– “The development of a high-profile European research university remains a strategic priority for our institution,” says dr habil. Adam Kola, NCU Prof. and Vice-Rector for Research, commenting on the results of the competition Excellence Initiative – Research University (IDUB 2.0).
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has announced the results of the second round of the Excellence Initiative – Research University (IDUB) programme. Ten universities have been granted research university status and a 10 per cent increase in their funding: Adam Mickiewicz University, AGH University, Gdańsk University of Technology, Jagiellonian University, Medical University of Bialystok, Silesian University of Technology, University of Warsaw, University of Wrocław, Warsaw University of Technology and Wrocław University of Science and Technology.
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, a beneficiary of the first edition of the IDUB programme, has received a positive evaluation of its development plan. It will follow a pathway providing for additional funding amounting to 2 per cent of the grant between 2027 and 2032. According to current calculations, this amounts to approximately 13.5 million zlotys per year, and over six years – a total of nearly 80.9 million zlotys.
These funds will enable Nicolaus Copernicus University to continue developing its research profile, drawing on the experience and solutions developed in recent years. Future initiatives will address the challenges facing the university: demographic changes and a declining student population, rising operating costs and financial constraints, geopolitical uncertainty, and the development of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The competition was very strong, and the differences in scores – particularly between universities with a broad profile – were minimal. The results are also in line with the direction of research policy, in which innovation, technological development and their economic applications are becoming increasingly important. The role of collaboration and pooling the potential of teams from different units, universities and academic communities is also growing. This means that Nicolaus Copernicus University can make fuller use of its broad academic profile, which combines fundamental research, medical sciences, the humanities and social sciences with the development of new technologies.
Partner universities within the YERUN network are addressing similar challenges. An important part of these efforts is collaboration with the social and business environment, local authorities and communities, which we have stepped up over the past two years. The university’s development today is based both on relationships within the academic community and on lasting regional and international partnerships – this is how we are creating an innovative academic ecosystem.
Achievements and recommendations for the future
The first edition of the IDUB strengthened the potential of Nicolaus Copernicus University in many areas: from research and education to prepare students for academic careers, through staff professional development and academic entrepreneurship, to collaboration with the wider community. During the programme’s implementation, the university secured three grants from the European Research Council (ERC). There has been an increase in the number of projects carried out under the Horizon Europe and MSCA programmes, publications in leading journals and scientific publications, and works produced through international collaboration. What is more, the skills of staff supporting research have developed, whilst undergraduates and doctoral students have gained further opportunities to participate in research activities.
The final assessment of the implementation of the IDUB 1.0 programme was positive. The experts noted progress in research, internationalisation and the training of doctoral students, as well as a marked acceleration of change in the years 2024–2025. They welcomed the identification of a new generation of Priority Research Areas and the establishment of the Institute of Advanced Studies. These measures are intended to facilitate the participation of the NCU research teams in international research collaboration and to enable them to address issues of significance to society and the economy.
The evaluation also contained several important critical observations, though. The pace of institutional change was uneven, particularly during the first phase of the programme. The need was highlighted for more effective translation of the achievements of researchers and teams into sustainable capacity for the university as a whole. Further development is required in the areas of research support, career pathways and research-based education, as well as collaboration between academic units and the administration. Better integration of these areas is intended to facilitate day-to-day work and the implementation of joint projects.
Behind the achievements of Nicolaus Copernicus University, there lies the hard work and dedication of those who conduct research, teach and supervise undergraduates and doctoral students, and ensure the day-to-day running of the university. We owe them all our appreciation. It is our responsibility as the university’s governing body to create the conditions in which these efforts can yield ever better results,” says dr habil. Adam Kola, NCU Prof. and Vice-Rector for Research. – The acceleration of changes in 2024–2025 provides us with a foundation for further action. Together, we want to develop solutions that make work easier, streamline decision-making and enable the implementation of ideas emerging from various parts of the university.
The development of a professional support system includes the establishment of the Department of Research and Projects Support in the Toruń part of the university and the Clinical Research Support Centre at the Collegium Medicum, as well as changes to the Centre for Academic Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer. The university is developing the skills of staff who support the preparation and implementation of projects and is introducing the roles of research managers. These measures are intended to facilitate the acquisition of external funding and relieve researchers of the administrative burden associated with project management. We have also developed comprehensive support for staff, both academic and administrative, as well as international cooperation and the administration of such cooperation within the university.
Further development will also encompass research-based education, mentoring and the involvement of undergraduates and doctoral students in the work of research teams. This will be accompanied by initiatives to support the professional development of academic and administrative staff, international mobility and collaboration with the wider community. Together, these measures are intended to create the conditions for academic development at various stages of a career and to enhance the quality of work across the entire university.
We create the University together, each playing different roles and bringing different experiences to the table. That is why we are committed to dialogue about needs, transparent rules and mutual respect. The development of NCU’s research profile should give the whole community the opportunity to help shape change and access support tailored to the nature of their work. This is how we build trust and create the conditions in which people can plan their future at the university – emphasises the Vice-Rector for Research.
Foundations for further development
Modern science thrives on the cross-disciplinary exchange of knowledge and collaboration. It enables us to address issues of importance to society and to develop solutions jointly with the people and communities affected by them. The Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), established in 2025 as a permanent unit of Nicolaus Copernicus University in response to the findings of the IDUB mid-term evaluation, is designed to facilitate such collaboration. The IAS’s task is to bring teams together, support research work at the faculties and facilitate the implementation of joint projects.
We are committed to ensuring that the development of Nicolaus Copernicus University’s research profile is based on transparent principles and provides opportunities for the entire university community to participate. We will organise new calls for proposals, within the limits of available funding, in collaboration with representatives of the various disciplines, taking into account the specific nature of their research and their development needs. We will systematically assess the effectiveness of the programmes and the support provided, and adjust their format accordingly. This is intended to support the development of academic disciplines and strengthen their scientific standing, including with a view to future evaluations. Our priority is a broadly inclusive model of development, based on scientific quality and equal access to opportunities for its advancement, involving staff, doctoral students and undergraduates – announces the Vice-Rector for Research.
– Furthermore, increasing the effectiveness of securing external funding, particularly from the EU, is another priority. In the coming years, we will develop a comprehensive support system covering the entire process, from the initial research idea, through the preparation of the application, to the implementation and finalisation of the project. This will include substantive and administrative support, and, in the event that funding is not secured, an analysis of the peer reviews, refinement of the application and preparation for a resubmission. We are committed to ensuring that staff have the conditions to experiment, develop ideas and build on the experience they have gained. The university’s support should also be there for them when securing funding requires more than one call for proposals,” he adds.
The development of a research university with a strong international standing, which nurtures talent, effectively supports research and actively contributes to the sustainable development of the kujawsko-pomorskie voivodeship, remains a strategic objective of Nicolaus Copernicus University. Cooperation within the YERUN network and the YUFE alliance also contributes to the achievement of this objective. The outcome of the IDUB 2.0 competition alters the funding opportunities for this transformation, but not its fundamental direction.
Source: NCU Information Portal