What is the NCR&D scandal about? Huge grants for suspicious firms

Share

Journalist at OKO.press.

More

The National Centre for Research and Development is distributing grants which are to contribute to the ‘Poland’s civilizational development’. The prosecutor’s office and the Anti-Corruption Bureau are currently investigating two grants from last year’s NCR&D tender amounting to a total of almost PLN 178 million.



‘The Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CAB) started an investigation at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCR&D) on 22 February 2023. The Centre’s management guaranteed full cooperation with the CAB. The NCR&D is not currently providing any more information in the interests of the investigation,’ reads a laconic communication posted on the NCR&D’s website.

 

The NCR&D is a government executive agency under the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy. It is supposed to be a ‘key centre for supporting and creating innovative technological and social solutions’. The NCR&D’s main task is to distribute public money for projects which are to contribute to the ‘civilizational development of the country’. This applies to huge amounts of money:

 

in 2021, the Centre distributed more than PLN 5.8 billion, of which the vast majority were funds transferred to Poland from the European Union’s budget.

 

One of the largest tenders for EU co-financing managed by the NCR&D is ‘Fast Track – Digital Innovations’. Grants totalling over PLN 801 million were awarded from it in 2022. And it is precisely this tender – following information disclosed by the media – that has become the focus of interest of the CAB and the prosecution service, as well as the Supreme Audit Office.

 

We are summarizing what is known so far about the suspicious multi-million NCR&D grants.

 

55 million for a 26-year-old

 

It all started with almost 55 million zlotys to be received by Postquant in the ‘Fast Track’ programme (the contract has not yet been signed) for a project entitled ‘IOT solution for tracking goods in the supply chain and monitoring their transport parameters’.

 

Radio Zet journalists Mariusz Gierszewski and Radosław Gruca revealed that Postquant sp. z o.o. had been registered in Gdańsk ten days before the deadline for submitting bids in the tender. It was established by Kacper Wiśniewski, then aged 26. The newly established company’s share capital was PLN 5,000.

 

Wiśniewski’s application received the lowest score qualifying the project for co-financing – 10 out of 16 points – but, even so, the grant awarded to him was one of the highest.

 

It was possible to receive an average of PLN 5.5 million in last year’s ‘Fast Track’.

 

The rules of the tender were modified in the meantime: the deadline for the submission of tenders was extended from 4 pm to 11.59 pm on 4 November 2022, and then the pool of funds was increased even further (the initial tender was to be for PLN 660 million). The NCR&D admitted that Postquant sp. z o.o.’s application was submitted within the extended deadline. But it refused to give the press access to the content of the application.

 

Civic Coalition MPs Dariusz Joński and Michał Szczerba, who conducted an audit at the NCR&D found out the details. They revealed that Kacper Wiśniewski worked and works as a bartender. And that he submitted his application several dozen minutes before the tender closed: at 11.22 pm. According to Joński and Szczerba, the recently established Postquant has no chance of raising the PLN 17 million contribution needed for implementing the project for which the application was filed. They also questioned the ‘innovativeness’ of Wiśniewski’s idea.

 

‘He submitted an application for monitoring the continuity of the supply chain through location sensors. Every logistics company has such a system. There are plenty of companies that sell such programs, which are extended and much more modern. This is no innovation, whereas this money was supposed to be used for innovations,’ emphasized Joński.

 

Accidental coincidence of addresses 

 

Nobody has managed to contact Kacper Wiśniewski so far. The Tri-City ‘Gazeta Wyborcza’ revealed that the man gave the town of Kosów Lacki in the Sokołowski County (Mazowieckie Voivodship) as his place of residence in the documents at the registry court. The journalist also found information about the companies that Wiśniewski had already established at the beginning of 2022. They are:

 

  • Xeres Alternatywna Spółka Inwestycyjna with capital of PLN 100,000 (registered by the PFSA on the list of entities entitled to conduct investment activities) 
  • and D4B, where Wiśniewski’s partner is Adam Mielnicki, a KORWiN party activist in the past, among others, who is currently a member of the audit committee of the Radon Association, which is promoting ‘easier access to firearms for citizens’.

