The National Science Centre, in cooperation with the M-ERA.NET network, has launched the M-ERA.NET Call 2026 for international research projects in the area of material science and material engineering in support of the European Green Deal.
Polish researchers are able to participate in M-ERA.NET calls through two grant agencies: the National Science Centre and the National Centre for Research and Development. NCN funding can only be requested by Polish applicants for basic research projects (TRL 1-4). Researchers whose projects start from TRL 3-6 and achieve TRL 5-8 may apply for NCBR funding. Involvement of a Polish industrial partner is required.
The call covers the following topics in the field of material science and material engineering:
- Materials for energy storage and distribution systems
- Materials for energy conversion
- Innovative surfaces, coatings and interfaces
- Innovative functional materials with defined architectures
- Materials addressing environmental challenges
- Next generation materials for electronics
Funding proposals may be submitted by international consortia composed of at least 3 research teams from at least 3 countries participating in the call. The principal investigator of the Polish research team must be at least a PhD holder.
Countries participating in the call: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and Turkey (some countries participate in the call regionally).
Under the M-ERA.NET Call 2026, funds may be awarded to cover salaries for members of the research team, salaries and scholarships for students and PhD students, purchase or manufacturing of research equipment and other costs crucial to the research project.
The NCN Council has decided to allocate EUR 1,500,000 for research projects carried out by Polish research teams under the M-ERA.NET Call 2026.
Call timeline
International level (two-stage procedure)
- Stage 1: 12 May 2026 (12:00 noon CEST): submission deadline for pre-proposals
- Stage 2: 18 November 2026 (12:00 noon CET): submission deadline for joint full proposals
National level (single-stage procedure):
- 25 November 2026: submission deadline for NCN UNISONO domestic proposals by the Polish research teams.
Call results will be published in February 2027.
February 2027: publication of the list of projects recommended for funding
Ogłoszenie Announcement of the M-ERA.Net Call 2026 (English version available soon)