Corruption at Poland's National Science Centre
NN — an anonymized senior NCN official who in 2020 was Witold Kilarski's partner.
On 29 May 2020, NCN Director Zbigniew Błocki — acting on behalf of Prof. Marcin Drąg of Wrocław University of Technology — allegedly ordered NN (Head of NCN Grants Control) to deliver an ultimatum to Dr. Kilarski: withdraw your grant application from NAWA (Polish Returns programme, aimed at curing Type 1 Diabetes) or face consequences.
"Withdraw your NAWA grant by Monday… you won't get it anyway… this is to appease Prof. Drąg."
— NN's email from official NCN account, 1 June 2020
On 1 June 2020, NN sent an official email from her NCN account confirming Błocki's demand. NCN and NAWA are supposedly independent institutions — governed by different laws, based in different cities (Kraków vs. Warsaw). Yet Błocki allegedly interfered in NAWA's grant process.
In the 2020 NAWA Polish Returns competition, 12 grants were awarded. Dr. Kilarski ranked 13th — first alternate. The same result occurred in 2021.
Evidence
- 7 audio recordings (2020–2021) documenting alleged blackmail, allegedly unauthorized access to private messages, allegedly falsified reviews (Mudelsee copy-paste), nepotism (Błocki–Liana–UJ connections), and the NIK audit alleged cover-up.
- from NN (1 June 2020) confirming Błocki's ultimatum.
- Chronological email correspondence Kilarski–Błocki–Drąg–NN (2020–2021).
- Allegedly falsified reviews by Manfred Mudelsee in the GRIEG programme (copy-paste method).
- Internal NIK (Supreme Audit Office) alleged cover-up documents.
Prosecutor's refusal
Dr. Kilarski reported to prosecutors. The prosecutor (earlier case) refused to investigate (case 4135-1.Ds.96.2022). Instead of investigating alleged corruption, courts punished the whistleblower: fines, publication bans, forced apologies.