Accordingly, challenge-based research was at the center of the information meeting held to present the ECIU and the research conducted by the network. It is important to note that it involves teamwork, with universities collaborating closely with partners from industry, government, and the society.
The meeting was held in a hybrid mode. In his opening remarks, Rector Professor Krzysztof Jóźwik asserted that research lies at the foundation of innovative education, and innovative education is what the ECIU university network aims toward as the university of the future.
The speakers, who included Vice-Rector for Science Professor Łukasz Albrecht, moderating the meeting, and dr inż. Dorota Piotrowska, TUL professor, coordinating activities related to the ECIU university network at TUL, emphasized the need for new solutions to meet the many challenges that society, economy, and education are facing today.
ECIU's research potential is tremendous with programs such as ECIU SMART-ER program, involving interdisciplinary research on Resilient Communities, Circular Economy, Energy and Sustainability, Transport and Mobility, Citizen Science, is helping to advance. The coordinators of the first 4 areas, researchers from Tampere University, University of Stavanger, University of Aveiro, Linkoping University, also contributed to the discussion. They encouraged networking and building research teams. At Lodz University of Technology, the coordinators are (in the order of the research areas listed): dr hab. inż. Małgorzata Hanzl, TUL professor; Professor Beata Gutarowska, dr hab. inż. Paweł Rózga, TUL professor, dr hab. inż. Damian Batory, TUL professor; dr hab. Edyta Pietrzak, TUL professor.
To incentivize and facilitate the pursuit of challenge-driven research collaboration within the ECIU university network a new mobility-enabling program has been introduced at TUL, called RMF (Researcher Mobility Fund). Male and female researchers are encouraged to apply for grants intended to help them seek new collaborative research areas and partnerships within the ECIU. 25 000 zloty is the maximum grant allowable under the program.
The ECIU university network provides opportunities for academic career advancement which should not be ignored. It is a chance to be part of research co-creating the future.