Inauguration of the Centre for Industry 4.0 of the Silesian University of Technology
Activity of the Centre for Industry 4.0 of the Silesian University of Technology was officially inaugurated on the 10th of March. The Centre’s aim is to support enterprises within the framework of the fourth industrial revolution.
The opening of the Centre was attended, among others, by the Vice Rector for Science and Development, Professor Marek Pawełczyk, Vice Rector for General Affairs, Professor Bogusław Łazarz, Director of the unit Andrzej Soldaty PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Anna Timofiejczuk, President of Katowice Special Economic Zone Janusz Michałek PhD and the Centre's partners.
The tasks of the Centre will include research, implementation, training and educational activities, as well as the development of innovative technologies for Industry 4.0 and the development of know-how, intellectual property, acquisition of equipment to conduct research and educational activities to improve the practical knowledge of Polish specialists.
"Industry 4.0 is an enormous change. It is a paradigm shift in manufacturing, new product solutions, new product architecture, new manufacturing systems, new business models. Understanding this change, being aware of it, is the first step. A lot has already been done in this matter, many entrepreneurs confirm that they are able to define what Industry 4.0 means to them. We want to face the latter topic in order to develop competences in the scope of Industry 4.0, both in employees and managers" says Andrzej Soldaty, PhD, director of the Centre for Industry 4.0.
The Centre was established last year, but the idea has been developing at the Silesian University of Technology for many years. "It is impossible to create the idea of Industry 4.0 without the involvement of the university. Everyone is aware that in Silesia, the Silesian University of Technology is an institution which, by its very nature, should get involved in such activities, and so it does. The university has selected 6 Priority Research Areas (POB), one of them is the area of Process Automation and Industry 4.0. When we started creating this POB, we did not realise that this subject matter could be so widely represented at our university. When we look at Industry 4.0 we look at automation, mechanical engineering, transport, data processing, but we also look aqt it from a social perspective. Practically, every faculty has found its interest here" said the Vice Rector for Science and Development, Prof. Marek Pawełczyk.
The term ‘Industry 4.0’ was first used in 2011 at the Hanover Fair.
"The Silesian University of Technology picked up on this issue almost immediately and began carrying out research and work in this area. The university has been involved in various activities, e.g. preparing reports, recommendations and organising conferences. The Silesian University of Technology closely cooperates with the Katowice Special Economic Zone, with which it launched the first dual studies in Poland, while in 2018 we jointly established the Silesian Competence Centre for Industry 4.0, which was the first unit of its kind in Poland" says Prof. Anna Timofiejczuk, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Silesian Competence Centre for Industry 4.0 operated until the end of 2020.
The Centre for Industry 4.0 at the Silesian University of Technology, established last year, will combine the university's activities with industry. Therefore, working groups have been established. Their role will be to develop new solutions and activities to support the transformation.
During the official inauguration, the Vice Rector for Science and Development, Prof. Marek Pawełczyk, on behalf of the Rector, signed an agreement with strategic partners from the industry. These are APA sp. z o.o. and EMT Systems sp. z.o.o.
"The Silesian University of Technology is an exceptional group of people who always have something to offer, and I believe that the technologies and ideas that we develop here will revolutionise Silesia, Poland and perhaps Europe. Let us remember that the use of modern technologies may improve the quality of our lives" says Artur Pollak, President of the Management Board of APA sp. z.o.o.
"On behalf of EMT Systems I would like to thank you for the invitation to such an elite group, which is the Centre of Industry 4.0. We have been implicating the issues of Industry 4.0 in our company for many years and we do it very often with the Silesian University of Technology under various projects, both educational and industrial. I am sure that this cooperation will bring benefits both for the Silesian University of Technology and our company" said Grzegorz Wszołek, President of EMT Systems.
The activities of the Centre for Industry 4.0 of the Silesian University of Technology will have not only national but also international scope.
