NARODOWE CENTRUM BADAN I ROZWOJU

Their core work

NCBR is Poland's National Centre for Research and Development — the country's primary public agency for funding applied research and innovation. In H2020, NCBR's core role was co-funding ERA-NET programmes, aligning Polish national research budgets with European priorities across health, energy, environment, and materials. They also coordinated several Widening Participation projects to establish Polish centres of excellence in areas like nanophotonics, bio-based materials, and computational diagnostics. NCBR is not a research performer but a strategic funder that decides where Polish R&D money flows in coordination with EU programmes.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014-2018, NCBR focused on building Polish research infrastructure (coordinating five centres of excellence in nanophotonics, bio-materials, and environmental sensing) while joining broad ERA-NETs in energy, bioenergy, and food systems. By 2019-2022, the emphasis shifted toward circular economy, resource efficiency, advanced materials, and funding alignment — reflecting both EU policy trends and Poland's maturing research landscape. The Widening Participation coordination role disappeared in the later period, suggesting those capacity-building goals were largely achieved.

NCBR is moving from broad infrastructure-building toward targeted funding in circular economy, sustainable materials, and personalised medicine — signalling Poland's readiness for deeper thematic specialisation in Horizon Europe.

How they like to work

NCBR operates almost exclusively as a participant (40 of 46 projects), which is typical for a national funding agency joining ERA-NET consortia alongside peer agencies from other countries. Their 5 coordinator roles were all Widening Participation projects — a capacity-building mandate rather than scientific leadership. With 358 unique partners across 50 countries, they function as a high-connectivity hub connecting Polish research priorities with the broader European funding landscape.

NCBR has worked with 358 unique partners across 50 countries, making it one of the most broadly connected Polish organisations in H2020. Their network spans nearly every EU member state plus associated countries, built through ERA-NET co-funding relationships with dozens of national funding agencies.

What sets them apart

NCBR is the gateway to Polish national R&D funding. Any ERA-NET or co-funded programme that wants Polish participation needs NCBR at the table, because they control the national budget allocation for joint transnational calls. For consortium builders, partnering with NCBR doesn't just add one organisation — it opens the door to the entire Polish research ecosystem and its national co-funding capacity.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FACCE SURPLUS
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 439K) — sustainable agriculture and biorefinery, showing NCBR's heavyweight commitment to food systems research funding.
• QuantERA
  ERA-NET Cofund in Quantum Technologies — positions Poland in one of Europe's most strategic emerging technology areas.
• ENSEMBLE3
  Coordinated by NCBR to build a Polish centre of excellence in nanophotonics, advanced materials, and crystal growth — a flagship Widening Participation initiative.