 

MPs from Adam Bielan’s Republican Party filed a bill with the Sejm in April 2022 on the easing of restrictions on access to firearms in Poland. However, nothing is known about any possible cooperation between the Republicans and the Radon Association. When questioned by the journalists from ‘Wyborcza’, Adam Mielnicki said that his activities in the association and his business acquaintanceship with Kacper Wiśniewski are separate topics.

 

But the story about the NCR&D and Wiśniewski’s company points more to the Republican Party. ‘Wirtualna Polska’ wrote that Postquant’s headquarters – a virtual office in an office building on ul. Heweliusza in Gdańsk – has the same address as the party’s former headquarters. A press officer of the Republicans said this was a coincidence.

 

The NCR&D has officially been subordinated to Deputy Minister Jacek Żalek precisely from the Republican Party (formerly in Jarosław Gowin’s Porozumienie [Agreement party]) since August 2022. According to ‘Newsweek’, Paweł Kuch, until recently acting director of the NCR&D, is also Adam Bielan’s man. However, Bielan’s former assistant, Ignacy Bobruk, became Kuch’s adviser, for a not inconsiderable salary: PLN 24,000 per month.

 

123 million for brother-in-law’s colleague

 

The largest grant of almost 123 million from the ‘Fast Track’ tender is to be awarded to Chime Networks from Białystok, a subsidiary of TB Telecom sp. z o.o., established in the summer of 2020. Its grant application was for the development of ‘cyber-security solutions for undersea fibre optic infrastructure based on innovative multi-core fibre technology and ultra-sensitive threat detection and identification systems’.

 

As Radio Zet journalists revealed, Piotr Maziewski is the largest shareholder in Chime Networks and a member of the management board of TB Telecom. According to the National Court Register, he is also a member of the audit committee of the Bialystok-based Catholic Academic Youth Association.

 

The vice-president of this association is the brother of Deputy Minister Żalek’s wife. Whereas its president is Dr Hab. Karol Kramkowski, a member of the NCR&D council.

 

The Council is an advisory body; it speaks up, among other things, on matters regarding the terms and conditions of tenders and has a decisive say in the establishment of the membership of the NCR&D’s teams of experts and the management of the Centre’s assets. Kramkowski has also been a member of the NCR&D appeal committee since January 2023, and has also been made the chairman of the committee which is to handle the recruitment for the post of director of the NCR&D.

 

In response to the questions from the journalists, Jacek Żalek stated that he sees no conflict of interest in this. He pointed out that the Catholic Academic Youth Association (SKMA) has not been active for years and he does not know what his wife’s brother does. SKMA was established in 2006, and there have been no new entries on it in the National Court Register since then.

 

However, ‘Gazeta Wyborcza’ revealed Piotr Maziewski’s (from Chime Networks) and Karol Kramkowski’s (from the NCR&D council) connections with a Białystok businessman and social activist, Paweł B., who is suspected of embezzling millions from EU grants, and is an acquaintance of Jacek Żalek.

 

MPs Joński and Szczerba emphasize that Chime Networks is a company on the verge of bankruptcy. ‘The maximum loan it can obtain on the market is PLN 750. The state is transferring 123 million to a company that is only able to obtain such a loan’ commented Szczerba.

 

Audit, audit, audit

 

As a consequence of the information revealed, Deputy Minister Jacek Żalek was deprived of the authority to supervise the NCR&D, and Hanna Strykowska, who is associated with him, lost her position, having just been made deputy director of the Centre in November 2022.

 

As ‘Rzeczpospolita’ wrote, Paweł Kuch also ceased to be acting director in the middle of February. The media connected his departure with the ‘Fast Track’ tender scandal, which Kuch himself clearly denied. He explained that his period of appointment had simply ended. Kuch, who had been appointed acting director six months earlier, had reported the possible commitment of a crime in the distribution of NCR&D grants.

 

An investigation is in progress as of 20 February into two grants, which the prosecution service has entrusted to the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau.

