EU Grants for Poland: Complete Funding Guide for Polish Organizations [2026]
Poland is the EU's single largest Cohesion Policy beneficiary, with €76.5 billion allocated for 2021-2027. Add in Horizon Europe widening participation status, a dedicated national R&D programme (FENG) worth €8 billion, and a mature national contact point network, and Polish organisations have more EU funding routes available than most other member states. This guide covers every major programme, who qualifies, and how to apply.
Poland in Numbers: EU Funding Landscape
Since joining the EU in 2004, Poland has been one of the largest net recipients of EU structural and cohesion funds. For the 2021-2027 programming period, the European Commission adopted a Partnership Agreement with Poland worth €76.5 billion, making it the largest national envelope of any EU member state under Cohesion Policy.
This envelope covers eight national operational programmes, 16 regional programmes (one per voivodeship), and several cross-border and interregional cooperation programmes. The funds flow from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), and the Just Transition Fund.
| Fund / Programme | 2021-2027 Allocation | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| ERDF + Cohesion Fund (national + regional) | ~€63.6B | Infrastructure, innovation, environment, transport |
| European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) | ~€12.9B | Employment, education, social inclusion |
| Just Transition Fund (JTF) | Included in €76.5B | 5 coal-dependent regions transitioning away from fossil fuels |
| FENG (national R&D programme) | ~€8B | Research, innovation, SME competitiveness |
| FENIKS (infrastructure programme) | €24.1B (EU share) | Largest cohesion policy programme in EU history |
| Horizon Europe (competitive) | Varies by success | Research consortia, ERC, MSCA, EIC Accelerator |
In addition, Poland accesses the Recovery and Resilience Facility (KPO) with approximately €59.8 billion in grants and loans approved by the European Commission. After a freeze related to rule-of-law concerns, funds were unblocked in early 2024 following judicial reforms, making Poland eligible for the full €137 billion total envelope across cohesion policy and recovery funds.
Horizon Europe and Poland's Widening Participation Status
Horizon Europe is the EU's flagship research and innovation programme with a total budget of approximately €93.5 billion for 2021-2027. Poland participates as a full member state, meaning Polish organisations can lead or join any collaborative call. But Poland's most significant advantage is its classification as a Widening Participation country.
Widening country status applies to EU member states whose research and innovation performance remains below the EU-27 average. For Poland, this means access to a dedicated sub-programme called Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence (WIDERA), which runs calls that are explicitly restricted to organisations from widening countries.
Widening Actions Available to Polish Organisations
Enables Polish research institutions to partner with a leading European research institution and either establish a new Centre of Excellence or significantly upgrade an existing one. Funding covers equipment, personnel, research activities, and management over five years. In the 2023-2024 cycle, 13 projects were selected from 34 submitted proposals across all widening countries.
Links a Polish research institution with two or more higher-ranked European counterparts to transfer knowledge and raise the applicant institution's research profile. Activities include staff exchanges, workshops, short-term placements, and joint publications. Twinning grants are lighter than Teaming in both budget and administrative burden, making them a practical entry point for institutions new to Horizon Europe.
Funds the appointment of an outstanding scientist (the ERA Chair holder) to a Polish research institution for five years. The holder leads a small research team and implements structural changes to lift the host institution's research governance and performance. In the 2024 call, 38 projects were selected from 158 applications across widening countries. The European Commission invested €315 million across 63 projects under Teaming, Excellence Hubs, and ERA Chairs combined.
NCBR and NCN: Poland's National Research Support Infrastructure
Two national agencies form the backbone of research funding support for Polish organisations. Understanding their distinct mandates helps applicants identify the right contact before approaching any EU call.
NCBR is the implementing agency for applied research and innovation programmes. It manages the FENG programme, runs national competitive calls for R&D projects, and serves as Poland's National Contact Point for Horizon Europe. NCBR has a Brussels office and maintains a network of six regional contact points for in-person consultations.
NCN funds basic and applied research through competitive national grants. It participates in ERA Networks and bilateral co-funding schemes. NCN operates grant schemes across all career stages, from pre-doctoral (PRELUDIUM) to senior researcher level (MAESTRO and SYMFONIA for interdisciplinary projects).
