“Our primary focus remains on research, teaching and reflection, with the commercial application of these skills coming second. This kind of collaboration with a US company with a global reach is fantastic,” says Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak in an interview with ‘Rzeczpospolita’. The UW Rector and Justin Gandy, Managing Director of MSD Poland, discuss the recently signed memorandum of cooperation in the fields of scientific research, education and the exchange of expertise.
The University of Warsaw and MSD Polska have signed a cooperation agreement. What does this document mean for the university?
Prof. Alojzy Nowak: The document signed today is extremely important for two reasons. Firstly, our partner is a company of global renown – a recognised leader in the pharmaceutical industry, which has a huge research budget and consistently invests it in scientific development. MSD is a highly recognisable brand in Poland, and our collaboration paves the way for tangible support for advanced research into new therapies and medicine.
Secondly, this agreement fits perfectly with the current direction of development at the University of Warsaw, which has been successfully running its own medical faculty for several years. We are seeing a steadily growing interest in such cooperation not only among future doctors, but also among students of biology, chemistry and physics, as well as research units such as the Centre of New Technologies. Young academics are seeking opportunities for prestigious internships and work placements in large corporations, wishing to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience in the pharmaceutical industry. I am convinced that, following a deeper understanding of our mutual needs and thanks to the steps already taken, our shared future looks extremely promising.
What does this agreement mean for MSD Poland?
Justin Gandy: This partnership represents a unique opportunity for us to forge a genuine link between the world of modern business and the scientific and academic communities. Through this step, we want to send a clear signal that MSD is counting on close cooperation with Polish universities, and in particular with the University of Warsaw, which we consider to be one of the best, if not the best, university in the country. Today’s official signing of the documents is just the first step for us, reflecting our determination to work together. We have high hopes for the development of joint projects. Importantly, our plans are not limited to the next few months – we are building a relationship for years to come. We want to work together and bring people closer, because our ecosystems are subject to constant change, and universities have always been an integral part of them. Now our cooperation is taking on an official character. For MSD, a company that has been present in Poland for 35 years, this is of particular significance – it confirms our desire to remain here for the long term. Our aim is not only to spread knowledge, but also to invest sustainably in the country’s development and the potential of the scientific and academic sector.
The full interview, conducted by Dominika Pietrzyk, can be read and viewed at edukacja.rp.pl >>