The agreement aims to develop long-term academic and scientific cooperation, including joint research, student and staff exchanges, and the implementation of internationally significant projects – also in the context of Ukraine's reconstruction and security.
As emphasized during the meeting, scientific cooperation amid the ongoing war carries a special dimension. Despite dramatic conditions, Ukrainian scientists and students do not lose their will to work and develop. – "Science has no nationality, and joint research can serve not only both countries but all of Europe," noted Rector Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik.
The partnership between TUL and USUST is not a symbolic initiative – it builds on existing contacts and prior research collaboration. This provides a solid foundation for implementing the agreement's provisions and opens the door to joint applications for external funding, including from European Union funds, for large-scale research and development projects. Representatives from Lodz University of Technology spoke about prospects for future research cooperation: Prof. Tomasz Olejnik, Head of the Department of Occupational Safety Engineering, and Paweł Wolny, PhD from the same department.
One of the key areas of cooperation will be safety engineering. Last year, research was already underway on topics such as evacuation systems, signage for routes to shelters, and human behavior in threat situations like bombings or air raids. These solutions – compliant with Polish and European standards – will be tested in Ukraine, where users face significantly greater psychological stress than in peacetime conditions.
Joint projects will also include the evaluation and development of student works on these topics, as well as research into modern technologies, including in the areas of drones, rocket propulsion, and mobile applications supporting civilians in crisis situations.
The Ukrainian State University of Science and Technology is one of the largest technical universities in the country, educating nearly 15,000 students across seven scientific and didactic centers. It was emphasized that Ukrainian technical sciences today possess enormous potential, along with the exceptional determination of young people to learn and conduct research.
The discussion highlighted that the signed agreement also opens prospects for building the foundations of industrial and economic cooperation. Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine's heavy industry continues to operate, and the collaboration between science and industry could play a key role in the country's future reconstruction.
The agreement between Lodz University of Technology and USUST represents an important step in strengthening international academic cooperation and an expression of solidarity between the scientific communities of Poland and Ukraine.