For Horizon Europe, the NCP function at NCBR is complemented by the Horizontal Contact Points network. Applicants based at institutions in Gdansk, Gliwice (near Katowice), Krakow, Lublin, Lodz, and Poznan can access face-to-face consultancy from regional NCP staff without travelling to Warsaw.
The FENG Programme: €8 Billion for Polish R&D and Innovation
FENG (Fundusze Europejskie dla Nowoczesnej Gospodarki, European Funds for a Modern Economy) is the national operational programme for research and innovation under Poland's 2021-2027 cohesion policy framework. With a budget of approximately PLN 36 billion (around €8 billion), it is managed jointly by NCBR and the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP).
FENG is the successor to the Smart Development Programme (PO IR 2014-2020). Its primary instrument for companies is the SMART Path (Sciezka SMART), a modular grant scheme where applicants select funding modules based on their project needs. SMEs can apply alone; large companies and universities must apply as consortia.
| SMART Path Module | Description | Max Aid Rate |
|---|---|---|
| B+R (Research and Development) | Industrial research and experimental development activities | 80% (SME) / 65% (large) |
| Innovation Implementation | Deployment of developed R&D results in production | 70% (SME) / 35% (large) |
| Digitalisation | Digital transformation of business processes and products | 50% |
| Greening the Enterprise | Eco-design, resource efficiency, circular economy measures | 50% |
| Internationalisation | Trade fair participation, international market entry | 50% |
| Competence Development | Training and upskilling for R&D project staff | 70% (SME) / 60% (large) |
| Infrastructure for R&D | Laboratory equipment, pilot plants for R&D purposes | Varies |
Beyond the SMART Path, FENG includes Startup Booster Poland, which provides grants of up to PLN 400,000 (approximately €90,000) to early-stage startups, including training, mentoring, and initial product development funding. The Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) also manages the TEAM and FIRST TEAM programmes under FENG, targeting advanced research projects with significant innovation potential.
Poland's Largest EU Programme: FENIKS Infrastructure and Climate Fund
Poland's largest single EU programme by budget is the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment 2021-2027 (FENIKS), with an EU contribution of more than €24.1 billion (€12.9 billion from ERDF and €11.2 billion from the Cohesion Fund). This was the largest cohesion policy programme approved by the European Commission across all EU member states.
FENIKS is not a competitive research grant programme. It funds public infrastructure projects delivered by central government bodies, municipalities, and state-owned enterprises, including rail, clean public transport, zero-emission fuels, renewable energy installation, water and wastewater infrastructure, and biodiversity measures. Private companies can participate as contractors or in public-private partnership arrangements.
Smart Specialisation Priorities: Which Sectors Get Funded
EU Cohesion Policy requires that ERDF investments align with regional Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3). Poland operates both a national S3 and 16 regional S3 documents, each defining priority sectors for innovation investment. Projects aligned with declared specialisations receive higher eligibility scores and often higher aid rates under FENG and regional programmes.
Full S3 documentation for all 16 Polish regions is available on the European Commission's Smart Specialisation Platform. Regional Marshall's offices (Urzad Marszalkowski) are the managing authorities for regional operational programmes and publish call schedules for ERDF-funded competitions.
Key EU Funding Programmes for Polish Organisations in 2026
The following programmes represent the most actionable funding routes for Polish organisations in 2026, combining EU-level competitive calls and Poland-managed programmes.
Direct grants plus equity investment for startups and SMEs with breakthrough innovations. No consortium required. Polish SMEs apply on the same basis as any EU member state. Five cut-off dates in 2026.
Frontier research grants for individual scientists at all career stages. Polish researchers hosted by any EU institution or associated country are eligible. Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, and Synergy Grants available.
Two-year fellowships for researchers to work at a host organisation in a different country. Polish research institutions can host incoming fellows; Polish researchers can apply to move abroad or to another Polish institution via the European Fellowships track.
Poland's main national R&D grant for companies. Modular structure allows funding of R&D, innovation deployment, digitalisation, and internationalisation in a single application. SMEs can apply solo; large companies need consortia.
