INSTYTUT CHEMII FIZYCZNEJ POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK

Their core work

The Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF PAN) is a leading Polish research institute specializing in physical chemistry at the intersection of chemistry, physics, and biology. Their work spans soft matter physics, nanoscience, advanced optical diagnostics, and microfluidic technologies for protein engineering. They are particularly active in training the next generation of researchers through Marie Skłodowska-Curie programs, and have built a dedicated department for physical chemistry of biological systems — signaling a deliberate push into life sciences and biomedical applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), IChF PAN focused on fundamental physical chemistry: solar cell materials, nanoscience, soft matter confinement, and macrocyclic compounds — classic topics for a physical chemistry institute. From 2018 onward, they shifted markedly toward life sciences and biomedical applications: eye diagnostics, amyloid detection, droplet microfluidics for protein engineering, and bio-based materials. This evolution was deliberate — the CREATE project (their largest, EUR 2.5M) explicitly built a new department for physical chemistry of biological systems, and PD2PI trained researchers to bridge chemistry, physics, biology, and medicine.

IChF PAN is repositioning from a traditional physical chemistry institute toward an interdisciplinary hub where chemistry meets biology and medicine — future partners should expect growing capabilities in biomedical diagnostics, microfluidics, and bio-based materials.

How they like to work

IChF PAN splits evenly between leading and joining consortia (5 coordinated, 5 as participant), which is unusually balanced — they are comfortable in both roles. With 85 unique partners across 28 countries, they maintain a broad and diverse network rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators. Their heavy use of MSCA schemes (RISE, COFUND, ITN) shows they prioritize researcher mobility and training-oriented partnerships, making them a good fit for capacity-building consortia.

IChF PAN has collaborated with 85 distinct partners across 28 countries, reflecting a genuinely pan-European (and partly global) network built through mobility-oriented MSCA projects that naturally diversify partner geography.

What sets them apart

IChF PAN combines deep physical chemistry fundamentals with a deliberate institutional pivot into biological and biomedical systems — a combination few Eastern European institutes can match. Their track record of coordinating large MSCA and capacity-building projects (CREATE, NaMeS, PD2PI) makes them an experienced lead partner for training networks and Widening Participation actions. For consortium builders, they offer the rare combination of strong fundamental science, proven coordination capability, and a Polish institutional base that strengthens geographic diversity in proposals.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CREATE
  Largest project (EUR 2.5M) — created an entirely new department for physical chemistry of biological systems, marking the institute's strategic pivot toward life sciences.
• PD2PI
  EUR 1.4M COFUND program training postdocs to become independent PIs across chemistry, physics, biology, and medicine — demonstrates institutional commitment to interdisciplinary leadership development.
• EVOdrops
  Applied droplet microfluidics to directed protein evolution — an unusual and high-impact intersection of physical chemistry with biotechnology and protein engineering.