On October 30, 2019, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education announced a list of 10 research universities selected in the 1st competition under the "Excellence Initiative - Research University" program. Jagiellonian University was included in this prestigious group of universities, the establishment of which was provided for in the "Law on Higher Education and Science" (the so-called Constitution for Science or Law 2.0).

The purpose of the competition was to identify and support universities that would strive to achieve the status of a research university and be able to compete effectively with the best academic centers in Europe and the world. 

Each university participating in the competition could receive a maximum of 40 points. Jagiellonian University received 34 points, as a result of which it took 3rd place in the competition. It thus became one of ten universities in Poland that will receive a subsidy increased by 10% each year between 2020 and 2026. This will enable it to undertake activities that will aim to increase the competence and professional development of UJ researchers, establish valuable international cooperation between universities, and raise the level of UJ's scientific research.

The "Excellence Initiative - Research University" program is a strategy implemented by the Jagiellonian University to increase the university's international visibility. The activities that will have the greatest impact during UJ's quest to become a sustainable research university include strengthening such areas as international partnerships, research grants, innovative research and education, social responsibility, globalization of science, and knowledge and technology transfer.

On the basis of a SWOT analysis determining the potential for UJ's research development, it was possible to identify 7 Priority Research Areas (POBs) within which the university will conduct intensified research activities:

Heritage
FutureSoc
BioS
qLife
SciMat
DigiWorld
Anthropocene