The first birthday of the Łukasiewicz Research Network

A year ago, the Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements PIAP was transformed into Łukasiewicz Research Network under the Act of February 21, 2019. On April 1, 2019, the institute adopted the name Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements PIAP, in short Łukasiewicz-PIAP. There has been another change this year – since February the institute has started implementing a refreshed visual identity based on a new trademark.

– Backed by an over 50 years’ presence on the Polish market PIAP has extensive experience and enjoys customer confidence. Therefore it can actively support the Łukasiewicz Research Network’s activities aimed at development of the Polish economy, in particular in areas such as digital transformation and intelligent mobility. At the same time, the integration of PIAP with the Network opens up new opportunities for us to increase both the growth potential and revenues from cooperation with existing and new customers – says DSc Eng. Piotr Szynkarczyk, Director of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements PIAP.

Coronavirus is a challenge for scientists

Due to the worldwide SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic, the first anniversary of the establishment of the Łukasiewicz Research Network is celebrated in crisis mode. Scientists from institutes belonging to the Network, including Łukasiewicz-PIAP, are involving themselves in development of solutions that will help to fight the spread of pandemic, as well as the ones that will support the Polish economy and enterprises. These include, among others, the projects and public statements regarding:

• development of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 virus,
• manufacturing a device that enables independent ventilation of two patients with a single ventilator,
• launching the production of disposable masks,
• production of 3D protective helmets for doctors and nurses, as well as production of respirator components,
• manufacturing the accessories for door opening handles to avoid contact with dirty/infected objects in stores, buses and other public facilities.

Mission and goals

Actions undertaken to fight the pandemic are part of the Łukasiewicz Research Network’s mission and goals, focusing on creating innovative solutions for micro, small, medium and large entrepreneurs and start-ups. The goal of the Network is to be able to respond to almost any business challenge. To meet this objective Łukasiewicz has built over the past 12 months a portfolio of projects, including 780 positions, and has unified mechanisms implemented in the institutes belonging to the Network for managing research infrastructure, finances, human resources and intellectual property rights.

Cooperation with business

Łukasiewicz focuses its activities on specific research and development areas, which include: digital transformation, intelligent mobility, health, sustainable economy and energy. Łukasiewicz-PIAP participates in the works of the Digital Transformation Research Group and the Intelligent Mobility Research Group. At the same time, the Institute provides support to the Network with its competences in broadly defined robotics, including fields of:

• production of mobile robots for specialized applications, robots protecting human health and life (Łukasiewicz-PIAP robots are exported to 22 countries around the world),
• robotics for mining, energetics, agriculture, medicine, as well as for space applications,
• automation and robotization of industrial processes and other technologically advanced solutions for safety and industry.

Łukasiewicz Research Network is equipped with over 3700 research devices, 497 of which are unique in the country. It also has the largest technological base in the country – 440 modern laboratories. Any entrepreneur can avail itself of them – as well as the knowledge of nearly 5,000 scientists – to support the development of its business. The cooperation between the Network and the business is based on a few simple steps:

• completing the form with description of a challenge the business wants to put forward to Łukasiewicz,
• development of solutions by institutes belonging to the Network and establishing a database of recommended solutions,
• selecting the best solutions by experts and submission to business,
• signing an agreement and implementation of the project on terms mutually agreed by Łukasiewicz and the business.

The form is available at the website: lukasiewicz.gov.pl/biznes.