Poland Secures EIB Funding for Nuclear Research and Hydropower

The financing package for the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) centers on the MARIA research reactor, providing critical upgrades for the MNL Maria Neutron Laboratory, the NOMATEN Centre of Research Excellence, and the PolFEL 1.1 free electron laser. By enabling advanced material testing for batteries and clean energy systems, these facilities aim to bolster Poland’s industrial competitiveness. NCBJ Director Jakub Kupecki noted that the deal exemplifies how layered European financing can deliver complex research infrastructure that would otherwise remain out of reach for single-source funding models.

This initiative marks the first EIB TechEU agreement with a Polish public research institute, aligning NCBJ with major entities like PESA and Allegro. EIB Vice-President Marko Primorac emphasized that such laboratory investments are the bedrock of scientific independence. Simultaneously, the EIB is partnering with Wody Polskie to evaluate hydropower potential in Silesia and Lesser Poland. Utilizing the TARGET facility, experts will assess three sites for new plants at existing water-control structures, offering former coal-mining communities a viable path toward sustainable energy production and long-term economic stability.