GMU Representatives Meet Delegation from Finland

Delegations from Finland visited Gdynia Maritime University as part of a programme of visits to the Tricity to discuss opportunities for increased cooperation between the Tricity and Turku in business and education within the broader blue economy. The visit was organised by the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Turku, Jari A. Rastas.

Representing GMU at the meeting were Dr Dariusz Barbucha, Deputy Rector for Science; Dr Adam Przybyłowski, Head of the Department of Transport at the Faculty of Navigation; Ship Electrical Engineer Officer Bolesław Dudojć, Deputy Head of the Department of Ship Power Electronics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering; Dr Magdalena Kukowska-Kaszuba, Director of the GMU Technology Transfer Office; Dorota Barzowska, Head of the Department of International Cooperation; and Dr Beata Szymanowska, Main Specialist in the Department of University Development.

During the meeting, the Deputy-Rector for Science welcomed the guests before presenting the University – its history, organisational structure, the education programmes offered, main fields of research, and cooperation with other academic centres and partners from the wider socio-economic environment. Dr Kukowska-Kaszuba highlighted the importance of the University’s cooperation with industry, referring in particular to the Science4Business – Nauka dla Biznesu project currently being implemented at GMU and co-financed by the European Union under the European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021–2027 programme. Dorota Barzowska, then presented the tasks planned under a joint application submitted to the Strategic Partnerships programme, funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), with the participation of Gdynia Maritime University, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Novia University of Applied Sciences, and Hochschule Bremerhaven – University of Applied Sciences. The preparation of the application is a direct result of the visit of Professor Tomasz Tarasiuk, Deputy Rector for Internationalisation, Cooperation and Development to Turku in December 2025. There are also plans for other activities as part of the cooperation among the universities.

During the discussion, the partners from Finland stressed the opportunity for cooperation between Tricity and Turku, and on a wider scale between the Baltic Sea regions, in the areas of transport, modern technologies, the energy transformation, and security. The potential of both regions, given their strong academic centres, whose research and education are focused around the blue economy, was also indicated.

At the same time as the meeting at Gdynia Maritime University, a separate meeting with the second part of the delegation from Turku took place on 16 April 2026 at the Marshal’s Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship in Gdańsk. Among those attending was Professor Tomasz Tarasiuk, Deputy-Rector for Internationalisation, Cooperation and Development. The meeting focused on preparations for the Navigate with Pomerania event planned for October 2026, which aims to bring together maritime-sector businesses from Pomerania and the Turku region, while also strengthening academic cooperation and R&D links. Participants included Jari Rastas, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Turku; Antti Rahikka, Trade Counsellor at the Embassy of Finland; Mika Akkanen, representing the city of Turku; representatives of the Marshal’s Office led by Director Stanisław Szultka; the Pomerania Development Agency, represented by Managing Director Katarzyna Matuszak-Dzierżyńska; and Joanna Leman, Head of the Foreign Cooperation Unit at the Marshal’s Office. The meeting led to agreement on the event’s initial concept and the establishment of a working group.