After the EU enlargement in 2004, more than 1.5 million people chose to emigrate from Poland. Responding to the large number of young professionals and scientists moving abroad, the HOMING programme was launched in 2006 by the Foundation for Polish Science. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are supporting the programme with €700 000, which accounts for 60% of the fund.
The overall objective of the programme is to prevent brain-drain of young Polish scientists from Polish research institutions. The programme does so by providing young scholars with financial support to facilitate their return and boosting their academic careers by offering them improved working conditions in Poland.
The programme focuses on cases involving young Polish scientists in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and it also supports the establishment of the European Research Area. Through three open calls, grants were awarded to 47 projects.