Gdynia Maritime University GMU

On 18 November 2024, the staff from the GMU Technology Transfer Office, Director Dr Magdalena Kukowska-Kaszuba and Innovation Broker Marlena Żur-Lewandowska, attended an event to mark the 10th anniversary of Gdańsk University Company Univentum Labs. The event summarised the achievements of the University's special purpose company, presented its development over the course of the decade, and looked at the academic environment and entrepreneurship in Pomerania. The event was attended by representatives of business, Gdańsk University spin-offs, special purpose companies from other universities, local government, scientific institutions and non-governmental organisations.

During the event, talks were given by guest representatives from within the social and economic environment. Maciej Grabski, the President of Olivia Centre, gave a talk on megatrends and innovations in the region of Pomerania - a key region in the development of Poland. Krzysztof Gulda, a member of the board of special purpose company UW - UWRC (University of Warsaw) considered whether universities' special purpose companies should be seen as their success or failure. He proposed that such a form of activity allows for flexibility, in particular the effective identification of research work and the rapid support of the commercialisation process.

Further contributions to the discussion on the vision of the transfer of technology from University to business were provided by Dr Krzysztof Mazur from the Jagiellonian University. In his opinion, the synergy of researchers and entrepreneurs and the business experience passed on to young researchers through a mentor aimed at the development of their start-ups is an essential element of technology transfer. The Chair of the Special Purposes Company Agreement, Dr Jakub Jasiczak, focused on R&D strategies in the transfer of research results to the economy and highlighted key matters in achieving success.

The whole event was intertwined by the speech of the President of Univentum Labs, Dr Sylwia Mrozowska, and the Vice-President of Univentum Labs, Dr Andrzej Poszewicki, who spoke of the vision of the future of Univentum Labs and the importance of the company for the University and the local ecosystem, highlighting the presence of spin-off companies.