20:44 20 November 2025
EC questions NCBR spending
Deputy Science Minister Marek Gzik told the Sejm that the European Commission is challenging around PLN 2 billion spent by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), creating a real risk that Poland will have to refund the money. He argued the problem stems from irregularities during the PiS era, when — after the dissolution of the Ministry of Science — NCBR was moved to the Ministry of Funds and “treated as a political trophy.”
Gzik said his ministry is implementing a recovery plan that has received an initial positive assessment from the Commission, though some contested funds may still need to be repaid. He blamed previous authorities for regulatory misinterpretation and creating “corruption-prone situations,” now under prosecutorial review.
The turmoil also triggered an exodus of expert reviewers, which Gzik says the ministry is gradually reversing through outreach to universities and a renewed focus on transparent competitions.
