Call for Proposals: Joint Polish-Lithuanian Basic Research Projects

Deadline: 15-Sep-2026

The National Science Centre (NCN), in cooperation with the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL), has announced the DAINA 4 Call for Proposals to support joint Polish-Lithuanian basic research projects. The call funds research across 26 NCN panels grouped under Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Life Sciences.

NCN has allocated PLN 26 million for Polish research teams, with a maximum budget of PLN 1.3 million for the Polish part of each project. Eligible applicants include Polish research-performing institutions, consortia and, under specified conditions, natural persons.

Call Overview

The DAINA 4 Call for Proposals supports joint basic research projects conducted by Polish and Lithuanian research teams.

The programme is organised by the National Science Centre (NCN) in cooperation with the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL).

The call aims to strengthen Polish-Lithuanian scientific cooperation and support high-quality basic research across a broad range of academic disciplines.

Main Objective

The main objective of the DAINA 4 call is to support collaborative basic research projects between Poland and Lithuania.

The call aims to:

• Support joint Polish-Lithuanian research cooperation
• Fund basic research across multiple scientific fields
• Encourage interdisciplinary research within NCN panel structures
• Strengthen international research partnerships
• Support research teams, students, PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers
• Enable acquisition or manufacturing of research equipment
• Support well-planned and realistically budgeted research projects

Research Domains and Panels

The call covers proposals across 26 NCN panels grouped into three main domains.

The three domains are:

• Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts
• Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Life Sciences

These domains cover a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines and allow applicants to submit proposals within the defined thematic panel structure.

Eligible Research Areas

Eligible research areas include disciplines within the NCN panel system.

The call supports research in:

• Humanities
• Social sciences
• Arts
• Physical sciences
• Engineering
• Life sciences
• Interdisciplinary research connected to the defined panels

Applicants should select the panel that best matches the scientific scope of the proposed project.

What is Basic Research?

Basic research focuses on advancing knowledge, theories and understanding rather than immediate commercial application.

Under this call, projects should aim to generate new scientific knowledge and contribute to academic progress within the selected research field.

Basic research may involve theoretical work, experimental studies, empirical research, data analysis or interdisciplinary inquiry.

Funding Available

The total funding allocated by NCN for Polish research teams is PLN 26 million.

The maximum requested project budget for the entire Polish part of the project must not exceed PLN 1.3 million.

The budget must be realistic, well justified and appropriate to the subject and scope of the proposed research.

Eligible Costs

Funding under the call may be used to cover essential project-related costs.

Eligible costs may include:

• Research team salaries
• Scholarships for students
• Scholarships for PhD candidates
• Acquisition of research equipment
• Manufacturing of research equipment
• Other necessary project-related costs

All costs should be clearly linked to the planned research activities.

Budget Requirements

Applicants must prepare a well-justified budget.

The budget should:

• Match the subject of the research
• Reflect the scope of the project
• Be based on realistic calculations
• Stay within the maximum limit of PLN 1.3 million for the Polish part
• Clearly explain the need for salaries, scholarships, equipment and other costs
• Avoid unsupported or excessive cost items

A strong budget should show that funds will be used efficiently to achieve research objectives.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible Polish applicants include research-performing entities based in Poland.

Eligible applicants may include:

• Universities
• Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences
• Research institutes
• International research institutes operating in Poland
• Łukasiewicz network institutes
• Scientific libraries
• Legal entities based in Poland
• Other continuously active research entities
• Consortia formed by eligible institutions
• Natural persons under specified conditions

Where multiple Polish entities participate, they must form a group of entities and submit a joint proposal through a designated leader institution.

Consortia and Group Applications

If more than one Polish entity is involved in the project, the entities must form a group and submit a joint proposal.

A leader institution must be designated to submit the proposal on behalf of the group.

This structure helps ensure coordination, accountability and clear project management among participating Polish institutions.

Principal Investigator Requirements

The principal investigator must meet several eligibility requirements.

The principal investigator must:

• Hold at least a PhD degree at the time of submission
• Be employed at the host institution on at least a part-time basis for the full project duration
• Reside in Poland for at least 50% of the project period
• Comply with restrictions on concurrent project leadership
• Comply with rules on overlapping applications under NCN calls

Restrictions on concurrent leadership and overlapping applications apply, except for excluded schemes such as PRELUDIUM BIS and DIOSCURI.

Research Team Composition

Research teams may include a range of scientific contributors.

Team members may include:

• Principal investigators
• Co-investigators
• Post-doctoral researchers
• PhD students
• Students
• Other research staff

The team structure should be appropriate to the project’s research goals and implementation plan.

Post-Doctoral Researcher Rules

Post-doctoral positions must follow eligibility rules related to the timing and location of PhD completion.

Recruitment for post-doctoral positions must be carried out through an open call procedure.

This requirement supports transparency, competitiveness and equal access to project-funded positions.

Student and PhD Scholarship Rules

Students and PhD candidates receiving project scholarships must also be selected through open recruitment processes.

This applies to scholarships funded through the research project.

Open recruitment helps ensure fair selection and compliance with NCN requirements.

Eligible Project Costs for Research Teams

The call supports costs necessary to implement the Polish part of the joint project.

