Purpose Funds and Support Programmes
Access to knowledge as part of the Institute’s statutory mission
The Sir Roger Penrose Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies develops research, analytical, educational and publishing projects devoted to complex systems, systemic stability, technological transformation, strategic risk, information processes and long-term civilisational change.
As part of its statutory mission, the Institute establishes purpose funds and support programmes designed to facilitate access to selected publications, analytical materials, research resources and expert knowledge for institutions and individuals whose work is aligned with the scientific, educational, analytical or public-interest objectives of the Institute.
The purpose of these mechanisms is not to create commercial discounts or promotional campaigns. Their function is to support access to knowledge in cases where the Institute considers such access to serve a broader scientific, educational, research, analytical or social purpose.
Support is granted under transparent rules, within available funds, and in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Management Board of the Institute.
The Fund for Research and Systemic Analysis Support
The principal financial mechanism for the Institute’s support activities is the Fund for Research and Systemic Analysis Support.
The Fund is an internal purpose fund established to finance one or more support programmes implemented within the statutory activity of the Institute. It may be used to support access to publications, analytical monographs, expert reports, research materials, educational resources and selected forms of institutional or individual access to the Institute’s work.
The Fund may support, in particular:
- access to publications of the Institute,
- access to volumes of the Report K* series,
- access to special analytical volumes,
- annual access packages,
- academic and library access,
- institutional licences,
- access for independent researchers, authors, analysts and doctoral candidates,
- educational, research, analytical or public-interest projects consistent with the Institute’s statutory objectives.
The Fund is not a separate legal entity, investment fund, financial product or public grant scheme. It is an internal statutory mechanism of the Institute, designed to allocate part of the Institute’s own resources and selected external funds to support access to knowledge and systemic analysis.
The creation of the Fund does not create any automatic entitlement to support. Each support programme operates according to its own regulations, and support may be granted only within the available pool of funds allocated to a given programme or call.
Sources of financing
The Fund may be financed from several sources, including:
- a part of the Institute’s net profit,
- targeted donations,
- targeted fundraising campaigns,
- grants,
- subsidies,
- contributions from sponsors or partners,
- funds transferred by individuals or legal entities,
- unused funds returned from previous support pools,
- other funds consistent with the law, the Institute’s statute and the purpose of the Fund.
As a general principle, the Institute may allocate up to 70% of its net profit to support programmes financed through the Fund. The actual allocation is determined by the Management Board, taking into account the financial situation of the Institute, the number of active programmes, the needs of applicants, the development of the Institute’s infrastructure and other statutory obligations.
The Institute may change, limit, suspend or redistribute allocations to the Fund if required by financial, organisational, statutory or strategic circumstances.
Funds received from external donors, grantors, sponsors or partner institutions may be used only if their purpose is consistent with the statute, independence and ethical principles of the Institute.
No donor, sponsor, grantor or external partner may obtain influence over the scientific, analytical, methodological or publishing independence of the Institute by contributing to the Fund.
The Guarantee Reserve for Support Programmes
Within the Fund, the Institute may establish the Guarantee Reserve for Support Programmes.
The Reserve is designed to ensure minimum continuity of support programmes in periods when current Fund inflows, net-profit allocations or external resources are insufficient to open a call or grant support.
The Guarantee Reserve may be used, in particular, to:
- launch the first calls in newly established support programmes,
- secure a minimum monthly or quarterly support pool,
- continue a support programme between quarterly financial settlements,
- supplement a programme pool that would otherwise be too small to grant support,
- maintain limited continuity of support in periods of lower current income,
- finance pilot calls in newly created support mechanisms.
The Management Board may allocate up to 10% of the Institute’s net profit to the Guarantee Reserve, unless a different allocation is adopted by resolution.
In the initial period of the Fund’s operation, the Management Board may establish a quarterly guarantee pool, for example in the amount of PLN 10,000, in order to launch the first support calls before the Fund is fully supplied by regular net-profit allocations or external financing.
The Guarantee Reserve does not create any entitlement to support. It is a financial safeguard mechanism, not an automatic obligation to grant funding.
Support programmes
The Fund may finance one or more support programmes implemented by the Institute.
Each support programme is established by a resolution of the Management Board. The resolution may specify, in particular:
- the name of the programme,
- the purpose of the programme,
- the group of eligible applicants,
- the type of support available,
- the source or pool of financing,
- the opening date of the call,
- the method of public announcement,
- the regulations or participation rules of the programme.
Regulations of individual support programmes are published on the Institute’s website.
Information about the launch of a programme, call dates, available funding pools and results may be published on the Institute’s website and in the official communication channels of the Institute, including social media.
The launch of one support programme does not oblige the Institute to launch or maintain any other programme. The Management Board may suspend, close or amend a programme if required by the financial, organisational, statutory or analytical needs of the Institute.
Current support programme
Programme for the Support of Research on Complex Systems
The Programme for the Support of Research on Complex Systems is intended for institutions and organisations that may use the Institute’s publications in scientific, educational, research, analytical, library or public-interest activities.
Eligible applicants may include, in particular:
- universities,
- academic libraries,
- research institutes,
- research units,
- university departments,
- scientific circles,
- educational organisations,
- research-oriented think tanks,
- non-profit organisations conducting scientific, educational, analytical or social activities.
