Polish Scientists Protest for 3% of GDP Funding for Research

On 27 May, researchers marched in front of the Sejm in Warsaw, demanding that the government raise public spending on science and R&D to 3 % of GDP within four years, up from the current 1.1 %. The demonstrators, organized under the “3 % for science, 100 % for Poland” campaign, called for salaries in academia to be linked to average wages in the private sector, doctoral stipends at least equal to the minimum wage, and stable financing for research infrastructure, including an additional 1 billion zlotys for the National Centre for Science in the 2027 budget. Party leader Adrian Zandberg confronted Science Minister Marcin Kulasek, accusing the government of driving scientists abroad and urging responsibility for the low funding levels. Over 23,000 scientists and institutions signed an online petition supporting the demands, which also received backing from the Polish Academy of Sciences and university rectors.