The Polish Academy of Sciences is an institution of studies of the Polish state, with seat in Warsaw. It had been established in 1952 by the partnership of previous societies of studies, including Polish Academy of Abilities ("Polska Akademia Umiejętności", in short "PAU"), with its seat in Cracow, and the Scientific Society of Warsaw ("Towarzystwo Naukowe Warszawskie") which had been established in the 18th century as Society of Warsaw of the Friends of Sciences ("Warszawskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk").