PGNiG, NCBiR, and Gaz-System to set up PLN 400 mln gas innovation fund

State-owned gas giant PGNiG, and gas infrastructure operator Gaz-System along with The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) signed an agreement to establish PLN 400 million innovation program for the gas system. NCBiR will provide 50 percent of the budget with companies covering for the other half. Consortia working together with scientific units will be eligible to apply for the program, with the first batch of motions expected to be approved in Q1 next year. “We are interested in such areas as exploration, hydrocarbon exploration and production of gas fuels, the acquisition of methane from coal seams, materials for the construction and operation of gas networks, hydrogen technologies and gas fuel,” said R&D director at PGNiG Dariusz Dzirba, his counterpart at Gaz-System, Aleksander Zawisza, added that the operator is interested in innovations in the areas of gas safety and efficiency as well as LNG.