On the occasion of a conference on bilateral cooperation in the European research area, the President of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, DFG), Professor Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker, inaugurated the first Liaison Scientists Network in Warsaw on 20 November 2006. The network is comprised of ten renowned Polish scientists and academics from various fields, who have already shown their support for German-Polish cooperation in recent years. During the three year pilot phase, the liaison scientists are to advise Polish universities and research institutes on the funding opportunities for German-Polish collaboration and thereby make an important contribution to the intensification of cooperation between the two countries. The DFG also plans to create networks of this type in other countries.
In his speech, Professor Winnacker expressed the hope that the Liaison Scientists Network would help to expand the existing contacts between German and Polish scientists and academics: “This initiative is not only important as a means to enhance research in Germany and Poland. Efficient scientific connections between these two traditionally strong research countries are a necessary condition for the innovative ability and competitiveness of the European research area as a whole.”
The DFG has maintained excellent relationships with its partner organisations in Poland for many years. This includes cooperation agreements with the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), the Polish Ministry for Science and Higher Education (MNiSW) and the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP). Since 2005, it has been possible for German and Polish scientists to apply to the DFG and to the MNiSW for funding for joint research projects. Next year, together with the FNP, the DFG will be announcing the German-Polish Copernicus Award for the second time.
The Liaison Scientists Network in Poland includes the following scientists and academics:
Prof. Dr. Adam Borkowski (Materials Science, Warsaw)
Prof. Dr. W³odzimierz Borodziej (History, Warsaw)
- Prof. Dr. Andrzej Cezary Cz³onkowski (Pharmacology, Warsaw)
- Prof. Dr. Lechos³aw Latos-Gra¿yñski (Chemistry, Wroc³aw )
- Prof. Dr. Ewa £ojkowska (Biology, Gdañsk )
- Prof. Dr. Jerzy £uszka (Physics, Katowice )
- Prof. Dr. Barbara Malinowska (Experimental Physiology, Bia³ystok)
- Prof. Dr. Marek Niezgódka (Mathematics, Warsaw)
- Prof. Dr. Karol Izydor Wysokiñski (Physics, Lublin)
- Prof. Dr. Fryderyk Zoll (Jurisprudence, Krakow)
Contact person in the DFG head office:
Dr. Torsten Fischer
Tel. +49 228 885-2372
Email: Torsten.Fischer@dfg.de