These may include:

• Salaries for project staff
• Scholarships for students and PhD candidates
• Post-doctoral researcher costs
• Research equipment
• Equipment manufacturing
• Materials and research services
• Other essential research-related expenses

Applicants should ensure that each cost is needed for the research and properly justified.

Why This Call Matters

The DAINA 4 call matters because it strengthens scientific cooperation between Poland and Lithuania.

Joint research projects can help researchers share expertise, build international partnerships and address scientific questions through cross-border collaboration.

The call also supports research capacity by funding research teams, early-career researchers, students, PhD candidates and essential research infrastructure.

Expected Benefits

Funded projects may contribute to:

• New scientific knowledge
• Stronger Polish-Lithuanian research collaboration
• Higher quality basic research
• Interdisciplinary scientific development
• Capacity building for research teams
• Support for early-career researchers
• Better access to research equipment and project resources
• Increased international visibility of research outputs

How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal

Applicants should prepare a scientifically strong and well-structured proposal that clearly explains the research question, methodology, partnership and budget.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Applicants should confirm that the Polish host institution, principal investigator and research team meet all eligibility requirements.

This includes institutional eligibility, PI qualifications, employment status and restrictions on overlapping applications.

Step 2: Select the Correct NCN Panel

Applicants should choose the NCN panel that best matches the project’s scientific scope.

The selected panel should reflect the main research discipline and evaluation context.

Step 3: Define the Research Problem

The proposal should clearly explain the research problem, scientific gap and expected contribution to basic research.

A strong proposal should show why the research question matters and how it advances knowledge.

Step 4: Demonstrate Polish-Lithuanian Collaboration

The proposal should explain how the Polish and Lithuanian teams will work together.

Applicants should describe:

• Partner roles
• Shared research tasks
• Complementary expertise
• Joint methodology
• Communication arrangements
• Expected scientific outputs

Step 5: Prepare a Strong Methodology

Applicants should present a clear and feasible research methodology.

The methodology should explain how the research will be conducted, what data or materials will be used and how results will be analysed.

Step 6: Build an Appropriate Research Team

The team should have the expertise required to deliver the project.

Applicants should justify the roles of post-doctoral researchers, students, PhD candidates and other team members where relevant.

Step 7: Prepare a Realistic Budget

The Polish project budget must not exceed PLN 1.3 million.

Applicants should ensure that all costs are realistic and justified by the project’s scientific needs.

Step 8: Follow Recruitment Requirements

If the project includes post-doctoral positions, student scholarships or PhD scholarships, applicants should follow open recruitment requirements.

This should be reflected in the project plan where applicable.

Step 9: Check Project Leadership Restrictions

The principal investigator should ensure compliance with restrictions on concurrent leadership and overlapping applications under NCN calls.

Applicants should review these rules carefully before submission.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:

• Selecting the wrong NCN panel
• Submitting a budget above PLN 1.3 million for the Polish part
• Providing weak justification for equipment or salary costs
• Failing to demonstrate the value of Polish-Lithuanian cooperation
• Not clearly defining the basic research contribution
• Ignoring principal investigator eligibility requirements
• Overlooking restrictions on concurrent project leadership
• Failing to follow open recruitment requirements
• Presenting an unrealistic timeline or budget
• Submitting a proposal with unclear methodology
• Not explaining the role of each research team member

Tips for a Strong Proposal

A strong proposal should:

• Present a clear and original research question
• Align with the correct NCN panel
• Demonstrate strong Polish-Lithuanian collaboration
• Show scientific excellence and feasibility
• Include a realistic and justified budget
• Clearly define team roles
• Support early-career researchers where relevant
• Follow NCN eligibility and recruitment rules
• Explain expected scientific outputs
• Demonstrate the value of international cooperation
• Stay within the funding limits

FAQ

1. What is the DAINA 4 Call for Proposals?

The DAINA 4 call supports joint Polish-Lithuanian basic research projects through cooperation between the National Science Centre and the Research Council of Lithuania.

2. What research fields are covered?

The call covers 26 NCN panels grouped into Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Life Sciences.

3. How much funding is available for Polish research teams?

NCN has allocated PLN 26 million for Polish research teams.

4. What is the maximum budget for the Polish part of a project?

The maximum requested budget for the entire Polish part of the project is PLN 1.3 million.

5. Who can apply from Poland?

Eligible applicants include universities, institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, research institutes, international research institutes in Poland, Łukasiewicz network institutes, scientific libraries, legal entities based in Poland, other research entities, consortia and natural persons under specified conditions.

6. What are the principal investigator requirements?

The principal investigator must hold at least a PhD, be employed at the host institution at least part-time for the full project period and reside in Poland for at least 50% of the project duration.

7. Can research teams include students and post-doctoral researchers?

Yes. Research teams may include post-doctoral researchers, PhD students, students and other co-investigators, subject to the relevant eligibility and open recruitment rules.

Conclusion

The DAINA 4 Call for Proposals offers funding for joint Polish-Lithuanian basic research projects across humanities, social sciences, arts, physical sciences, engineering and life sciences.

With PLN 26 million allocated by NCN for Polish research teams and a maximum Polish project budget of PLN 1.3 million, the call supports high-quality research collaboration, international partnerships and scientific capacity building.

Applicants should prepare well-justified proposals that demonstrate scientific excellence, strong Polish-Lithuanian cooperation, realistic budgets and full compliance with NCN eligibility and recruitment rules.

For more information, visit National Science Centre.