Developing Research Potential within SEA-EU using the „Research Potential Database” 

§ 1. AIM OF THE COMPETITION

1. The aim of the competition is to initiate or strengthen scientific, research and teaching cooperation between SEA-EU partner universities by utilizing the information available in the “Research Potential Database” https://research.sea-eu.ug.edu.pl/. The competition will select the best international projects, which must stand out for their innovative and interdisciplinary nature, align with European values, and incorporate the sustainable development goals embedded in the SEA-EU alliance’s mission.
2. The initiative is implemented as part of the project “Support for synergic and complementary activities of the SEA-EU 2.0 – SEA-nergy project”, which is part of the NAWA program „Support for European University Alliances” funded by the European Fund for Social Development.

§ 2. COMPETITION PARTICIPANTS

1. The competition is open to academic teachers currently employed at the University of Gdańsk in research and teaching or research positions, who are members of research groups registered in the “Research Potential Database” on the date of joining the recruitment process.
2. Submitted projects must involve at least one researcher from the University of Gdańsk and at least one researcher from a foreign university from the SEA-EU consortium who are members of research groups registered in the “Research Potential Database”.

§ 3. FINANCING

1. The awarded projects will receive financing to cover the costs of two mobilities of University of Gdańsk employees within SEA-EU partner universities. The maximum cost of one mobility is PLN 10 000. The financing will cover the actual costs incurred (per diem and travel costs according to ministerial rates Journal of Laws 2022 item 2302).
2. The following activities can be carried out within the framework of the granted funds:
   Business trips – costs of business trips of the applicant or a member of the research group who is an employee of the University of Gdańsk to the SEA-EU partner university where the cooperation is carried out (per diem, travel and accommodation costs)
3. Competition participants who receive funding are obliged to spend the funds in accordance with the Rules of financial management of the University of Gdańsk.
4. Business trips are carried out in accordance with the Regulations on business trips taken outside the country (Regulation No. 52/R/24 of the Rector of the University of Gdańsk of 4 June 2024).
5. The period of eligibility of costs under the obtained financing starts from the day on which the applicant receives the decision on granting the financing.
6. The date of the mobility implementation can be planned from 1.09.2025 to 31.08.2026.
7. Spending funds is possible until 31.08.2026.
8. The final deadline for submitting financial documents for settlement is 14.09.2026.

§ 4. SUBMITTING APPLICATION

1. Each person entering the recruitment process is required to complete the registration form and submit the competition application (link in the registration form) by 30.06.2025.
2. Submitting the registration form and application is tantamount to accepting these Regulations.

§ 5. ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS

1. Applications are formally assessed by the coordinator. The formal assessment includes the completeness of the application and an assessment of whether the applicant meets the conditions for a program participant.

2. Applications that do not meet the formal requirements will not undergo further substantive assessment.

3. The result of a project submitted to the competition must be the fulfilment of one of the following conditions during the competition period (until 31.08.2026):

• submission of a joint application to one of the programs of Polish institutions financing research,
• submission of an application to the visiting professors program at the University of Gdańsk,
• submission of an application under the Seed Funds programs offered at SEA-EU partner universities.

4. The substantive assessment of applications is carried out by the Competition Committee appointed by the Rector.

• The Committee consists of:
• Vice-Rector for Research – Chair of the Committee
• Vice-Rector for Cooperation and International Relations
• Director of the Science Office
• Director of the Project Preparation Support Office – Project Incubator

The Commission classifies applications based on the criteria listed below:

6. Maximum number of points that can be obtained at the application evaluation stage: 20.
7. Based on the number of points obtained, the Competition Committee announces a ranking list.
8. The final decision on granting funding is made by the Chair of the Committee.
9. The competition recipients will be individually informed of the results by e-mail by 8.08.2025. The list of recipients will also be available on the website https://sea-eu.ug.edu.pl/aktualnosci/.

§ 6. RULES FOR PROVIDING SUPPORT

1. The principles of financing are discussed in § 3. Financing.
2. Persons who qualify for mobility are required to:
   – complete an application for consent to a trip abroad on the employee portal,
   – sign a declaration of using the financing,
   – register on the NAWA platform confirming the eligibility of the mobility participant.
3. Persons who complete their mobility are obliged to:
   – present an original certificate of stay at the partner university,
   – present a written report on the stay,
   – settle the business trip.

§ 7. SETTLEMENT

1. The condition for settling the grant awarded in the SEA-EU “Research Potential Database” competition is to send to the coordinator at sea-nergy@ug.edu.pl by 31.08.2026 a report on the implementation of the project, a template of which will be made available to the competition recipients on the website, and a certificate of submission of the joint grant.
2. Failure to meet the condition referred to in section 1 shall result in the inability to apply for funding in subsequent editions of the SEA-EU “Research Potential Database” competition.