The programme may support access to selected publications of the Institute, including volumes of the Report K* series, special analytical volumes, annual access packages, academic licences, library access and institutional licences.
The standard level of support may amount to up to 30% of the price of the publication, licence or access package. In particularly justified cases, extended support of up to 50% may be granted.
Support under this programme is non-refundable, purpose-specific and may be used only for the purpose indicated in the Institute’s decision.
The detailed rules of participation are set out in the Regulations of the Programme for the Support of Research on Complex Systems.
Planned support programme
Programme for the Support of Independent Systemic Analysis
The Institute plans to launch a separate programme for individuals conducting independent scientific, analytical, educational, expert, journalistic or civic work.
This programme is intended to support access to selected publications and analytical materials for persons who do not necessarily have institutional funding but whose work may contribute to independent research, public debate, education or systemic analysis.
Eligible applicants may include, in particular:
- independent researchers,
- doctoral candidates,
- authors,
- specialist journalists,
- independent analysts,
- educators,
- civic researchers,
- persons preparing publications, lectures, educational materials or analytical projects related to the Institute’s fields of work.
The detailed regulations of this programme will be published separately.
Calls, deadlines and funding pools
Support calls may be organised on a monthly basis.
Applications are normally accepted from the 1st to the 5th of each month via email to
Results are announced by the 25th day of the month in which the call was conducted.
Applications submitted after the deadline are not considered and do not automatically transfer to the next call.
The Institute may announce a monthly or quarterly funding pool for a given programme. Support may be granted only within the available pool.
If the available amount is too low to grant meaningful support in a given month, the Institute may:
- not open a call in that month,
- limit the number of support decisions,
- grant lower support than requested,
- transfer the assessment of timely submitted applications to the last month of the quarter.
The transfer of assessment to a later month does not extend the application deadline. Applications submitted outside the official call period remain without consideration.
The Institute may also suspend a call if the funds allocated to a given programme have been exhausted or if organisational, financial or statutory reasons make it necessary.
Language of applications
Applications are accepted only in Polish or English.
Applications submitted in any other language are not considered.
All attachments must also be submitted in Polish or English. If an original document was issued in another language, the applicant must submit both the original document and a translation into Polish or English.
The translation does not need to be certified, unless the conditions of a specific call state otherwise.
The Institute does not request applicants to supplement missing translations, missing attachments or formal deficiencies unless the rules of a specific call expressly provide otherwise.
Applications are assessed on the basis of documents submitted correctly and on time.
Transparency of results
The Institute publishes the results of submitted requests for support on its website or social media.
For successful applications, the published information may include:
- the name of the institution or organisation,
- the name and surname of an individual applicant, where applicable and where the required consent has been provided,
- the title of the project, purpose of support or title of the publication concerned,
- the name of the support programme,
- the percentage or amount of support granted.
The Institute does not publish full applications, justifications, contact details, addresses, identification numbers, financial information or other personal data not required for transparency of the support process.
Transparency of results is one of the conditions of participation in the Institute’s support programmes.
Independence of the Institute
The Institute’s support mechanisms are designed to increase access to research, analysis and knowledge without compromising the independence of the Institute.
External contributions to the Fund or to any support programme do not create any right to influence on:
- the content of publications,
- research conclusions,
- analytical models,
- methodological assumptions,
- editorial decisions,
- publication schedules,
- the selection of topics,
- the assessment of applications,
- the granting or refusal of support.
The Institute may refuse external funds if their acceptance could compromise its independence, credibility, statutory objectives or ethical principles.
Documents
The following documents are or will be made available on this page:
Regulations of the Fund for Research and Systemic Analysis Support
Document defining the creation, financing, accounting and allocation rules of the Fund.
Regulations of the Guarantee Reserve for Support Programmes
Document defining the mechanism securing minimum continuity of support programmes.
Regulations of the Programme for the Support of Research on Complex Systems
Document defining the rules for institutional applicants.
Regulations of the Programme for the Support of Independent Systemic Analysis
Document for individual applicants. Status: in preparation.
Application form for institutions
Status: in preparation.
Application form for individuals
Status: in preparation.
Information clause on personal data processing
Status: in preparation.
How to apply
To apply for support, the applicant must download the relevant application form, complete it, sign it and submit it by e-mail during the active call period.
Applications must be signed by an authorised person and submitted either as a scanned signed document or as a document signed with a recognised electronic signature.
The subject line of the e-mail should include:
Support Application — Report K*
Only complete, signed and timely submitted applications in Polish or English are assessed.
Important notice
Support granted through the Institute’s programmes is non-refundable, purpose-specific and may not be exchanged for cash, transferred to another person or institution, converted into another service or used for a purpose other than the one indicated in the Institute’s decision.
Publications obtained with support remain subject to copyright protection and applicable licence rules.
Multi-user, academic, library or institutional access requires an appropriate licence.
Contact
Questions regarding the Fund, support programmes or application procedures may be sent to the contact address indicated by the Institute.
The Institute does not provide individual guarantees of support before formal assessment of an application within an announced call.
Language policy
English is used as the primary public language of the Institute’s website in order to provide a common international reference point for readers, institutions and partners. Publications, regulations, research materials and analytical documents made available by the Institute may be issued in Polish, English or, where appropriate, other languages. Polish-language documents remain authoritative where they concern activities conducted under Polish law, unless a given document expressly provides otherwise.