During this year’s IGLO Summer Reception, the Brussels-based R&I liaison community gathered for an afternoon of discussion, exchange and networking. The event was also a special moment for PolSCA and SLORD, as Tomasz Poprawka, Director of the Polish Science Contact Agency, and Monika Bideau Repčíková, Head of the Slovak Liaison Office for Research and Development, were officially presented as the incoming IGLO Co-Chairs for 2026–2027.
The decision to entrust the joint PolSCA–SLORD chairmanship was taken during the IGLO CORE meeting on 5 May 2026, where where members expressed their confidence in the proposed leadership team . Presented proposal builds on close cooperation between the two offices and marks an important milestone for IGLO: for the first time, the network will be co-chaired by representatives of two countries.
A strong voice from Central Europe
The joint chairmanship starts on 1 July 2026. For PolSCA, this is both a recognition of its active role within the Brussels R&I community and an opportunity to contribute more directly to the work of IGLO in an important period for European research and innovation policy.
Together with SLORD, PolSCA will focus on strengthening cooperation within the network, supporting the exchange of information between liaison offices, and encouraging practical formats for peer learning and outreach. The priorities presented by the incoming Co-Chairs include key policy files such as the future Framework Programme, the European Competitiveness Fund, the ERA Act, the Innovation Act, dual-use and defence, AI in science, as well as emerging sectoral initiatives in biotechnology, quantum technologies and advanced materials.
The Faces Behind Our Offices
Monika Bideau Repčíková has served as Head of the Slovak Liaison Office for Research and Development (SLORD) in Brussels since 2022. She is dedicated to strengthening links between the Slovak research and innovation ecosystem and international partners, while promoting the participation of Slovak researchers in the Horizon Europe programme.
She holds degrees in International Relations from Matej Bel University in Slovakia and in EU Policy from Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne in France. Before joining SLORD, Monika worked at the Brussels liaison office of France Universités, contributing to the EURAXESS network supporting researcher mobility.
Tomasz Poprawka is Director of the Polish Science Contact Agency (PolSCA) of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Brussels. Since joining PolSCA in 2018, he has been involved in monitoring EU research and innovation policy and supporting the participation of Polish researchers and institutions in Horizon Europe and the European Research Area. Since 2020, he has led the agency and its activities in Brussels.
Originally trained as a biotechnologist, he holds a PhD from the University of East Anglia and has conducted research in the United Kingdom and Japan. Before joining PolSCA, he spent a decade at the Foundation for Polish Science, managing national and EU-funded programmes supporting researchers and research organisations.
IGLO Summer Reception: celebrating the network, while looking ahead
The IGLO Summer Reception also offered a timely opportunity to look at the future of European research and innovation. The programme included keynote speeches by Keith Sequeira, Head of Unit “European Innovation Council” at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, on the EIC’s future in 2028–2034, and by Prof. Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council, on the ERC after 2027. The session “Inside IGLO: Voices of trainees” added a more personal perspective, giving the floor to young professionals beginning their Brussels R&I journey.
A warm thank you goes to Natacha Wittorski and Ann Van Hauwaert, IGLO Co-Chairs in 2025–2026, for their work, dedication and care for the network over the past year. Their chairmanship created space for dialogue, cooperation and a strong sense of community among IGLO members.
PolSCA is grateful for the trust of the IGLO community and looks forward to working closely with Monika Bideau Repčíková, SLORD and all IGLO member offices in the year ahead.