Restricted to widening countries including Poland. Partners a Polish research institution with a top European institute to build a new Centre of Excellence. Long application process (two stages) but highest-value widening instrument.
Consortium-based collaborative projects across six thematic clusters: Health, Culture, Civil Security, Digital/Industry, Climate/Energy, Food/Bioeconomy. Polish organisations can lead or join. Minimum 3 partners from 3 countries.
Regional EU Funds: 16 Programmes, One Per Voivodeship
In addition to the national FENG programme, each of Poland's 16 voivodeships (regions) manages its own ERDF-funded regional programme for 2021-2027. These regional programmes collectively represent tens of billions of euros and fund a wider range of activities than the nationally-managed calls, including:
Each regional programme is managed by the regional Marshall's office (Urzad Marszalkowski) and publishes call schedules in Polish on the regional portal of the European Funds portal (funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl). Call deadlines, eligible applicant types, and maximum grant amounts vary significantly by region and call type.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step for Polish Organisations
Horizon Europe for research-intensive projects with international consortia. FENG SMART Path for company-driven R&D with a Polish commercial applicant. Regional ERDF for local infrastructure, SME equipment grants, and digital transformation. ERA chairs and Widening calls if you are a research institution seeking structural capacity building.
For Horizon Europe: obtain a PIC (Participant Identification Code) on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Allow 2-3 weeks for validation. For FENG: register on the CST system (Centralny System Teleinformatyczny) managed by NCBR or PARP. For regional calls: use the SL2021 system (system IT dla monitorowania funduszy europejskich).
NCBR's NCP department offers free proposal reviews before submission for Horizon Europe calls. Request a preliminary consultation at least 3 months before the call deadline. For FENG calls, NCBR and PARP run dedicated information days for each competition.
Horizon Europe collaborative calls (RIA, IA) require at least 3 entities from 3 different member states. Use the Funding and Tenders Portal partner-search tool or NCBR's partner-matching service. PARP also hosts partner-search events for FENG consortium calls.
For Horizon Europe, the three evaluation criteria are Excellence, Impact, and Implementation. The Impact section is consistently the weakest in failing proposals. For FENG SMART Path, proposals are assessed on the quality of the R&D plan, the innovation potential, and the commercial viability of the output.
Horizon Europe submission is through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. FENG applications are submitted via the CST portal during open competition windows published in the call schedule. For regional calls, submission is via SL2021 or the regional portal.
Common Mistakes Polish Applicants Make
NCBR offers free consultancy that Polish applicants underuse. Proposals reviewed by the NCP before submission have a measurably higher success rate. The NCP can identify structural weaknesses that applicants miss when writing.
Teaming, Twinning, and ERA Chairs have lower overall competition because they are restricted to widening countries. Polish institutions that qualify should prioritise these before entering open calls where they compete with research leaders from northwestern Europe.
FENG and regional ERDF calls rank applicants partly on alignment with Poland's declared S3 priorities. Projects that cannot credibly claim a link to national or regional specialisation sectors receive lower scores regardless of technical quality.
Poland's Recovery and Resilience Facility (KPO) operates under different rules from FENG cohesion funds. KPO is managed centrally with shorter project timelines and specific reform milestones. FENG has more flexible timelines and a broader eligible costs catalogue. Applying under the wrong scheme creates eligibility problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much EU funding does Poland receive in the 2021-2027 period?
Poland is the EU's largest single beneficiary of Cohesion Policy funds. The European Commission adopted a Partnership Agreement with Poland worth €76.5 billion for 2021-2027, covering the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Cohesion Fund, European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), and other instruments. On top of this, Poland receives funding through Horizon Europe, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (KPO), and sectoral programmes such as Erasmus+ and LIFE.
Is Poland a widening participation country in Horizon Europe?
Yes. Poland is among the EU member states eligible for Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence actions under Horizon Europe. These include Teaming for Excellence (up to €15 million to build or upgrade research centres in partnership with leading European institutions), Twinning (up to €1.5 million to link Polish institutions with top-ranked partners), and ERA Chairs (up to €2.5 million to attract outstanding scientists). Widening eligibility gives Polish organisations access to calls that are closed to researchers in Germany, France, or the Netherlands.
