The Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) has announced the winners of the 2025 FNP Prize, regarded as the most prestigious scientific award in Poland. This year’s laureates are Prof. Ewelina Knapska, Prof. Dorota Gryko, Prof. Wojciech Knap, and Prof. Anna Matysiak. The Foundation granted the awards for the 34th time.
The FNP awards the Prize for outstanding achievements and scientific discoveries that push the boundaries of knowledge, open new research perspectives, and make a significant contribution to the civilizational and cultural advancement of Poland, strengthening its position in addressing the most ambitious global challenges.
Each prize amounts to PLN 250,000, and the FNP awards it in four fields.
2025 FNP Prize Laureates
Prof. Ewelina Knapska of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, received the 2025 FNP Prize in life and Earth sciences for discovering the neuronal mechanisms underlying intra- and interspecies transmission of emotions.
Prof. Knapska was among the first researchers worldwide to describe the phenomenon of “emotional contagion” in laboratory animals and to identify specific brain regions responsible for it.
Her work enhances the understanding of emotional processes and opens new research directions for treating depression and supporting individuals with autism.
Prof. Dorota Gryko of the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, received the 2025 FNP Prize in chemical and materials sciences for the development of innovative photocatalytic methods for the greener synthesis of organic compounds, representing an important contribution to the field of organic chemistry.
Her achievement involves designing unique photocatalysts, i.e., “accelerators” of chemical reactions triggered by light. Prof. Gryko’s research combines fundamental science with practical potential, offering future applications in areas such as the pharmaceutical industry, including more efficient drug production.
Prof. Wojciech Knap of the Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, and the CENTERA Laboratory at CEZAMAT, Warsaw University of Technology, received the 2025 FNP Prize in mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences for developing new methods of detecting, amplifying, and generating terahertz waves for ultra-fast wireless communication.
His work overcomes previous technological limitations in terahertz research and paves the way for its use in medicine, industry, and telecommunications.
Owing to Prof. Knap’s visionary research, terahertz radiation has gained real application potential, and Poland now ranks among the global leaders in this field.
Prof. Anna Matysiak of the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw, received the 2025 FNP Prize in the humanities and social sciences for identifying key labour market characteristics and working conditions that influence fertility.
Her research demonstrates that decisions about motherhood are not purely individual choices but reflect a complex web of interconnections between the labor market, social policy, and culture.
Prof. Matysiak’s work deepens the understanding of the declining birth rates in Europe and helps identify policies that can support both families and women’s professional development.
Laureates selection process
The FNP Prize is an individual award granted through a multi-stage competition. The FNP Council, acting as the Prize Committee, selects the laureates from among candidates nominated by distinguished members of the scientific community invited personally by the FNP Council and the FNP Board.
The FNP Council bases its decisions on reviews and assessments prepared by independent experts and reviewers, primarily from abroad, who evaluate the scientific value, originality, and impact of the nominated achievements on the advancement of their fields and on society.
In its current term, the FNP Council members are:
• Prof. Grażyna Jurkowlaniec (University of Warsaw) – Chair of the FNP Council
• Prof. Jacek Jemielity (University of Warsaw) – Deputy Chair of the FNP Council
• Prof. Piotr Garstecki (Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw)
• Prof. Jacek Jassem (Medical University of Gdańsk)
• Prof. Tomasz Łuczak (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań)
• Prof. Paweł Ostaszewski (SWPS University)
• Prof. Zofia Szweykowska-Kulińska (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań)
The award ceremony will take place on December 3, 2025.