Innovative methods for plant protection, ideas for improvements in the medical industry, and the use of organic chemical compounds in image display technologies - the final of the Young Fahrenheit competition saw five participants representing different scientific disciplines and various proposals for putting ideas into practice. The presentation of the competition's top projects took place on January 24 at the UG Faculty of Economics.
‘The fourth edition of the competition confirmed that young scientists at the University of Gdańsk conduct innovative and valuable research that has the potential not only for commercialisation and market success but also for implementing solutions that can significantly contribute to improving the quality of life, environmental protection or technological development,’ says Vice President of Univentum Labs dr Andrzej Poszewiecki. ‘The competition shows how many promising projects are being developed at our University. This is research that can influence the socio-economic environment and change the world for the better.’
The final of the competition featured five participants. Each person had 10 minutes to present their project, and after the presentation, they answered questions from members of the Competition Jury. The presentations were judged on aspects such as the innovation and originality of the project, the quality of the achievement presented, the commercial and scientific potential of the project, the quality of the presentation and the ability to answer the judges' questions. Committee members were impressed by both the projects themselves and the level of presentation. At the same time, they paid attention to the appropriate choice of commercialisation method. As dr Łukasz Guzik, president of Spark-Lab and one of the chapter members noted: ‘Research cannot be conducted in isolation from reality.’ Chapter members also pointed out a certain difficulty in assessing the contribution of individuals to the team. This was all the more important because, as noted by the Vice-Rector for Development and Finance dr hab. Paweł Antonowicz, prof. UG, the finalists represented scientific disciplines that most often require teamwork.
‘The awarded projects were characterised not only by their innovative approach and high level of content, but also by their implementation potential,’ emphasises the president of Univentum Labs, dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG. ‘I hope that the Development Incubator project, which we will soon implement jointly with the Technology Transfer Office, will enable the competition participants to obtain additional support in the process of commercialisation of their ideas.’
All finalists participating in the presentations on 24 January received congratulations and diplomas. The winner of the fourth edition of the Young Fahrenheit competition was dr Michał Mońka, assistant professor at the Institute of Experimental Physics of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of the UG. Second place went to Agnieszka Stepasiuk, a doctoral student from the Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, UG, and third place to Marcin Borowicz, a doctoral student from the Department for the Study of Biologically Active Compounds, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG.
The Competition Jury was composed of:
- dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG - President of Univentum Labs, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development UG, an expert in energy policy,
- Katarzyna Gronowska - Director of Technology Transfer Office UG, an expert on the commercialisation of scientific research,
- dr hab. Paweł Antonowicz, prof. UG - Vice-Rector for Development and Finance of UG, expert in strategic management,
- dr Andrzej Poszewiecki - Vice-President of Univentum Labs, expert in technology transfer, lecturer at the Faculty of Economics of the UG,
- dr Łukasz Guzik - President of Spark-Lab, an innovator in the field of pharmaceuticals and chemical analysis,
- Dorota Sobieniecka-Kańska - Director of Gdańsk Business Club, PR and CSR advisor.
The award ceremony will take place during a ceremonial session of the Senate of the University of Gdańsk on the occasion of the University of Gdańsk Feast Day. The competition's organisers announce the next edition at the beginning of the new academic year, with the hope of further discovering scientific talents and promoting research that inspires and has a real impact on the world around us.
