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CREATE project – experience from preparation and
implementation of the ERA Chairs grant
Patrycja Nitoń
CREATE Project Support Office
21st Nov., 2017
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Insitute of Physical Chemistry,
Polish Academy of Sciences
• research and development works
• education
• international cooperation
• 3 European research excellence centres
• 7 departments, ~30 research groups
• „CHEMIPAN” R&D laboratories
• spin-off companies
CREATE project
Who are we?
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The diversity of research topics from chemistry and physics to biology
The culture to publish in the best journals
and to apply for funding (grants)
CREATE project
Who are we?
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Total number: ~310
Researchers: ~210 (incl. 80 PhD students)
The Institute’s employees
The total numer of grants: ca. 100
CREATE project
Who are we?
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CREATE project
Our story
„Preparation of grant application for the CREATE project
was preceded by full analysis of the overall
performance of the Institute and its employees (…). We
have also engaged in a process our major
stakeholders (e.g. cooperating companies and other
research units), as well as - analysed regional and
national strategies. Obtained results served as a basis
to define assumptions and specify actions leading us to
ERA, from which we may benefit the most. We have
also taken advantage of the opportunity created by our
previous Regpot grant – NOBLESSE – i.e. consulting
leading ERA scientists, invited to deliver lectures at
IPC.”
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• grant applications
• patent applications and business collaboration
• international scientific collaboration
• adoption of the principles underlying the European
Charter For Researchers and the Code of conduct for
the recruitment of researchers
• improvement of recognition of IPC brand among
stakeholders
• previous actions
CREATE project
Our story
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„Taken actions improved our research excellency and supported creation of favourable
working conditions for scientists. However due to:
weak personal links with ERA i.e. the lack of recognized leading researcher and
exhaustion of development capacity of analytical methods of physical chemistry,
serving physical and chemical systems,
lack of reputable experienced expert in the field of biology,
we are still unable to establish proper links with leading European research institutions on
a partnership basis and initiate new joint projects.”
CREATE project
Analysis
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• weakness
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„Based on SWOT results and discussions with major stakeholders
(esp. excellent scientists delivering lectures in IPC during
completion of our Regpot grant), we perceive chances to eliminate
above development boundaries in setting up new department
focused on q-biology studies within physical sciences and
applications of physical chemistry techniques in biological
systems”.
CREATE project
Analysis
• choice of subject
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„The CREAtion of the
Department of Physical Chemistry
of Biological SysTEms” [CREATE]
The CREATE project
CREATE project
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The CREATE project is targeted at development at IPC of a new chair - Department of
Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems led by a reputable world-class scientist (ERA
Chair holder). The project predicts a number of measures to be taken by the new
leader, aimed at extending research excellency of IPC into the new field (physical
chemistry inspired by biology). The new research field is coherent with regional and
national strategies.
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introduce structural change
better use of installed infrastructure and research capacity
increase of IPC visibility and knowledge dissemination
to unlock, develop and
extend research potential of
IPC
through establishing within
the Institute a new
Department of Physical
Chemistry of Biological
Systems
led by reputable scientist,
specialist in biology, or
linked biology and
chemistry/or physics
CREATE project
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GOAL IMPACT
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introduce structural change
better use of installed infrastructure and research capacity
increase of IPC visibility and knowledge
dissemination
• Update of IPC research programme
• Activation of Grant &
Commercialization Team
• Change of HR and research
management
• Better integration of research
groups
• Upgrade of International PhD
Programme
aims and objectives
CREATE project
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introduce structural change
better use of installed infrastructure and research capacity
increase of IPC visibility and knowledge dissemination
• cooperation with ERA leading
institutions on partner basis
• cooperation with enterprises
• enhancement of IPC research
staff
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aims and objectives
CREATE project
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introduce structural change
better use of installed infrastructure and research capacity
increase of IPC visibility and knowledge dissemination
…
better IPR mgnt.
