In the latest episode of our NCN podcast “Science in a Frontline Country”, hosted by Anna Korzekwa-Józefowicz, Prof. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk, NCN Council Member and expert in social and spatial aspects of energy transition and Dr hab. Michał Parniak, physician and leader of a research group at the Centre of Quantum Optical Technologies, University of Warsaw, explain how research becomes a true foundation for a resilient state.
In this podcast, we aim to explain how research findings can enhance a state’s resilience in the face of crises. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk emphasises that ‘science-based, reliable knowledge is essential when addressing developmental challenges, including those related to a state’s security’. Basic research - whether in the physical sciences and engineering, social sciences, humanities or arts - provides this knowledge and enables a systemic perspective on security issues, without which nothing can be planned’. She adds that ‘basic research is not a mere luxury but a key foundation of a modern and resilience state’.
Michał Parniak, the first Polish scientist to develop and demonstrate multiplex quantum memory and a quantum processor, says that majority of key technologies have been created within the so-called Pasteur’s quadrant, which refers to basic research of a fundamental nature, but with future applications in mind. He explains that this approach allows one to take a step back to the fundamental laws of physics and develop innovations from scratch, unbound by the limitations of existing technologies. Thereby, his team could develop Rydberg atom-based quantum sensors that can be applied in radar technology and secure communication systems.
Michał Parniak recalled the story of Robert Wilson, Fermilab’s Director, who, when asked by the US Congress how the new accelerator might impact the nation’s security, replied that laboratory’s developments and inventions make the country ‘worth defending’. Dr Parniak emphasised how accurately the sentence captures the essence of basic research, which may not have a specific application in mind but instead generates knowledge, skills and technologies over time, ultimately contributing to the country’s safety, security and sovereignty.
The interview included perspectives of humanities, social sciences and arts. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk recalled that according to the researchers from the Johns Hopkins University ‘the human brain is the current battlefield’. Social disintegration is largely driven by information bubbles, in which algorithms trap us. Therefore, social innovations, public acceptance and conscious communication are essential for building a secure state, alongside research on local communities, critical infrastructure, and the energy transition.
Civil and Military Cooperation
Experts agree that civil and military sectors must cooperate to ensure that the army benefits from the latest research and expertise. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk says that such cooperation is essential not only to respond to current threats, but primarily to anticipate them. By focusing on immediate, ‘here and now’ solutions, we fall behind other countries, while true security requires anticipating future events and the ability to predict them in advance.
She also points out that the NCN Council takes measures to ensure that the National Science Centre can pursue research for the safety and security of the state and launch calls funded with resources secured by the Polish Ministry of National Defence. According to Michał Parniak, partial funding of basic research with army resources would strengthen technological competencies and long-term resilience of the state.
The NCN budget is ca. PLN 1.7 billion, while the 2026 budget of the Polish Ministry of National Defence is expected to reach ca. PLN 125 billion.
Sovereignty and resilience — selected statements:
Prof. Justyna Chodkowska-Miszczuk on the role of the Social Sciences and Humanities in state security: As researchers from Johns Hopkins University aptly put it in one of the Nature Review reports, the battlefield today is the human mind. We do not even need to fall victim to fake news when discussing disinformation. It is enough, for example, that we close ourselves within our own information bubbles defined by algorithms on our digital devices — and we already have the disintegration of the local community.
Activities related to social innovation are extremely important, because every change, every initiative, every developmental challenge — including those connected with building national security — requires social change, acceptance, approval, and the cultivation of awareness. This is precisely where there is enormous scope for research, whether social or humanistic. I would even venture to say that the arts also have a role to play.
On bio-waste and local energy autonomy:
Discussions on energy security still tend to revolve around the same triad: solar, wind, and hydro power. Meanwhile, one of the most underestimated resources we have literally at hand is bio-waste. As a consumer society, we produce it in enormous quantities and will continue to do so. Such waste requires management, but is available locally, continuously, and regardless of weather conditions. Bio-waste can serve as the basis for producing biofuels, biogas, and energy that can power local, autonomous energy hubs.
This solution supports the bioeconomy and helps to address environmental challenges. At the same time, it strengthens energy resilience for both local communities and the military. These are systems that can be scaled, adapted to a specific municipality or region, and that do not require importing raw materials from outside. Bio-waste has the potential to become one of the pillars of crisis-resistant energy, both in civil and defence terms.
Michał Parniak on quantum sensors and defence applications:
I am developing my own technology — highly precise microwave radiation detectors based on atomic systems, representing an entirely new method of receiving microwave signals — and it quickly becomes apparent to anyone working in this field that there are potential applications in radar technology alone. It is worth noting that when I began working on this, the Americans were the first to contact me, long before any talks with the Polish Ministry of Defence had taken place – which I will mention in a moment. It turns out that the US operates very broad support programmes for research related to defence. Agencies such as the Office of Naval Research, Army Research Laboratory, and DARPA frequently announce calls in which Polish laboratories can also participate, as we have done in the past. They organise so-called “challenge” calls, where several laboratories compete to solve a fundamental technical or engineering-physics problem. Those who solve it best receive further funding. We would certainly be capable of implementing something similar in Poland as well.
On purchasing quantum computers and technological sovereignty:
Quantum computers are currently surrounded by a thick fog of media coverage. We often hear that they are “much faster than classical computers”, which is simply not true. They solve different kinds of problems, and we are only just learning which ones they can actually solve better. This is still an area of basic research that requires patience and a deep understanding of physical foundations. Against this backdrop, the question of purchasing ready-made quantum computers arises. If we buy such equipment from a large corporation, there is a real risk that by the time it arrives, it will already be obsolete.
When purchasing a ready-made quantum computer, our involvement is limited to naming it – for example, “Piast” Any modification of its operation, however, requires contact with the manufacturer in Austria. This is not the path towards technological sovereignty. A far better approach would be to set specific challenges for Polish research groups: to build different types of quantum computers in Poland. Such a programme would be a huge boost for science and the economy. It would enable the development of real competences, the creation of proprietary solutions, and, most importantly, true technological independence.