Representatives of the University of Warsaw took part in a study visit to Silicon Valley, during which they presented research projects, patents and spin-off companies, and established cooperation with numerous academic and business centres. The visit was a part of the international programme Top 1000 Innovators of Poland in Silicon Valley and marked an important step towards the internationalisation of research and the commercialisation of research results at the University of Warsaw.

From 9th to 12th December, representatives of the University of Warsaw took part in a study visit to Silicon Valley in the United States. The programme included, among others, meetings at Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Triple Ring Technologies Innovation Labs.

 

The activities were carried out within the Top 1000 Innovators of Poland in Silicon Valley programme, in cooperation with the organisation Poland in Silicon Valley. Centre for Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PolSV).

 

The delegation consisted of researchers as well as specialists in technology transfer and cooperation with the socio-economic environment. During the visit, they presented selected research projects, University of Warsaw patents and spin-off companies, while simultaneously working on building lasting relationships with partners from Silicon Valley.

 

Innovative initiatives

As part of workshops involving representatives of business, academia and public institutions, discussions focused on University of Warsaw initiatives with high application and commercialisation potential – both at an early stage of development and at a more advanced phase—as well as on possible pathways for their further development.

 

The University of Warsaw presented the following initiatives: Better PGM Catalysts for Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells; Single-Atom Layers for Advanced Catalysis and Gas Sensing; Bhumi. We renew soil; exploRNA. Using mRNA as a therapeutic is a cutting-edge approach; From Global Excess to Green Resource: Bias-Free Solar CO₂ to Fuel Conversion; Functionalized Peptide Hydrogels as a Tool to Support Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Therapeutic Potential of Myogenic Precursor Cells; ICON (data Identification, COllection & assessmeNt); Smarter Diagnostics. Turning sports performance health data into action with an AI co-pilot; TARGETING DEADLY Staph: From Precision Bacterial Predictors to Matched Human-Derived Antibodies.

 

The team from the University of Warsaw also worked on preparing recommendations to improve conditions for cooperation at the interface of science, business and the public and social sectors with regard to the practical application of research results, drawing on best practices employed in leading global innovation hubs such as Silicon Valley. The recommendations developed will be used in further initiatives of the University, in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, other universities and PolSV, to support the development of an innovation-friendly ecosystem at the regional, national and Central and Eastern European levels, fostering the intensification of joint interdisciplinary and cross-sector initiatives in response to contemporary socio-economic challenges.

 

200 participants and 100 projects

The Top 1000 Innovators of Poland in Silicon Valley programme (www.polsv.org) brought together the largest Polish scientific and technical delegation in the history of Silicon Valley, containing 200 researchers and staff from 12 Polish universities. During four days of intensive workshops and meetings, more than 100 projects and technologies with high application and market potential were presented. The event provided a unique opportunity to promote Polish scientific and technological achievements, patents and spin-off companies in a global centre of innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

The visit was part of the ScalePL project, implemented from November till December. According to announcements by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, this is the first stage of a multi-year initiative aimed at supporting Polish universities in internationalisation and in promoting Polish innovation achievements in Silicon Valley. This year’s edition of the project includes the following institutions: AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Kozminski University, Tadeusz Kościuszko Cracow University of Technology, Lodz University of Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Silesian University of Technology, Warsaw University of Technology, Wroclaw University of Technology, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Jagiellonian University, and the University of Warsaw.

 

The outcome of the initiative will be the strengthening of scientific and technological cooperation between Polish universities and Silicon Valley partners, including the development of science–business relations, the reinforcement of academic partnerships, and the promotion of advanced research projects, patents and the start-up ecosystem emerging from Polish universities.

University of Warsaw representatives participating in the Top 1000 Innovators of Poland in Silicon Valley programme:

  • Maciej Chmielewski, Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw, Department of National Economy, doctoral candidate (commercialisation of research results);
  • Prof. Maria Anna Ciemerych-Litwinienko, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Director of the Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences;
  • Prof. Mirosława Huflejt-Łukasik, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Head of the Centre for Applications of Psychology;
  • Prof. Jacek Jemielity, Director of the Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw;
  • Prof. Rafał Jurczakowski, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Head of the Electrochemistry of New Materials Group; Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry;
  • Dr Paweł Kuczma, Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, Department of Information Technologies;
  • Prof. Adam Lewera, Faculty of Chemistry, Vice-Dean for Development; Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Head of the Catalysis and Surface Physicochemistry Group;
  • Renata Olejnik, University of Warsaw Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer, Head of the Intellectual Property Section;
  • Rafał Orłowicz-Murawski, University of Warsaw Centre for Knowledge and Technology Transfer, Technology Broker;
  • Gabriela Sempruch, University of Warsaw Business Centre, Senior Specialist for External Cooperation, Programme Coordinator;
  • Assistant Prof. Renata Solarska, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Head of the Molecular Solar Innovations Laboratory Group;
  • Assistant prof. Marta Zapotoczna, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Head of the Infection Biology Group/Laboratory;
  • Katarzyna Werner (Klimek), Doctoral School of Social Sciences, University of Warsaw, doctoral candidate (commercialisation of research results), UWRC Sp. z o.o.