 

According to ‘Rzeczpospolita’s’ findings, officers have already questioned Deputy Minister Żalek and have searched the NCR&D office. Proceedings were initiated under Article 231 para. 2 of the Penal Code, i.e. abuse of power for the purpose of achieving financial or personal gain. This is punishable by imprisonment for between one and ten years.

 

On 9 February 2023, Jacek Orzeł, who had been director of the Office of Security Policy at the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy for several years and had previously worked at the Ministry of Development and the Central Statistical Office, among others, was made acting director of the NCR&D. Minister Puda instructed the new director to perform an internal audit of the institution encompassing the ‘Fast Track’ tender, but not only.

 

The President of the Supreme Audit Office, Marian Banaś has announced an audit of the tender. Dariusz Joński and Michał Szczerba also intend to report the matter to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), which investigates cases of fraud in the spending of EU funds. According to MPs, there may be more cases of suspicious grants. They are demanding the invalidation of the whole of the tender.

 

Translated by Roman Wojtasz 

 

The article was published in Polish in OKO.press February 28, 2023.



Author


Journalist at OKO.press.


More

Published

March 6, 2023

Tags

Supreme CourtDisciplinary ChamberConstitutional Tribunaldisciplinary proceedingsPolandZbigniew ZiobrojudgesCourt of Justice of the EUrule of lawEuropean CommissionNational Council of the Judiciaryjudicial independenceMałgorzata ManowskaEuropean UnionAndrzej DudaCourt of JusticeIgor TuleyaEuropean Court of Human Rightsdisciplinary systemMateusz MorawieckiCommissioner for Human RightsCJEUMinister of JusticeJarosław KaczyńskiWaldemar Żurekmuzzle lawKamil ZaradkiewiczNational Recovery Plandemocracypresidential electionsdisciplinary commissionerPiotr SchabPrzemysław RadzikjudiciaryFirst President of the Supreme CourtAdam Bodnarpreliminary rulingsSupreme Administrative CourtK 3/21Hungaryelections 2020neo-judgeselectionsBeata MorawiecJulia PrzyłębskaprosecutorsŁukasz PiebiakNational Council for JudiciaryMichał LasotaEuropean Arrest WarrantMaciej NawackiPrime MinisterPresidentmedia freedomProsecutor GeneralConstitutionCourt of Justice of the European Unioncriminal lawCOVID-19Dagmara Pawełczyk-WoickaMałgorzata GersdorfSejmharassmentPaweł JuszczyszynEU budgetfreedom of expressiondisciplinary liability for judgesWojciech HermelińskiStanisław PiotrowiczMarek SafjanAleksander StepkowskiOSCEPresident of the Republic of PolandMaciej FerekimmunityAnna DalkowskaNational Public ProsecutorCouncil of Europecriminal proceedingsfreedom of assemblyStanisław BiernatExtraordinary Control and Public Affairs Chamberconditionality mechanismconditionalityWłodzimierz WróbelCriminal ChamberLaw and JusticeRegional Court in KrakówprosecutionNCJMinistry of JusticeNational ProsecutorJarosław WyrembakAndrzej Zollacting first president of the Supreme CourtOrdo IurisK 7/21May 10 2020 electionsLex DudaNational Reconstruction PlanProfessional Liability ChamberPresident of PolandLGBTXero Flor w Polsce Sp. z o.o. v. PolandBroda and Bojara v PolandReczkowicz and Others v. Polandparliamentmedia