grant applications for its programmes, and offer practical recommendations for successfully securing NCN funding.
Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN): what functions does it perform?
Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN) – is a state executive institution in Poland that supports research in the field of fundamental science. It was established in 2011 and currently operates under the supervision of the Polish Ministry of Education and Science.
As of November 2025, the agency has funded over 30,000 research projects. NCN covers a wide range of research areas, namely: the arts, the humanities, the social sciences, the life sciences, the physical sciences, and engineering.
The agency performs a number of important functions aimed at developing Polish science. In addition, Narodowe Centrum Nauki pays particular attention to supporting researchers at different stages – from beginners to highly experienced specialists.
Key areas of activity of the institution:
- funding high-quality research in all scientific fields
- providing scholarships for doctoral students and grants for postdoctoral fellowships
- supporting ambitious projects by experienced researchers who propose new research approaches
- actively developing international cooperation in fundamental research
- monitoring the implementation of each grant project
- supporting young talent – those defending a thesis or just taking their first independent steps in research
Programmes from Narodowe Centrum Nauki
As noted above, the agency seeks to support research of varying complexity. These include projects carried out in co-authorship by large teams of researchers as well as individual projects. NCN also offers doctoral scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships.
Depending on researchers’ academic degree and experience, the agency runs a number of specialised programmes.
| Programme | Who it’s for | Description |
|---|---|---|
| OPUS | All researchers |
Covers a wide range of funding areas for fundamental research:
|
| PRELUDIUM | Doctoral researchers at the start of their career |
Covers a wide range of funding areas for fundamental research:
|
| PRELUDIUM BIS | Institutions that have doctoral schools | PLN 300,000 is provided for doctoral scholarships and indirect costs up to 20% |
| SONATINA | Early-career researchers |
Covers a wide range of funding areas for fundamental research:
|
| SONATA | Principal investigator with a PhD (up to 7 years after the degree), conducting innovative research |
Covers a wide range of funding areas for fundamental research:
|
| SONATA BIS | PhD holders who wish to create a new research group |
Covers a wide range of funding areas for fundamental research:
|
| MAESTRO | PhD researchers wishing to conduct pioneering, large-scale research (including interdisciplinary) |
Covers a wide range of funding areas for fundamental research:
|
| TANGO | Researchers who previously received a grant and whose project has implementation potential |
Covers a wide range of funding areas for fundamental research:
|
Key aspects of submitting a grant application to NCN
Applications are submitted online via the OSF research services system. The structure of the application differs depending on the chosen programme. Although each has its own template, the core logic and structure are similar across all of them.
Below are the main stages of submitting an application for Narodowe Centrum Nauki grants.
- Log in or register in OSF. Follow the link and follow the system’s instructions. At this stage, do not forget to indicate your role (editor/assistant/reader and principal investigator), otherwise the system will not allow you to complete registration.
- Create a new application only in an open call. Click “Nowy wniosek”, then go to the NCN tab and select the current call.
- Complete all fields. Enter all data in the designated fields. You must also attach all required documents in PDF format. Some must be provided without a signature, others with an electronic PAdES (eIDAS) signature or a scanned handwritten signature.
- Check completeness. After you have added all the information, click “Sprawdź kompletność” so the system can check that you have not missed any mandatory fields.
- Lock the application with the “Zablokuj do NCN” command. After this, most fields will be frozen, but you will still be able to edit the short description (up to 5 pages) and the full detailed description (up to 15 pages). A new tab will then appear – “Elektroniczna wysyłka.”
- Sign and upload two submission confirmations. Once you go to the “Elektroniczna wysyłka” tab, you must add two confirmations: one from the principal investigator and one from the host institution. These documents can be signed using PAdES (eIDAS) or by uploading a scan with a handwritten signature.
- Submit the application. When you have checked the correctness of the entered data, click “Wyślij do NCN” and your application will be sent.
Although at first glance the process of applying for a Narodowe Centrum Nauki grant may seem overly complex, it is in fact entirely feasible to complete successfully. To do so, it is sufficient to study the conditions of the selected programme in detail, prepare a complete set of documents and strictly follow the recommendations above.
Scientific Publications is ready to help you with the preparation of grant reporting. Grantors usually require researchers to provide a specific number of publications based on the results of the funded research. Our specialists will select a suitable academic journal, help with the formatting of your article, and provide support up to the point of indexing. Would you like a free consultation? Fill in the form below, and our manager will contact you shortly. Together to the new scientific achievements!
