Delegates from Europe and ACB met at the Berlin Adlershof Technology Park to take part in an interactive two-day study visit organised by Steinbeis Wissens und Technologietransfer GmbH. The event, part of the ERA SHUTTLE project funded by the European Union, focused on innovation transfer and talent retention in institutions through an inspiring combination of academic knowledge and business strategies.
The University of Gdańsk, as a partner in the project consortium, played an active role during the visit, sharing experiences while gaining new knowledge and inspiration. The UG delegation consisted of dr hab. Paweł Antonowicz, prof. UG, Vice-Rector for Development and Finance, dr hab. Anna Dziadkiewicz, prof. UG, Vice-Dean for Internationalisation and Development of the Faculty of Management, Katarzyna Gronowska, Director of the Technology Transfer Office, Izabela Raszczyk, Director for Administrative Affairs of the International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science, and Dominika Butkiewicz, manager of the ERA SHUTTLE project at the University of Gdańsk. The project partners also invited guests from Ukraine - prof. Oksana Zinchenko and prof. Nataliia Vasylieva from Odesa's I.I. Mechnikov National University, who were included in project activities to expand cooperation and knowledge exchange.
Tonka Petričević from the University of Split gave a speech on university strategies for talent retention. This was followed by the presentation of case studies related to cross-sector skills development, presented by Bessie Fischer-Bohn from WISTA Management GmbH and dr Clio Dosi from the University of Bologna. It was also possible to visit the modern creative spaces of WISTA Makerspace.
The second day included visits to prestigious scientific institutions such as the Ferdinand Braun Institute and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing. A unique highlight of the programme was a speech by prof. Paweł Antonowicz on innovative, sustainable and holistic approaches to strategy development - using the University of Gdańsk as an example. An important element was the lecture ‘Theories and models of innovation ecosystems’ delivered by prof. Oleksandra Antoniouk from Kyiv Academic University. Speakers from Germany and Italy continued the topic of innovation ecosystems by introducing participants to practical aspects, which resulted in a lively, open discussion.
Day two of the study visit was part of the public event Steinbeis Dialog@Adlershof.
The study visit highlighted the importance of cross-sector cooperation in developing innovation and retaining talent in science.
The event, organised in the framework of the ERA SHUTTLE (Accelerating ERA by Sharing Unique Talents for a Healthy Life and Environment) project, reflects the European Union's commitment to building strong innovation ecosystems and developing skilled people for the future. Funded under the coordination and support actions of the HORIZON programme, the project seeks to make a difference in Widening Countries. Find out more about the project and planned activities at: https://erashuttle.eu.