independenceIustitiaJarosław DudziczSylwia Gregorczyk-AbramAmsterdam District CourtKrzysztof ParchimowiczArticle 6 ECHRTHEMISEAWUrsula von der LeyenChamber of Professional LiabilityTVPmediaelections 2023Labour and Social Security Chamber2017policeJustice Defence Committee – KOSFreedom HouseLech GarlickiEwa ŁętowskaSupreme Court PresidentArticle 7Venice CommissionPM Mateusz MorawieckiAndrzej StępkaPiotr GąciarekcorruptionRecovery FundP 7/20Justice FundPiSC-791/19National Electoral CommissionAstradsson v IcelandK 6/21Piotr PszczółkowskiJoanna Misztal-KoneckaPegasusMariusz KamińskisurveillanceCentral Anti-Corruption BureauGeneral Assembly of the Supreme Court Judgeslex NGOcivil societyRussiaJoanna Hetnarowicz-SikorasuspensionJarosław GowinLGBT ideology free zonesUkraineKrystian MarkiewiczKonrad WytrykowskiJakub IwaniecSenateZuzanna Rudzińska-BluszczDariusz DrajewiczRafał PuchalskidefamationcourtsMichał WawrykiewiczFree CourtsConstitutional Tribunal PresidentMarzanna Piekarska-DrążekEwa WrzosekEU law primacyLex Super OmniaAdam TomczyńskiBelgiumNetherlandsBogdan Święczkowskijudcial independenceMaciej Miterademocratic backslidingPiotr PrusinowskiViktor OrbanOLAFdecommunizationNext Generation EUvetoabortionJózef IwulskiLaw on the NCJrecommendationTeresa Dębowska-RomanowskaKazimierz DziałochaMirosław GranatAdam JamrózStefan JaworskiBiruta Lewaszkiewicz-PetrykowskaWojciech ŁączkowskiHuman Rights CommissionerMarek MazurkiewiczCCBEAndrzej MączyńskiThe Council of Bars and Law Societies of EuropeJanusz NiemcewiczMałgorzata Pyziak- SzafnickaStanisław Rymarpublic opinion pollFerdynand RymarzAndrzej RzeplińskiJerzy StępieńPiotr TulejaSławomira Wronkowska-JaśkiewiczMirosław WyrzykowskireportBohdan ZdziennickiMarek ZubikDidier ReyndersEuropean ParliamentOKO.pressZiobroDariusz ZawistowskiMichał Laskowskiintimidation of dissentersMarek PietruszyńskitransferKrystyna PawłowiczMariusz MuszyńskiPiebiak gatehuman rightsEuropean Association of Judges11 January March in WarsawPaweł FilipekMaciej TaborowskiMarian BanaśSupreme Audit OfficeAdam SynakiewiczBelarusstate of emergencyKrakówcoronavirusXero Flor v. PolandEU treatiesAgnieszka Niklas-BibikSłupsk Regional CourtMaciej Rutkiewiczresolution of 23 January 2020Mirosław WróblewskiCivil ChamberLeon Kieresright to protestSławomir JęksaPKWWiktor JoachimkowskiRoman Giertychinfringment actionEU valuesMichał WośMinistry of FinanceENCJJacek SasinErnest BejdaThe First President of the Supreme CourtMaciej CzajkaMariusz JałoszewskiIsraelŁukasz Radkeforeign agents lawpolexitDolińska-Ficek and Ozimek v PolandOrganization of Security and Co-operation in EuropeFirst President of the Suprme CourtPaulina Kieszkowska-KnapikMaria Ejchart-DuboisAgreement for the Rule of LawPorozumienie dla PraworządnościLGBT free zonesAct sanitising the judiciaryequalityMarek AstChamber of Extraordinary VerificationEdyta Barańskahate crimesCourt of Appeal in Krakówhate speechPutinismcriminal codeKaczyńskiGrzęda v Polandright to fair trialPaulina AslanowiczJarosław MatrasŻurek v PolandMałgorzata Wąsek-WiaderekSobczyńska and Others v Polandct on the Protection of the PopulatiolegislationRafał Trzaskowskilex Wośmedia lawRome StatuteInternational Criminal CourtPrzemysła RadzikAntykastaStanisław ZdunIrena BochniakKrystyna Morawa-FryźlewiczMarcin WarchołKatarzyna ChmuraElżbieta