We know the results of the first stage of the Young Fahrenheit 2024/2025 competition, organised by Univentum Labs - a special purpose vehicle of the University of Gdańsk - and the Technology Transfer Office of the University of Gdańsk. The competition is intended for young scientists, doctoral students and students at the University of Gdańsk whose research has commercialisation potential.
The aim of the competition is, on the one hand, to promote innovative research conducted at the University of Gdańsk and, on the other, to identify individuals and teams involved in R&D projects with market potential. The initiative is aimed at young scientists, doctoral students and final-year master's students, regardless of their field, whose research has commercial potential - it may become the basis for setting up their own company, e.g. as a spin-off, or for granting a licence.
Each edition of Young Fahrenheit consists of two stages. The first ended on 20 December 2024. In this stage, Univentum Labs received 10 applications: from the Faculty of Chemistry (6 applications), the Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG (2 applications), the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science (1 application) and the Faculty of Management (1 application).
The organisers (Univentum Labs and the Technology Transfer Office) appointed the Chapter of the 4th edition of the Competition consisting of:
- dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG - President of Univentum Labs, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at UG, expert in energy policy,
- Katarzyna Gronowska - Director of Technology Transfer Office UG, expert on 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 Chapter selected five finalists to proceed to the second stage of the Young Fahrenheit Competition (alphabetical order). Among them were:
- Marcin Borowicz - PhD student, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG, Department of Biologically Active Compounds Research,
- Agata Kowalska - PhD student, Department of Chemistry, UG,
- Michał Mońka - assistant professor, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics UG, Institute of Experimental Physics,
- Jakub Orłowski - PhD student, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG,
- Agnieszka Stepasiuk - PhD student, Faculty of Chemistry UG, Department of Biomedical Chemistry.
The final of the competition will take place on 24 January 2025 at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Gdańsk. At that time, the finalists will present their projects before the Competition Jury.
For more information and the competition regulations, visit the Competition website and the Univentum Labs website.