What is the FENG programme in Poland?
FENG stands for Fundusze Europejskie dla Nowoczesnej Gospodarki, or European Funds for a Modern Economy. It is Poland's national operational programme for research, development, and innovation under the 2021-2027 cycle, with a total budget of approximately PLN 36 billion (around €8 billion). FENG is the successor to the Smart Development Programme (PO IR) and is managed by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) and the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR). It funds R&D projects, innovation implementation, digitalisation, and SME internationalisation through instruments such as the SMART Path.
What does NCBR do for Polish Horizon Europe applicants?
The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) serves as Poland's National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe. It offers free consultancy at all stages of the application process, organises information days and partner-search events, provides preliminary and advanced proposal reviews, and maintains a network of six regional contact points in Gdansk, Gliwice, Krakow, Lublin, Lodz, and Poznan. NCBR also manages the FENG programme and several bilateral co-funding schemes with international partners.
What is NCN and how does it support Polish researchers?
The National Science Centre (NCN) is Poland's primary agency for funding basic research. It runs national grant competitions including OPUS (established researchers), SONATA and SONATA BIS (early-career researchers), PRELUDIUM (pre-doctoral students), and MAESTRO (exceptional senior scientists). NCN also participates in ERA Networks and co-funds bilateral calls under programmes such as WEAVE (with Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Switzerland) and UNISONO. NCN is based in Krakow and operates under the Ministry of Education and Science.
Which sectors are priorities for EU grants in Poland?
Poland's Smart Specialisation Strategy at both national and regional levels identifies priority sectors for ERDF and FENG funding. National priorities include information and communication technologies (ICT), health and pharmaceuticals, bioenergy and environmental technologies, and advanced manufacturing. Regional priorities vary: Mazovia focuses on digital services and life sciences; Silesia on clean energy and automotive technology; Lesser Poland (Malopolska) on ICT, life sciences, and energy; and Pomerania on maritime technologies and ICT. Projects aligned with these specialisations receive higher scores in national competitive calls.
Can a Polish SME apply directly for Horizon Europe funding?
Yes. Polish SMEs can apply directly for EIC Accelerator grants (up to €2.5 million grant plus equity), which require no consortium. For collaborative Horizon Europe calls (Research and Innovation Actions, Innovation Actions), SMEs typically join consortia of at least three entities from three different EU member states. Polish SMEs can also access Eurostars (for R&D-performing SMEs collaborating with at least one partner from another Eurostars country) and the SME Fund under the Intellectual Property Office. Widening-specific calls such as Twinning and ERA Chairs are primarily for research organisations, not commercial SMEs.
How do I find EU grants available for my Polish project?
The main sources are the EU Funding and Tenders Portal (ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders) for Horizon Europe and other EU-level programmes, the FENG programme website (nowoczesnagospodarka.gov.pl) for national R&D grants, the PARP portal for SME-specific competitions, and regional portal pages for ERDF-funded calls. Poland's NCP at NCBR (kpk.gov.pl) maintains an English-language overview of open Horizon Europe calls relevant to Polish applicants. AI-powered tools such as GrantsFinder can match your project description to open calls across all EU programmes simultaneously.
Find EU Grants Open to Your Polish Project Right Now
Poland has more active EU funding routes than most applicants realise: the EU Funding and Tenders Portal lists hundreds of open Horizon Europe calls, FENG competitions open on a rolling schedule, and 16 regional programmes each with their own call calendars. Finding the right call without missing a deadline requires checking multiple portals in two languages. GrantsFinder aggregates EU-level calls and matches your project description to open opportunities using AI-powered similarity search against the Funding and Tenders Portal. Describe your project in Polish or English and get ranked results in seconds.
Match Your Polish Project to Open EU Calls
Stop searching through the Tenders Portal manually. Describe your project and GrantsFinder returns the most relevant Horizon Europe and EU calls with relevance scores and official call links.
For a complete introduction to EU funding types and eligibility rules, see EU Grants 101: A Comprehensive Guide. For SME-specific programmes including EIC Accelerator and Eurostars, see EU Funding for SMEs and Startups: Your Complete Guide.
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