The year-long work of the 12-member team responsible for drafting amendments to the Act on the Polish Academy of Sciences has been completed. The work was based on the currently binding law in force since 2010. The discussions involved representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the authorities of the Polish Academy of Sciences, directors of institutes, and trade unions. The work was conducted in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation.
The delegation of directors of the Polish Academy of Sciences was led by the Chair of the Assembly of Directors, Prof. Karol Palka. (Below are acknowledgements from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for the work carried out.)
The aims of the proposed amendments are:
- enhancing the position of the Polish Academy of Sciences within the science system,
- improving the organisational and governance structure of the Polish Academy of Sciences, including the establishment of a new body – the Assembly of Directors of Scientific Institutes (currently functioning as an advisory body),
- the reform of the corporation of scientists and the membership structure,
- unifying and modernising employment rules, including abolishing tenure-based appointments,
- enhancing the system of disciplinary responsibility and unifying employment-related matters across the Polish Academy of Sciences units.
An additional (thirteenth-month) salary for employees - already implemented at universities - has also been established. According to the team, the proposed solutions will consolidate the role of the Institutes and contribute to modernising the Academy. In the first half of 2026, the draft will be submitted to the Council of Ministers and subsequently to Parliament. The anticipated date for the law to enter into force is 1 January 2027.
