On September 23rd, the New Mobility Congress began at the International Congress Centre in Katowice. It is the largest event in Central and Eastern Europe dedicated to sustainable transformation, decarbonization of transport, new urban planning, and innovative technologies. The event will also be attended by scientists from the Silesian University of Technology. It will last until September 25th.
This year’s edition of the Congress is a record. Over 500 experts from around the world will speak on ten thematic stages, and they will debate on over 250 points of the program for three days. The substantive part focuses on six main thematic paths, including reindustrialization, AI, automation, digitalisation, and energy security. There will also be discussions about hydrogen transport, low-carbon constraints, and mobility in the cities of the future.
Among the speakers, there is of course no shortage of scientists from the Silesian University of Technology. On the first day, a panel was held with the participation of rectors of the Academic Consortium – Katowice City of Science entitled “Symbiosis of science and industry: A new chapter for the Polish innovation ecosystem.” Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Anna Chrobok took part in the panel. The discussion, which lasted over an hour, concerned the role of universities in educating experts and innovation leaders, building lasting partnerships between academia and business, and financing research and education for the needs of innovation. Everyone agreed: Investing in science is investing in the future.
- The role of the Silesian University of Technology in this process is extremely important. We educate experts who later work in companies developing new technologies, as well as responsible entrepreneurs who are aware of the challenges and needs of both the European and global market. On the other hand, we conduct scientific research, thanks to which we create innovative solutions in cooperation with industry. The panel also highlighted the importance of both basic research, expanding general knowledge, and application research, which leads to the implementation of specific solutions to the market – explains Vice-Rector Anna Chrobok.