109 scientists from Poland will conduct research at leading research institutions worldwide thanks to the Bekker NAWA Programme

On 12 March, the 2nd Gala of the Mieczysław Bekker Programme of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) took place at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. During the ceremony, we honoured the fellows of the 8th edition of the programme, who will soon begin research stays at prestigious institutions around the world.

The gala brought together representatives of the academic community and institutions supporting the development of research and international cooperation. Among those attending were fellows from previous editions of the programme, representatives of research institutions and universities, as well as public administration officials.

The ceremony was opened by Dr Wojciech Karczewski, Director of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, and Dr Eng. Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education.

“The Bekker Programme is simple in its idea. We give outstanding Polish researchers the opportunity to go to the world’s best academic centres. And of course, not just to see the world. The point is to carry out projects where the best work, where research teams tackling breakthrough challenges are built, and where ideas are born that later either influence or transform economies,” said Dr Wojciech Karczewski, Director of NAWA, at the opening of the gala.

During the ceremony, the Minister of Science and Higher Education highlighted the importance of the programme for the development of research conducted in Poland and for strengthening its presence in the international scientific community.

“In just a moment, you will set off to outstanding research institutions around the world to develop your projects, conduct research, make discoveries and represent Polish science at the highest level. I am convinced that the experience you gain during your fellowships will benefit not only you personally, but also the entire scientific community in Poland,” said Minister Marcin Kulasek.

The special guest of the event was Prof. Marcin Górecki from the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, a fellow of the programme’s first edition. In his speech, he shared his experience of participating in the programme and emphasised the importance of international cooperation for the development of a scientific career.

“Build bridges, not walls. Be ambassadors of Polish science” he said.

Scientific mobility without borders

In the 8th edition of the programme, fellowships were awarded to 109 researchers. The most frequently selected destinations are the United States (19), Germany and Spain (12 each), the United Kingdom (11), and Italy (10). The largest number of funded projects are in the natural sciences (47).

The programme also includes 19 researchers in engineering and technical sciences, 18 in the social sciences, and 13 in the humanities.

Fellows will carry out their research projects at foreign institutions for periods ranging from 3 to 24 months, conducting research in international teams and developing cooperation with partners from around the world.

A programme supporting the internationalisation of research

The Mieczysław Bekker Programme is one of NAWA’s key instruments supporting the mobility of researchers and the internationalisation of research conducted in Poland. So far, 996 researchers have benefited from the programme across eight editions, carrying out projects in more than 40 countries worldwide.

Programme fellows conduct research at leading institutions such as the University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, Harvard University, Princeton University, and CERN.

On 13 March, the call for applications for the next edition of the programme will open. Applications may be submitted until 29 May 2026.

The 2nd Gala of the Mieczysław Bekker Programme was not only an occasion to present diplomas to new fellows. It also marked the symbolic beginning of the next stage of their international research journey — one that strengthens the presence of research conducted in Poland in the global circulation of knowledge.