Two of the largest research centers in Wrocław have decided to join forces and share their research infrastructure and expertise. On 24th July, KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre and Wrocław Research Center EIT+ signed a letter of intent, joining 32 laboratories and over 200 qualified scientists under one agreement.
This agreement fits perfectly into the latest trends. With the Industry 4.0 revolution in full swing and Wrocław aspiring to the „capital of innovation” title, both research centers have chosen the surest way to become a meaningful participant of the global transformation. Automation and internationalization, the cornerstones of Industry 4.0, require a lot of resources, including human resources in the form of skilled professionals. Instead of competing, KGHM Cuprum and EIT+ have decided to cooperate and share all of their laboratories, as well as work on joint publically funded projects.
“We are aware of the mutual benefits of closer cooperation. It provides an effective combination of knowledge and experience, enabling us to develop new solutions beneficial to science and industry,” said Radosław Domagalski-Łabędzki, the CEO at KGHM Cuprum Poland. “I hope that its effects will strengthen KGHM’s position among world leaders in the extractive industries as well as benefit the economy and its sustainability.”
“The agreement with the EIT+ is more than the signing of a letter of intent,” said Piotr Dytko, CEO of KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre. “We have already begun to implement joint projects and to discuss oncoming ones. Together, we will create an R&D ecosystem, because we are deeply interested in the synergy between EIT+ and KGHM Cuprum. I would also like to emphasize that this cooperation fits perfectly into the KGHM strategy for 2017-2021, as innovation is one of its pillars. This agreement is essential to fulfilling our mission,” he emphasized.
EIT+ is also deeply satisfied with the signing of the letter of intent. “This agreement is especially important for entrepreneurs. It significantly broadens the range of specialist laboratory services in Lower Silesia for all our contractors, particularly in the field of mineralogical analyses using advanced analytical techniques,” explained Mateusz Wilczyński, Vice-President of the Board of Wrocław Research Centre EIT+.
The commencement of cooperation between these two institutions drew the attention of many representatives of science and business ecosystems, including Jadwiga Emilewicz, the Undersecretary of State at the Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development, and Piotr Dardziński, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
“KGHM has reached a right decision in choosing to use the existing EIT+ laboratories rather than build brand new ones. We hope that this cooperation will turn out to be fruitful; additionally, we promise all possible support ourselves,” said Jadwiga Emilewicz.
