About the Project
Małopolska – Inspiration for Your Research Journey
Since June 2025, Kraków and the wider Małopolska region has launched a new initiative designed to make life easier for international researchers. The project, called “Małopolska – Inspiration for Your Research Journey,” is coordinated by the AGH University of Krakow and brings together the region’s leading academic institutions. With funding of 823,348.70 PLN provided through the NAWA–EURAXESS Network program and the European Funds for Social Development 2021–2027, the initiative will have run until the end of 2028. Its goal is to strengthen Małopolska’s position as a welcoming, supportive, and competitive place for foreign researchers, PhD students, and their families.
A Regional Alliance for International Scholars
The project is built on a partnership between five institutions: AGH University of Krakow (as the leader), Cracow University of Technology, Jagiellonian University, University of Agriculture in Krakow, and the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Together, these universities and research centers are creating a regional EURAXESS network – a platform offering practical, social, and academic support to scholars arriving in Kraków. By combining resources and expertise, the partners want to ensure that international guests can focus on their scientific work while finding it easier to settle into a new environment.
What is Euraxess
The EURAXESS–Researchers in Motion initiative was created as a European effort to support mobility and career development for scientists across borders since 2004.
Today, it operates in 43 countries, supported by a network of more than 700 centers worldwide.
Its mission is to foster researcher mobility, career development, and international collaboration.
In Poland, inspired by the EURAXESS initiatives, the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) developed the NAWA–EURAXESS Network program.
This program provides funding for regional projects, enabling universities and research institutions to strengthen their services for international scholars.
By linking the European vision of EURAXESS with local initiatives, the program ensures that support for researchers is not only available at the national level but also rooted in specific regions.
Thanks to this structure, projects like “Małopolska – Inspiration for Your Research Journey” can offer tailored assistance that directly responds to the needs of international researchers and their families in Kraków and the wider region.
For PhD students and researchers, EURAXESS means access to Europe’s largest database of jobs and grants, as well as career development resources such as training, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Monthly updates on grants and scholarships help scholars stay informed, while personalized support with visas, residence permits, and adaptation ensures they feel at home in Poland.
Institutions also benefit from participation in the network.
Universities and research centers can post job offers free of charge, access a global database of researcher CVs, and receive guidance on employing and hosting foreign scholars.
They also gain tools to strengthen their internationalization strategies, including resources linked to the HR Excellence in Research standard.
Shaping a More Open Academic Community
“Małopolska – Inspiration for Your Research Journey” is ultimately an investment in people. It seeks to ensure that researchers coming to Kraków are not just visitors but members of a dynamic academic community. By opening doors and lowering barriers, the project will inspire scientific growth, cultural exchange, and collaboration.
In the years ahead, Małopolska aims to be known not only for its history and cultural heritage, but also as a region where ideas and people from across the world can come together, find support, and thrive.
Within the project framework, the consortium will deliver a wide range of activities:
· Training & Development: workshops on intercultural communication, academic career planning, and staff training.
· Language Support: Polish language courses for newcomers.
· Promotion: brochures, films, and digital campaigns to showcase Małopolska’s research potential.
· International Conference: presenting project outcomes and strengthening global visibility.