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aims and objectives
CREATE project
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WP1
Recruitment of the ERA
Chair holder
WP3
Unlocking IPC research
excellence
WP4
IPC contribution
to ERA
WP5
Industry migration
WP6
Promotion & dissemination
WP7
Management &
coordination
WP2
Building potential of
the new Dept.
structure
CREATE project
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lab visits 48 PMs – 168 000 EUR
Equipment – 200 000 EUR
Remuneration of ERA Chair holder’s
team , 339 PMs –
1 038 000EUR
1,4 mln EUR
+
WP3 – 157 000 EUR
WP4 – 240 000EUR
Budget calculation
CREATE project
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Candidates
IPC PAS stuff
• PIs from the IPC [2]
• ERC grant holders [3 + 1]
• Foreign researchers [1] Recruitment
Committee
Open seminar
ocena f
orm
aln
a i
mery
tory
czna
Recruitment of ERA Chair Holder
CREATE project
Promotion of the ERA Chair
recruitment:
• headhunting
• EuroScienceJobs „high
visibility”
• conferences
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• capability to compete at ERC Stg. or ERC Adv.
• having an MD, PhD (physics, chemistry, biology, medicine) or
equivalent
• expertise in biology or in combined fields: biology - chemistry, or
biology – physics
• proven international research experience
• international reputation based on research excellence
• proven record in securing research funding and experience in
managing and leading research group
• leading and mentoring skills
• the potential to cooperate with other research groups
• creative approach towards interdisciplinary researches
• fluent written and oral communication skills in English
Candidate profile
CREATE project
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Maciej Wojtkowski is worldwide-renowned
scientist active in the field of biomedical imaging.
His research interests include optical coherence
imaging and microscopy applied to biomedical
imaging. He has had significant impact on the
design and development of Fourier domain
Optical Coherence Tomography (FdOCT)
technique, commonly used in ophthalmic and
cardiologic diagnosis. The FdOCT method and
instrument for in vivo retinal imaging was firstly
developed by Prof. Wojtkowski and his
colleagues from the Medical Physics Group at
Nicolaus Copernicus University Poland in 2001. Prof. Wojtkowski has also contributed to the development and construction of three clinical prototypes
of high speed and high resolution OCT instruments, which were immediately applied for diagnostics in
ophthalmology clinics: in Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz (Poland), New England Eye Center, Boston
(USA), and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (USA).
Professor Wojtkowski is an author of more than 160 publications, including 90 full papers in peer
reviewed journals. During his academic career Maciej Wojtkowski held short internships in Vienna
University and University of Kent. He also worked for two years as postdoctoral fellow in joint project of
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New England Eye Center.
Professor Wojtkowski led his own research team (20 group members) of Optical Biomedical Imaging
Group at Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń (Poland). Wojtkowski group was interested in
application of optics to biology and medicine, especially dark field Optical Coherence Microscopy
dfOCM applied to imaging of rodent brain, measurements of corneal biomechanics or noninvasive
imaging of microvasculature.
Candidate profile
CREATE project
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• show that your institute/organization is well-known unit in the country
• Identification of weaknesses → measures to be taken by the ERA Chair
Holder (implementation of structural changes)
• Recruitment – open and merit based, International Recruitment
Committee
• Description of responsibilities and obligations of ERA Chair holder, but at
the same time allowing him/her the freedom and autonomy in decision-
making
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Summary
CREATE project
Tips:
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• ERA Chair holder:
Professor Maciej Wojtkowski – ERA Chair holder, head of Department of Physical Chemistry
of Biological Systems, Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, PL
• ERC Advanced grant holder:
Professor Wilhelm Huck – Professor of Chemistry, Institute for Molecules and Materials,
Radboud University Nijmegen, NL
• Authorities representative:
Mateusz Gaczynski – Deputy Director, Department of Innovation and Development, Ministry of
Science and Higher Education, PL
• Business representatives:
Rafal Bator – Partner, Enterprise Investors, PL
Justyna Garstecka – CEO, Motherhood, PL
• IPC:
Professor Robert Holyst – Project Coordinator, head of Department of Soft Condensed
Matter, Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, PL