Silesian University of Technology in a consortium with the University of Cambridge for the benefit of Silesia
On September 17th, an agreement was signed in Katowice to establish a consortium that will bring together representatives of local government, universities, business environment institutions, non-governmental organizations, capital investors and technology companies. The consortium will carry out activities as part of the international “Innovation Policy Ignition Program”, run by Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge.
The leader of the project is the Katowice Special Economic Zone, which will be responsible for coordinating activities, and the City of Katowice and the Katowice Gaming and Technology Hub are the strategic partners. In addition to the Silesian University of Technology, the consortium includes: University of Silesia, Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis, Silesian Voivodeship Transformation Fund, Silesian Startup Foundation, AIUT Sp. z o. o., ITEO, Amarant Capital and KYNDRYLL.
– Cooperation within the “Innovation Policy Ignition Program” run by Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, gives the Silesian University of Technology access to the know-how of one of the most renowned universities in the world and to the achievements of the Cambridge ecosystem, which will enable the development of effective tools supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and technology transfer. By leveraging the experience of the Cambridge Silicon Fen cluster, the university gains the opportunity to truly strengthen its innovation policies and the quality of its commercialization processes, as well as to increase its impact on the region's economic development, emphasized Dr Hab. Eng. Marcin Staniek, Prof. SUT, Vice-Rector for Collaboration with Civic and Economic Environment of SUT, who signed the agreement.
Through a series of expert lectures and practical workshops culminating in a training trip to Cambridge, local decision-makers will gain unique knowledge and substantive support in developing a Regional Action Plan implementing pilot solutions in the area of innovation, combining science, business and administration. The final phase of the project covers the implementation of the developed initiatives in Silesia, monitored by the professors leading the program.
– We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to use the scientific potential and experience of such a renowned university as the University of Cambridge, as well as the achievements of the local innovation ecosystem, to develop and implement innovation and entrepreneurship policies in Silesia. We believe that the project will significantly contribute to the technological development of our region and building its competitive advantages in this area – emphasized Dr Hab. Rafał Żelazny, President of the Management Board of the Katowice Special Economic Zone SA, project leader.
The programme, through the use of research and the exchange of best practices drawn from the Cambridge innovation ecosystem, is a huge opportunity to jointly build effective innovation policies that have a real impact on the economic development of Silesia. It is also an opportunity to strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and increase the competitiveness of Silesian enterprises and their share in the global technology transfer market. Additionally, through the participation of other regions from around the world in the program, Silesia will gain the opportunity to cooperate in an international network of practitioners, which will allow for the development of lasting mechanisms to support innovation on a global scale.
