"Marie Sklodowska-Curie Acties" (en)

'It's a great way to crown the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Year and the Polish Presidency itself,’ commented Science and Higher Education Minister Barbara Kudrycka. ‘The changed name will keep reminding Europeans that the greatest ever woman scientist was born in Poland and that Polish affairs were always close to her heart.

The Polish Nobel Prize Winner was ahead of her time, becoming the very model of a European scientist whose scientific achievements transcended state frontiers and, in fact, the boundaries of the imagination’.

Kudrycka pointed out that the highly prestigious Union programme "Marie Curie Actions", launched 15 years ago, had the goal of promoting scientific careers, encouraging the young generation to follow that professional path and stimulating research in Europe. ‘We can be proud that a Polish woman scientist is the patron on this mission,’ the minister underlined.

Kudrycka thanked Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn i, as well as the Polish diplomats and MEPs involved in the efforts to change the name. Before today's session of the EU Competitiveness Council, Geoghegan-Quinn responded:

‘I am glad that we were able to make this reminder of Sklodowska-Curie's Polish roots and to give the programme its new, full name,’ she said - faultlessly pronouncing the Polish name.

The European grant programme named after the Polish woman scientist has been in operation for 15 years. It finances some of the most advanced research in Europe, training schemes in all fields of research and cooperation with research institutions outside the Union. To date, some 50 thousand scientists from 127 countries have benefited from the programme.

One of the main goals of the "Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions" is support for scientific careers by financing grants that provide attractive remuneration and full social and pension benefits. The programme is addressed to all scientists, regardless of their level of professional advancement and their field of research. Financing is provided for outstanding projects submitted by individual researchers and consortiums of institutions from different countries.

This prestigious Union programme is geared to the promotion of careers in science. Young people are encouraged to choose science as their professional future and to conduct their research in Europe.

Former recipients of Sklodowska-Curie grants met in Warsaw last September. Over 300 researchers from across the globe debated the present-day challenges facing science and considered ways of making the achievements of European science more familiar to Europeans. The convention of grantees was held at the initiative of the Minister of Science and became a highlight event of the Polish Presidency.

An exhibition on the life and work of the great Pole was arranged at the European Parliament in October.

data publikacji: 06-12-2011