One of the most ambitious research projects in Poland, TRIO-VI CoE, began in early 2025. Coordinated by ICTER and funded by Horizon Europe, it aims to reposition Poland on the global vision research map.
The International Centre for Eye Research (ICTER), affiliated with the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, has launched the TRIO-VI CoE project – Translational Research on Innovation in Ophthalmology and Vision – Centre of Excellence. This project, which aims to establish an interdisciplinary vision research center, received full funding of €15 million under the prestigious Horizon Europe Teaming for Excellence competition. It officially launched on January 1, 2025, and is funded by the European Commission.
What’s so special about TRIO-VI CoE?
Through the TRIO-VI CoE, ICTER intends to combine basic research in the neuroscience of vision with the development of innovative imaging technologies and their applications in translational medicine. The goal is to create an international center of excellence that will become not only a reference point in the field of ophthalmology, but also a platform for collaboration with clinics, the medtech industry, and academic partners.
International partners: University College London and the Institut de la Vision in Paris, play a special role in the project. Their support – both expert and infrastructural – will ensure TRIO-VI CoE access to best European practices in research management, knowledge transfer, and the creation of innovative ecosystems.
On February 19, 2025, the project was officially presented at the “United in Excellence” launch event, held at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. In the presence of representatives of the European Commission, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Foundation for Polish Science, the National Contact Point, and leaders of the Polish scientific community, ICTER Director Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski presented the vision for the center’s development and announced an intensive implementation phase.
The TRIO-VI CoE is a six-year project, scheduled to run until the end of 2030. During this time, the plan is to expand research infrastructure, implement recruitment programs, develop translational projects, and actively pursue the internationalization and commercialization of research results. Its ambition is not only to improve the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases but also to create a sustainable center capable of shaping the future of biomedical research in Central and Eastern Europe.
The launch of the TRIO-VI CoE is a milestone in the development of ICTER and a signal that Poland is ready to play a leading role in European vision science.
