Of course, all doubts regarding the “Fast Track – Digital Innovations” competition, which is held at the National Center for Research and Development, should be clarified. However, an honest look at the matter reveals two things. First of all, not a single zloty was spent on “trefne” projects. Second, precisely because the internal controls worked, the attempt to extort government money failed. However, such an image does not fit into the plans of the opposition, which is why the subject is constantly pumped up and inflated.
Here is one of the threads where MP Dariusz Joński is caught giving an obvious untruth.
And Mr. Bielan and Mr. Morawiecki say they blocked it, they reported it. Ladies and gentlemen, it turns out that there was no audit at the National Center for Research and Development. We have a letter dated 3 February. This is the day we came in, we started the inspection with MP Szczerba at the National Center for Research and Development. And it is not until February 3 that the request for inspection is signed by director Kucha. And in it he refers to information that has already appeared in the media. It is a lie
– argued at the conference broadcast by TVN 24, Member of Parliament Dariusz Joński.
And what is it really like?
We refer to the “Statement” of the National Center for Research and Development of March 15, posted on the government’s website, where we read:
With regard to the information that has appeared in the media and regarding the control activities carried out at the National Center for Research and Development in connection with the “Fast Track – Digital Innovations” competition and the apparently incorrect information that only requires the intervention of a deputy an impulse to control activities in the above In the topic below, we provide information about the activities actually performed in chronological order.
On January 9, 2023, the Director of the NCBR, Dr. Paweł Kuch, checking the activities of the Legal Service and the Office of the Director of the Center regarding the two largest applications in terms of funding in the “Fast Track – Digital Innovations” competition.
On January 18, 2023, the Audit and Internal Control Department of the NCRD started preliminary checks before taking a decision to launch an ad hoc check “Control activities related to the selection of the application for co-financing of the project No. POIR. 01.01 .01-00-0233/22, submitted under competition no. 1/1.1.1/2022”.
On January 25, 2023, a decision was issued ordering an ad hoc inspection in the above subject. On the same day, the Audit and Internal Control Department of the NCBR started the investigation.
On February 3, 2023, the inspection of the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy regarding the correctness of the competition “Fast Track – Digital Innovations” (No. 1/1.1.1/2022) under the Smart Growth Operational Program 2014-2020 began .
On 6 February 2023, as part of the parliamentary intervention, the KO MPs, Mr. Michał Szczerba and Mr. Dariusz Joński, visited the NCRD under Art. 19 of the Act on the Execution of the Mandate of a Deputy and Senator, in relation to two entities requesting funds in the “Fast Track – Digital Innovations” contest. An information letter was sent to the NCRD on 3 February 2023.
On February 8, 2023, the National Center for Research and Development submits a notification to the prosecutor’s office regarding the “Fast Track – Digital Innovations” competition.
On February 23, 2023, an inspection of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau has started regarding the Procedure for making and implementing decisions on the management of public funds by the National Center for Research and Development in connection with the co-financing process for the implementation of selected projects under Competition 1/1.1.1/2022 – ” Fast Track – Digital Innovations”.
On March 1, 2023, an ad hoc inspection of the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy regarding the correctness of the “Fast Track – Digital Innovations” competition (No. 1/1.1.1/2022) under the Smart Growth Operational Program 2014 began -2020. All projects were checked.
On March 6, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Regional Office in Białystok started preparatory activities for the audit of the “Fast Track – Digital Innovations” competition.
The management and staff of the National Center for Research and Development declare their full cooperation and assistance to the control authorities. We all care about the quick clarification of doubts that appear in the public space.
We regret that a situation has arisen that has cast a shadow over the good name of the National Center for Research and Development. We will do everything we can to restore the trust of the public, and especially of entrepreneurs and scientists who reliably carry out innovative projects.
Okay, maybe the NCBiR is desperately defending itself? NO. The described state of affairs is true. This is confirmed by the document we have reached.
These are the results of the first audit, commissioned on January 9 and completed on January 25:
But it’s not everything. In this case, we also obtained access to a document with the activity schedule of Director Paweł Kuch.
This is an important document worth quoting in full:
During my term as Acting Director of the National Center for Research and Development (August 8, 2022 to February 9, 2023), not a single zloty was spent on projects carried out as part of the “Fast Track”.
During the application period for the Fast Track program, I had a conversation with Director Katarzyna Samsel – the person responsible for the selection of experts to evaluate the application in this program, who told me that the largest application in the program ” Cable” project is worth PLN 123 million, which does not meet the formal co-financing requirements.
On December 16, 2022, the second expert panel took place (three individuals – including one as a representative of the NCBR and two independent scientists – who are not employees of the NCBR), which, despite the reservation regarding formal defects.
As of Monday, December 19, 2022, I was on sick leave and at that time the power of attorney to sign letters on behalf of the NCBR, at the direction of my deputy Hanna Strykowska, had been granted to her designated associate (as a person of her trust), Director Blaise Kochetkow.
On December 21, 2022, on behalf of the NCRD, director Blaise Kochetkow.
A recommendation list of projects for co-financing was published on December 22, 2022, including Projekt Kabel, whose list was signed by director Blaise Kochetkow,
Over the Christmas period, I asked that the recordings of both expert panels on the cable issue be secured.
At the same time, there were also strange events that I believe were an attempt to remove me from office. As a result of these events, on January 2, 2023, I decided to terminate the employment contract with Ms. Monika Wąsowska, Director of Human Resources Department (refusal to comply with official orders).
Błażej Koczetkow himself, who took part in these events, did not appear at work from January 2, 2023 (in the following days he offered sick leave), and all attempts to contact him were unsuccessful. His power of attorney has been revoked by me and I have denied him all system access.
On Monday, January 9, 2023, due to emerging information about possible irregularities, I requested an internal audit regarding the co-financing rules of the “Cable” project,
On January 13, 2023, the National Center for Research and Development received a question from Radio Zet about the two largest projects in the Fast Track program – the largest is the “Cable” project and the second is an application for PLN 55 million. reported by the media (“bartender from Gdańsk”).
At the same time, I have applied to the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy for internal control of the entire “Fast Track” program.
The preliminary results of the audit resulted in (1) personnel changes in the Expert Selection department – dismissal of the director Samsel – January 12, 2023 and (2) the submission of a report (February 8, 2023) to the public prosecutor’s office to verify the correctness of this program to verify.
As you can see, the irregularities were discovered much earlier than the opposition started talking about them. And most importantly, control activities and internal audits were started much earlier, personnel conclusions were drawn.
As a result, not a single taxpayer zloty was transferred to questionable projects. The procedures worked. Hence the opposition’s attempt to pump up emotions.
gymnasium
Source: wPolityce