On 30th October  2019 the results of the competition in Initiative of excellence – a research university programme were announced. The programme aim is to identify and support the universities which aspire to research university status and effectively compete with other academic centres in Europe and worldwide.

There are 20 best Polish universities entitled to participate, 10 of which were determined to receive a subsidy increased by 10% in 2020–2026. The remaining participants, including Medical University of Lodz, will also be granted financial support i.e. a 2% increase in the annual subsidy.

For Medical University to take part in Initiative of excellence – a research university was an opportunity to carry out comprehensive analyses and update of the university development strategy. Independent international experts were invited to compile reports and recommendations for us. The project was widely discussed within our university and its Scientific Board involved the collaboration of young researchers as well as experienced, internationally acclaimed scientists. We cared about and attentively listened to the needs of the entire academic community.

MUL is a leading medical university which received the top grades in the last appraisal: A+ Grade for The Faculty of Medicine and A Grade for the other faculties. The number of research projects, including international ones, is successively on the increase. The university successfully and effectively uses the international contacts. Active lifestyle and healthy ageing are the leading interdisciplinary fields of research the university conducts. MUL is a member of two prestigious consortia involved in this field i.e. EIT Health and European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA).

The key to success lies in an ongoing development strategy initiated over 10 years ago and UMED4Excellence is the strategy expansion. We found ourselves in the elite of the higher education universities whose research and development has been assessed very highly by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The additional funds will enable us to support research projects and professional development, said prof. Radzisław Kordek, Rector of Medical University of Lodz.