KarskaMarcin RomanowskiGrzegorz FurmankiewiczJacek CzaputowiczMarek JaskulskiPrzemysław CzarnekJoanna Kołodziej-Michałowiczlegislative practiceEwa ŁąpińskaZbigniew ŁupinaENAPaweł StyrnaZbigniew BoniekKasta/AntykastaAndrzej SkowronŁukasz BilińskiIvan MischenkoOmbudsmanMonika FrąckowiakArkadiusz CichockiKraśnikEmilia SzmydtNorwayTomasz SzmydtNorwegian fundssmear campaignNorwegian Ministry of Foreign AffairsE-mail scandalDworczyk leaksMichał DworczykC-487/19media pluralism#RecoveryFilesArticle 10 ECHRmilestonesRegional Court in Amsterdamrepairing the rule of lawOpenbaar MinisterieAK judgmentBohdan BieniekSimpson judgmentMarcin KrajewskiForum Współpracy SędziówMałgorzata Dobiecka-Woźniakelectoral processChamber of Extraordinary Control and Public Affairspublic broadcasterWiesław KozielewiczNational Recovery Plan Monitoring CommitteeGrzegorz PudaPiotr MazurekJerzy Kwaśniewskimutual trustPetros Tovmasyancourt presidentsLMODIHRIrelandFull-Scale Election Observation MissionNGOIrena MajcherWojciech MaczugaAmsterdamKarolina MiklaszewskaRafał LisakMałgorzata FroncJędrzej Dessoulavy-ŚliwińskiSebastian Mazurekthe Regional Court in WarsawElżbieta Jabłońska-MalikSzymon Szynkowski vel SękUnited NationsJoanna Scheuring-Wielgusinsulting religious feelingsLeszek Mazuroppositionelectoral codeAdam Gendźwiłłpopulisminterim measuresDariusz Dończykautocratizationtest of independenceMultiannual Financial FrameworkTomasz Koszewskipublic mediaJakub Kwiecińskiabortion rulingdiscriminationequal treatmentAct on the Supreme Courtprotestselectoral commissionsfundamental rightsthe NetherlandsEuropean Court of HuDenmarkKrzysztof RączkaSwedenPoznańFinlandKoan LenaertsMariusz KrasońKarol WeitzCT PresidentKaspryszyn v PolandGermanyNCR&DCelmerNCBiRC354/20 PPUThe National Centre for Research and DevelopmentC412/20 PPUEuropean Anti-Fraud Office OLAFAusl 301 AR 104/19Justyna WydrzyńskaKarlsruheAgnieszka Brygidyr-Doroszact on misdemeanoursCivil Service ActParliamentary Assembly of the Council of EuropeEUWhite Paperlustrationtransitional justice2018Nations in TransitCouncil of the EUmedia taxStanisław Zabłockiadvertising taxmediabezwyboruJacek KurskiKESMAIndex.huTelex.huJelenJózsef SzájerKlubrádióSLAPPLIBE CommitteeStrategic Lawsuits Against Public ParticipationFrans TimmermansGazeta WyborczaUS Department of StatePollitykaBrussels IRome IISwieczkowskiArticle 2Forum shoppingadvocate generaltransparencyEuropean Economic and Social Committeepress releaseSebastian KaletaRights and Values ProgrammeC-156/21C-157/21C-619/18Marek Piertuszyńskidefamatory statementsWorld Justice Project awardNational Prosecutor’s OfficeWojciech SadurskiBogdan ŚwiączkowskiDisicplinary ChamberjudgeTribunal of StatePechOlsztyn courtKochenovPrzemysła CzarnekEvgeni TanchevEducation MinisterFreedom in the WorldECJIpsosFrackowiakOlimpia Barańska-Małuszeretirement ageAmnesty InternationalHudocKonrad SzymańskiPiotr Bogdanowicztrans-Atlantic valuesPiotr BurasLSOauthoritarian equilibriumlawyersArticle 258Act of 20 December 2019clientelismoligarchic systemEuropean Public Prosecutor's Officerepressive actPolish National FoundationLux VeritatisKoen LenaertsMałgorzata BednarekPiotr WawrzykharrassmentAlina CzubieniakTVNjournalistslexTVNGerard BirgfellerEwa MaciejewskaPolish mediapostal voteRzeszówborderpostal vote billprimacy