A University Laboratory of Research Services (ULRS) has been established at the University of Gdańsk. Its task will be to coordinate activities related to the provision of paid services at the university's laboratories.
The establishment of the University of Gdańsk Research Services Laboratory received a positive opinion from the Senate of the University of Gdańsk at its meeting on December 08, 2022. Presenting the project and the purpose of establishing the unit, Rector prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski explained: - 'We have three large, modern laboratory complexes capable of carrying out analyses and measurements on behalf of external entities. They are located at the Faculty of Chemistry, the Faculty of Biology and the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of UG and GUMed. Since the beginning of the term, we have been lobbying both the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Development and Technology to free this infrastructure from restrictions on its commercial use. This has finally been achieved, and the university is now preparing rules for such activities in these buildings. In addition, both the Faculty of Mathematics Physics and Computer Science and the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, in slightly older buildings, also have well-equipped laboratories capable of providing fee-based services.'
The modern infrastructure of the experimental buildings has been fully funded by the EU, which means that, once restrictions are liberalised, commercial activities can be carried out in an area of no more than 20 % of the total building. This, therefore, requires the implementation of appropriate recording and accounting procedures for such used building space.
- 'It is also necessary to dispose of such assignments prudently, especially as we do not want possible commercial activities to interfere with the research carried out there by our scientists. We need to skilfully combine activities that can bring tangible benefits and help finance research at our university with what is a priority at our university, i.e. conducting research,' - explains Rector prof. Piotr Stepnowski.
The Rector entrusted prof. dr hab. Mariusz Makowski of the Faculty of Chemistry with the preparation of the concept, supervision and coordination of the work at the University Research Services Laboratory.
- 'Prof. Makowski is an experienced scientist and uses the measurement infrastructure in his work daily, not only at his faculty. He was also vice dean and later dean, so he also knows the university well from an administrative perspective. I am sure that he will be able to find the "golden mean" to realise the goals of the ULRS,' - adds Rector Prof. Piotr Stepnowski.
The r/v Oceanograf is excluded from the activities of the University's Research Services Laboratory because the activities associated with the commercial operation of this research vessel fall under the responsibility of the Shipowner's Office, while the realisation of research tasks is supervised by scientists from the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography.
