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University of Silesia in Katowice

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Research Excellence Initiative
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Visibility

Funding open access to scientific publications

In accordance with the Development Strategy of the University of Silesia in Katowice, certain activities are carried out in order to increase the visibility and position of the University in the region, Europe and the world. Open access to the research results of our scientists is particularly important in this regard.

The concept of open science is in line with the assumptions of the Research Excellence Initiative. Therefore, we have launched the “Open Access” call for proposals, which allows for the dissemination of publications and research results at a high scientific level, strengthening the impact of the scientific activity of academics on the development of global science.

About

We would like to invite the academic community to a reporting conference ‘Priority Research Areas (PRA) of the University of Silesia in Katowice’, which will take place on Thursday, 16 November, at the Faculty of Humanities in lecture hall B1.1. It is an exceptional event centred around the five Priority Research Areas focusing on the most important civilizational challenges in the modern world, constituting a fundamental aspect of the scientific activity at our University. The conference will sum up and disseminate the achievements of scientists whose research received funding in 2020-2023 from the USil Research Excellence Initiative funds.

Background

Priority Research Areas (PRAs) are areas of the University of Silesia in Katowice staff members’ research activity, taking into account current and/or unique research topics, which influence the development of global science to the greatest extent and are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They are areas enabling research cooperation in a systemic manner, at the same time encouraging scholars to conduct interdisciplinary research in cooperation with excellent globally renowned centres. These include:

  • PRA 1 – Harmonious Human Development – concern for health protection and quality of life;
  • PRA 2 – Modern materials and technologies with their socio-cultural implications;
  • PRA 3 – Environmental and climate changes with the related social challenges;
  • PRA 4 – Humanities for the future – interdisciplinary research on culture and civilisation;
  • PRA 5 – Exploring the fundamental properties of nature.

Form of activities

Teams focusing on the priority research areas

The PRA coordinators will present key aspects and outcomes of participating in the programme to subsidise the research needs of PRA-focused teams in 2020-2023. The conference schedule also includes papers by scientists who are carrying out projects related to the topics of a given research area.

‘Freedom of research’ winners

A poster session for the winners of the 3 previous editions of the ‘Freedom of research’ call for applications will take place during the conference. The scientists, whose research is in line with at least one of the priority research areas, will have the opportunity to share the results of their works with a broader audience.

We encourage you to register for the conference using the form below.

The first 30 submitted poster proposals that receive approval from the IDB Scientific Council will be included in the conference programme for a poster session.

Printouts will be financed from the Research Excellence Initiative funds. Posters should be designed in line with the guidelines specified in the rules and regulations for the call for proposals for the poster session.

zdjęcia promujące Priorytetowe Obszary Badawcze UŚ

The “Visibility of Research Centres” call for proposals  – 2nd edition under the Research Excellence Initiative has concluded. Thanks to the decision to increase the pool of funds for financing the project, undertaken in order to diversify the implemented initiatives, in the 2nd edition of the competition, over PLN 442,000 were allocated to research and development activities of the centres. The maximum amount of funding for one application is PLN 100,000.

Funding for research and development activities was obtained by five entities:

  • Interdisciplinary Centre for Research on Humanistic Education,
  • SPIN-Lab Centre for Microscopic Research on Matter,
  • Centre for Biomass Energy Research and Education,
  • Silesian Water Centre of the University of Silesia in Katowice,
  • Interdisciplinary Centre for Staff Development.

All winning centres achieved a score above 80% of the points possible to obtain.

The substantive evaluation of the applications was based, among others, on the analysis of the development potential of a research centre, the centre’s influence on the socio-economic and international environment, the scientific level of the conducted research, as well as the analysis of the impact of the declared results on strengthening international cooperation and increasing the visibility of the research centre in the region, Europe and the world. In accordance with the competition regulations, all these assumptions are consistent with the profiles and research objectives of the centres and fit into the strategy of the University of Silesia.

The most important declared effects of the co-financed activities include: significant scientific publications, seminars, debates, popular science workshops, international scientific conferences, podcasts, as well as participation in trade fairs.

CONCERNS

funding for research and development activities of research centres

RECRUITMENT

from 12 May 2022 to 13 June 2022 [end of recruitment]

BENEFICIARIES

research centres of the University of Silesia

MAXIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT

PLN 100,000

The “Visibility of Research Centres” call for proposals under the Research Excellence Initiative has concluded. Based on the recommendation of the Team for Research Excellence Initiative Evaluation, Prof. Ryszard Koziołek, the Rector of the University of Silesia has granted funding to: the Centre for Polar Studies, the Polish-Chinese Centre for Environmental Research, the Centre for Critical Research on Technologies, and the Research Centre for Public Policy and Regulatory Governance. More details at www.us.edu.pl/idb.

CONCERNS

funding for research and development activities of research centres

RECRUITMENT

from 8 April 2021 to 7 May 2021 [completed]

BENEFICIARIES

research centres of the University of Silesia operating for at least 6 months

MAXIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT

PLN 100,000

The recruitment to “Open Access” call for proposals ended on 7 December 2020; its goal is to strengthen the visibility of the results of scientific research conducted at the University of Silesia in Katowice by publishing them in Open Access-type scientific journals. 14 institutes entered the competition, submitting proposals for articles to be published in prestigious high-impact scientific journals. Directors of institutes requested the funding in the overall amount of approximately PLN 900,000.

CONCERNS

funding Open Access-type publications

RECRUITMENT

from 9 November 2021 to 7 December 2021 [completed]

BENEFICIARIES

research employees | research and teaching employees

MAXIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT

to be determined with the applicant

Młoda kobieta w kapeluszu stoi przy półce z książkami
Photo by Szymon Nawrat

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