The National Contact Point institution is probably the most important support function in connection with EU funding schemes. It provides free local support and advice in all countries connected to the EU Framework Programme for Research and Development.

With the big enlargement in 2004 lifting EU to be a fully European Union marking the practical end of The Cold War, a large number of countries had to get acquainted with the practices of the European Union including the EU R&D funding schemes, building the NCP functions and getting beneficiaries accustomed to these new possibilities. A huge task.

Fast forward 20 years and all these countries have done an extraordinary work. Many now en par with the old member states. I decided to invite representatives from one of them – Poland – into the virtual podcast studio to enlighten you and me on their successful path, how Poland has organized its EU R&D support structures and the division of labour between their Brussels R&D liaison office and the NCP department in Warsaw.

This episode offers inspiration for other countries on how to strategically structure the EU R&D support and influencing activities towards the programme committees.

Time codes:

00:02:04 Introduction

00:08:54 Fly in on Poland and Horizon Europe

00:24:39 A little bit of history

00:32:26 In Warsaw

00:50:05 In Brussels

01:14:38 Effects

01:27:04 The toughest challenge

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