Opole University of Technology and VSB-TUO looked for opportunities for scientific cooperation

Among other things, the Polish guests visited the laboratories of the Institute of Environmental Technology, part of the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), and the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology.

As it emerged from the meeting, cooperation at some departments of both universities is already in place. For example, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science has long been cooperating with Polish colleagues in publishing and project activities, and currently they have submitted a joint international project under the Digital Europe Programme.

“We already have an awareness of our research activities, but we think there are many more intersecting themes and we would like to expand this research network. At the suggestion of Professor Snášel, the Rector of VSB-TUO, we would like to create a of map of scientific disciplines through one of the online tools that would help both universities find a suitable partner for cooperation,” said Jana Kukutschová, Vice-Rector for Science and Research, who represented the management of VSB-TUO at the meeting.

One of the specific possibilities of cooperation could be the upcoming project A New Generation Method Of Developing Bionic Structures For Lightweight Materials In The Automotive Industry, which was presented by Bartosz Mazurek, a PhD student and head of the laboratory at the Science and Technology Park in Opole, at a meeting attended by representatives of the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies of VSB-TUO. Anna Król, Managing Director of the FPC AlighT, then presented the research activities of this project centre, which combines the potential of three nationally and internationally recognised research institutes - Opole University of Technology, the Fraunhofer Institute IWU and the Science and Technology Park in Opole. “The experience and knowledge of the scientific teams and laboratory facilities enable the implementation of complex and innovative issues related to the development of production processes, design concepts and computational strategies, especially in the field of lightweight materials. We are mainly concerned with resource-efficient production technologies, hybrid technologies and devices, energy-efficient assembly and joining processes in mass production, composite components with integrated e-mobility functions, as well as modelling and simulation of structures and processes,” explained Król.

In the final presentation, Małgorzata Wzorek, Head of Environmental Engineering and Energy, presented research topics in the field of environmental engineering, such as the ageing of materials and products in different conditions and the environmental impact of innovative materials, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment processes, treatment of drinking and industrial water, blackout issues in wastewater treatment plants, breeding of algae and the possibility of using the obtained biomass as raw material for biofuel production, the use of bio-waste, biomass in combustion, pyrolysis and gasification processes, etc.

The visit ended with an excursion to the Institute of Environmental Technology and a tour of the laboratories of the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology.  “We believe that the result of these fruitful meetings will be the establishment of mutual, close cooperation in many areas, both within the universities and the Fraunhofer Innovation Platforms,” Kukutschová summed up the meeting.

Text: Martina Šaradínová, PR Specialist for R&D
Photo: Josef Polák, Audio-Visual Services