University of Silesia in Katowice

The program “Mobility | Science – 5th Edition” is an initiative that enables researchers at the University of Silesia to undertake scientific internships abroad, fostering the establishment and development of international cooperation, as well as the acquisition of research skills at prestigious academic institutions. Over 50 researchers have already participated in international internships through previous editions of the program, including placements at institutions ranked among the world’s top 10 universities by the Shanghai Ranking.

Program objective

The aim of the program is to stimulate staff academic mobility and support their professional development and academic advancement. The call promotes the establishment and strengthening of international cooperation, including with partners affiliated with the Transform4Europe (T4EU) alliance. The program also creates opportunities for knowledge transfer and the acquisition of new skills, broadening employees’ research expertise and supporting the diversification of their academic work.

Scope of funding under the Research Excellence Initiative

The program provides funding for internships of at least 60 consecutive days at renowned foreign academic institutions and at partner institutions within the Transform4Europe (T4EU) alliance. Eligible costs are listed in § 9 sec. 1 item 1 of the Regulations on Sending Employees, Doctoral Students and Students of the University of Silesia in Katowice Abroad for Scientific, Teaching and Training Purposes and on Hosting International Guests, introduced by the appendix to Ordinance No. 117 of the Rector of the University of Silesia in Katowice of 29 July 2020, as amended. Non-eligible costs are specified in the program regulations (§ 1, sec. 10). The maximum funding available to cover the costs of one scientific internship is up to PLN 50,000.

Outcomes of scientific internships

Participation in the program entails an obligation to submit, within one year after completing the scientific internship, a research proposal to one of the national or international funding agencies together with a scientific publication, or to submit a research proposal under any Horizon Europe call. Detailed information is provided in the program regulations.

Following the completion of the first edition of the ‘Mobility | Science’ programme supporting the activities of researchers at the University of Silesia in Katowice, organised as part of the Research Excellence Initiative, the call for applications for the second edition has been launched. The programme provides funding for research fellowships at renowned foreign research institutions and partner institutions within the Transform4Europe (T4EU) alliance. In 2022, 13 researchers from the University of Silesia in Katowice received funding through the programme, which included fellowships at research centres in the USA, Germany, Norway, Austria and Italy. The university has allocated a total of PLN 500,000 for the second edition of the programme. The maximum amount of funds that can be granted to a USil researcher to finance their scientific fellowship, including the costs of travel, accommodation and allowances for business trips, is up to PLN 50,000. Funding covers scientific fellowships lasting a minimum of 60 days.

The main goal of the programme is to encourage the scientific mobility of the staff and support through scientific advancement, as well as to create conditions for the transfer of knowledge and enable the acquisition of new skills, broadening the scientific workshop of employees and diversification of the subject matter. Carrying out research internships in foreign research units is also the basis for establishing new forms of cooperation, including with partners of the University of Silesia as part of the T4EU alliance.

Participation in the programme is associated with the obligation to submit a research application to one of the national or foreign agencies along with the preparation of a scientific publication or submission of a research application in any Horizon Europe call for proposals.

international scientific internships

minimum 60 days (without interruption)

research staff | research and teaching staff | research and technical staff

up to PLN 50,000

5 March 2026 to 20 April 2026

The 4th edition of the ‘Mobility | Science’ call within the Research Excellence Initiative received a total of 34 applications for more than PLN 1.5 million. The proposals were submitted by researchers from the Faculty of Humanities (7), the Faculty of Social Sciences (5), the Faculty of Natural Sciences (5), the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Education (3), the Faculty of Science and Technology (2), the Faculty of Law and Administration (1), the Faculty of Theology (1) and the Film School (1). The minimum number of points required for funding this year was 16, which is 80% of the total points that could be received.

Funding for this year’s ‘Mobility | Science’ call was awarded to 11 applications. The total amount of funding awarded equalled PLN 0.5 million. Four of the beneficiaries will intern at top10 institutions (Harvard University, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge) and four at top100 universities according to the Shanghai ranking. The beneficiaries represent the following scientific disciplines: earth and related environmental sciences, biological sciences, chemical sciences, law, culture and religion studies, psychology, music.

The grant applications were evaluated both formally and on their merits. The formal assessment consisted of an analysis of the fulfilment of the criteria for participation in the programme and the timeliness of the application. The assessment of merits was based on the programme of the research internship, the prestige of the chosen centre, the scientific standing of the supervisor or research team and the validity of the cost estimate. The assessment also covered an applicant’s previous achievements, the anticipated effects of the internship and the dissemination of the results, e.g. obtaining a scientific promotion, preparing a high-ranking publication, developing a project proposal in a national or international call, acquiring skills in operating apparatus, etc.

The programme includes co-funding for internships in renowned foreign scientific units and partner institutions within the Transform4Europe (T4EU) Alliance, lasting a minimum of 60 days. The maximum support to cover the costs of one research internship equals up to PLN 50,000 (it covers the costs of travel, accommodation, per diems). Participation in the programme involves the obligation to submit a research proposal to a domestic or foreign agency, along with the preparation of a scientific publication, or to submit a research proposal to any Horizon Europe competition within one year after completing the research internship. Details are included in the programme rules and regulations.

Call for proposals results

international research fellowship

minimum 60 days (without interruption)

research employees | research and didactic employees | research and technical employees

up to PLN 50,000

30 December 2024 to 31 January 2025

The 3rd edition of the ‘Mobility | Science’ call within the Research Excellence Initiative received a total of 16 applications that totalled over PLN 620,000. The proposals were submitted by researchers from the Faculty of Humanities (4), the Faculty of Social Sciences (3), the Faculty of Science and Technology (3), the Faculty of Natural Sciences (2), the Faculty of Law and Administration (2), the Faculty of Theology (1) and the Film School (1). Funding covers scientific internships lasting a minimum of 60 days, while the maximum amount of funding that can be awarded to a researcher is PLN 50,000.

In this year’s edition of the programme, University of Silesia scientists applied for funding for research internships in research units that rank high in world university rankings, such as: the University of Vienna, the University of Southampton, the University of Rome, and the University of São Paulo. The applications were forwarded for evaluation by the Team for Evaluation set up at the Scientific Council of the Initiative. All applications received a score of at least 65% of the possible points and a recommendation for funding. The assessment of merits was based on the programme of the research internship, the prestige of the chosen centre, the scientific standing of the supervisor or research team, the applicant’s previous achievements, and the fellowship anticipated outcomes.

In order to stimulate the scientific mobility of the staff, increase the scientific activity of employees and support them in their scientific advancement, a decision was made to increase the amount of funding in the call. This will make it possible to fund all planned research fellowships. This decision is also related to the implementation of activities under the European City of Science Katowice 2024, which promotes the development of research and innovation and the establishment of new scientific relationships.

scientific traineeship

minimum of 60 days

research employees | research and didactic employees | research and technical employees

PLN 50,000

from 22 February 2024 to 18 March 2024

Following the 1st edition of the ‘Mobility | Science’ programme to support the activities of researchers at the University of Silesia in Katowice, organised as part of the Research Excellence Initiative, the call for applications for the 2nd edition has now started. The programme includes co-funding for internships at renowned foreign scientific units and partner institutions within the Transform4Europe (T4EU) Alliance. In 2022, 13 researchers from the University of Silesia in Katowice received funding from the programme, which included placements at research centres in the USA, Germany, Norway, Austria and Italy. The overall amount allocated for the call for applications amounted to PLN 500,000. The maximum support to cover the costs of one research internship equals up to PLN 50,000 (it covers the costs of travel, accommodation, per diems). The funding covers research fellowships lasting a minimum of 60 days.

The main goal of the programme is to encourage the scientific mobility of the staff, to create conditions for the transfer of knowledge and enable the acquisition of new skills, broadening the scientific skills of employees and diversification of the subject matter. Carrying out research internships in foreign research units is also the basis for establishing new forms of cooperation, including with partners of the University of Silesia as part of the T4EU Alliance.

Participation in the programme involves the obligation to submit a research proposal to a domestic or foreign agency, along with the preparation of a scientific publication, or to submit a research proposal to any Horizon Europe competition within one year after completing the research internship.

research fellowships

minimum of 60 days

research employees | research and didactic employees | research and technical employees

PLN 50,000

from 12 January 2023 to 20 February 2023 [end of recruitment]

‘Mobility | Science’ is a programme organised as part of the Research Excellence Initiative to support the activities of researchers at the University of Silesia in Katowice. The programme includes co-funding for internships at renowned foreign scientific units and partner institutions within the Transform4Europe (T4EU) Alliance. 13 winners were selected through the call who were able to undertake a research internship thanks to the support awarded. The overall amount allocated for the call for applications amounted to PLN 500,000. The maximum support to cover the costs of one research internship equals up to PLN 50,000 (it covers the costs of travel, accommodation, per diems). The funding covers research fellowships lasting a minimum of 60 days.

The main objective of the programme is to stimulate the scientific mobility of staff and support on the path of scientific advancement, in addition to creating the conditions for knowledge transfer and enabling the acquisition of new skills, broadening the scientific workshop of staff and diversifying the topics undertaken. Carrying out research internships in foreign research units is also the basis for establishing new forms of cooperation, including with partners of the University of Silesia as part of the T4EU Alliance. Participation in the programme involves the obligation to submit a research proposal to a domestic or foreign agency, along with the preparation of a scientific publication, or to submit a research proposal to any Horizon Europe competition within one year after completing the research internship. A positive decision by the Rector to grant funding implies the approval of a long-term paid training leave for the programme beneficiary.

research fellowship

minimum of 60 days

research employees | research and teaching employees | research and technical employees

up to PLN 50,000

recruitment has been stopped