What: funding for 2-4 research fellowships to Poland, both Junior and Senior, TOP200 NAWA Program
Funding body: The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA)
Deadline: 27.02.2026
Details:
The program enables foreign researchers to come to work in Poland for a period of 2-4 years and establish their own research groups. Junior Fellows (up to 7 years after their PhD) and Senior Fellows are invited to apply. Fellows will be employed by the Host Institutions.
Applications are due: February 27, 2026.
Project implementation timeframe: 2026-2032.
For full details of the call please see: https://nawa.gov.pl/en/scientists/top200-nawa
he TOP200 NAWA programme is a new initiative aimed at supporting transnational science cooperation and fostering excellent research in Poland.
It aims to attract outstanding research talents from universities ranked 1 to 200 in global rankings (Shanghai Ranking, QS, THE) to Poland, thereby strengthening research capacity of Polish innovation ecosystem and highlightening Poland as a destination for researchers.
Main objectives
- To provide stable employment to foreign researchers (2–4 years at Polish universities or research institutes);
- to establish predictable conditions for conducting research;
- to create possibility to set up own research teams;
- to accelerate the development of the Polish research ecosystem with viable links between science and business.
Two participation tracks
Junior Fellow – for early-stage researchers who obtained their doctorate not earlier than 7 years before the application deadline.
Senior Fellow – for accomplished researchers with experience in leading research teams.
Scope of support from the host institution
- Full-time employment contract for Junior Fellow/Senior Fellow.
- Access to necessary/suitable research infrastructure and administrative support.
- Assistance in adaptation and integration with the staff.
- Support in future grant applications.
Financing and the timeframe:
Call budget: PLN 17 mln from NAWA;
Main objectives
- To provide stable employment to foreign researchers (2–4 years at Polish universities or research institutes);
- to establish predictable conditions for conducting research;
- to create possibility to set up own research teams;
- to accelerate the development of the Polish research ecosystem with viable links between science and business.
Two participation tracks
Junior Fellow – for early-stage researchers who obtained their doctorate not earlier than 7 years before the application deadline.
Senior Fellow – for accomplished researchers with experience in leading research teams.
Scope of support from the host institution
- Full-time employment contract for Junior Fellow/Senior Fellow.
- Access to necessary/suitable research infrastructure and administrative support.
- Assistance in adaptation and integration with the staff.
- Support in future grant applications.
Financing and the timeframe:
Call budget: PLN 17 mln from NAWA;
Submission deadline:
February 27, 2026
Evaluation result by:
July 31, 2026
Project implementation timeframe: 2026–2032
The recommended platform for identifying a suitable academic supervisor or host institution: www.researchinpoland.org
The programme:
- is open to all fields of science,
- strengthens cooperation with the world’s best research centers,
- increases the recognition of Polish science on the international stage,
- supports long-term development of research staff in Poland,
- expands the capabilities of the Polish research ecosystem in terms of innovation and development,
- strengthens the infrastructure supporting the attractiveness of scientific careers,
- offers the future Fellow secure place of employment and research, as well as the opportunity to take advantage of a wide range of social benefits and academic freedom,
- offers project group members and host institutions international networks, career prospects, and the opportunity to work with highly talented researchers.
- By attracting and retaining research talents from the most prestigious research centers in the world, the program promotes the highest standards of scientific practice and opens the door to act within an evaluation system that takes into account the real impact of research results.