On 9 October, the Warsaw School of Economics hosted a Round Table Discussion on Research Projects: Regulatory and Administrative Perspectives. It was the first meeting of its kind among experts on research projects carried out in Polish institutions.
The round table design meeting (OSP) brought together experts who, on a daily basis, connect different worlds: science with administration, researchers’ ambitions with institutional requirements, European standards with national practice. On one side of the table were representatives of research funding agencies and ministries, on the other – research managers and administrators (RMAs) from universities and research institutions, and between them – designers of IT infrastructure intended to streamline everyday grant management.
The meeting saw active participation from representatives of institutions financing and programming scientific research: NCN, NCBR, NAWA, FRSE, ABM, FNP and MNiSW, representatives of universities and research institutions (KRASP, PAN) and the RMA community – FAA, PolARMA, PolSCA. Representatives of OPI (e-Grants) were guests from the technology sector.
The OSP was established as a platform to connect stakeholders in the grant process at every stage: from conception and application to implementation and settlement. It is a declaration of a shift away from ad hoc ‘firefighting’ in favour of ongoing dialogue and a roadmap for simplification. In the background, a simple but important thesis resonated: the development of universities today means the development of projects, and without professional administrative support and wise, consistent rules, we will not be able to build lasting quality.
Areas identified as requiring cooperation:
RMA as the missing pillar. The role of RMA was a recurring theme in the participants’ statements: a recognised profession in Europe, but still undefined in Poland, despite its key importance.
E-Grants platform – a common language for the system. This is an OPI project that aims to bring together the entire project lifecycle in a single environment.
Wise standardisation, i.e. the need for wise harmonisation of what is common and repetitive in the offerings of Polish research funding institutions.
Information and competence, i.e. comprehensive training and clear competition announcements.
At times, the discussion was very practical, almost workshop-like. However, it was agreed that this was not a one-off event, but a format for ongoing sectoral consultations.
