UNIVERSITY-BUSINESS COOPERATION DISCUSSED IN TV ORION INTERVIEW

Dr Eng. Anna Wróbel-Knysak, Head of the Office for Cooperation with the Socio-Economic Environment at Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, was the guest of Piotr Chaładaj on the programme On the Net (W Sieci) broadcast by TV Orion.

Today we are going to talk about the University’s cooperation with its external environment. But what exactly do we mean by that? The term “socio-economic environment” is a very broad one.

That is precisely where we should begin, because the socio-economic environment encompasses society, the economy and, above all, business. However, let me first provide a little historical background. A university is not only about education and research; it is also about collaboration in the broadest sense. At the beginning of the 2000s, the University authorities began considering the establishment of a centre that would bring together the academic community and the socio-economic environment. The main objective was to strengthen cooperation with businesses, but also with local government authorities and the city. In 2013, the University established the Centre for Knowledge and Innovation Transfer in Science and the Arts (CTWIONS).

How has this worked in practice? There has long been a perception that although Polish scientists make significant discoveries and develop innovative solutions, these do not always translate into economic growth. When we talk about university-business cooperation, we usually think of technical universities and technological innovations. Yet your institution is a university where technical disciplines are only one part of a much broader academic landscape.

The Office for Cooperation with the Socio-Economic Environment is responsible for coordinating cooperation across many different areas. I believe we are in a fortunate position because, alongside technical disciplines, our University also has strengths in areas such as the arts. As you rightly pointed out, people often assume that only technology and engineering can benefit industry. In reality, cooperation is equally possible in the humanities and social sciences, and this is exactly what we are doing. Several units within the Office have been established to strengthen these partnerships. CTWIONS focuses largely on technical cooperation, but our portfolio also includes expertise in so-called "soft" disciplines, such as law, education and psychology. The Office also oversees the University Centre for Science, Culture and the Arts and the Careers Office, both of which play an important role in supporting students and graduates. In essence, we support our researchers and creators across every discipline and at many different levels. An important aspect of our work is raising awareness among both academics and the wider public about the importance of protecting intellectual property. At numerous conferences and events, including those organised by the Polish Patent Office, it is repeatedly emphasised that a patent should not simply become what is jokingly referred to as a "colonel" - something placed on a shelf and forgotten as merely proof of ownership. A patent must be implemented and brought into practical use if it is to have real value.

What would you consider to be the Centre's most tangible achievements?

Without doubt, one of our greatest successes is research and development (R&D) cooperation with external partners. In 2025, revenue from R&D services exceeded PLN 500,000 (net), which is an excellent result for a relatively small university. Technical expertise still represents the largest share of this work, but we are increasingly providing legal opinions and consultancy in the humanities. We also collaborate with specialists in education and psychology, as well as with companies and research centres from abroad. Our cooperation even extends to the music industry, including projects involving record production.

How does cooperation with private companies work? Do businesses approach you directly to request research or expert support? What types of companies are involved?

There is still room for improvement in this area, which is why we actively participate in events aimed at entrepreneurs. We work closely with the Regional Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which organises numerous networking meetings, bringing together companies from across the region and beyond. We also cooperate with the Regional Development Agency by taking part in its "Business Breakfasts", where we seek to dispel the misconception that universities are concerned solely with teaching and research. Many entrepreneurs are still unaware that they can approach us with technological challenges they are unable to solve internally or for which they lack appropriate laboratory facilities. Some companies do contact us directly, asking whether we can provide specialist expertise or recommend suitable laboratories. However, most of our new collaborations come through businesses that have already worked with us and recommend our services to others. At networking events such as Speed Business and Business Under the Magnifying Glass, organised by the Regional Chamber of Industry and Commerce, I often hear people say: "You can actually do that?" or "Can we really have that tested at your University?" This clearly shows that we still need to communicate more effectively that we are open to cooperation. One of the Centre's key roles is to engage proactively with both SMEs and large corporations. Recently, we have also recognised the importance of focusing on specific industrial sectors.

Which sectors will be your priority? I assume these are industries with strong growth potential rather than those likely to decline because of legislative or EU regulatory changes.

Certainly the food industry, particularly dietary supplements, as well as the medical sector. Engineering and technical industries also remain among our highest priorities. These are the areas in which we intend to provide particularly strong support to companies and institutions. At the same time, we remain open to cooperation with organisations from every sector that could benefit from our expertise. We are also seeing remarkable entrepreneurial awareness among our students. They have innovative ideas and increasingly want to develop projects and even establish their own businesses. This is another area where our Centre can provide valuable support.
I would also like to highlight that Jan Dlugosz University is a member of the COLOURS Alliance, whose mission is to foster collaboration and implement joint international initiatives. Poland is one of nine participating countries, alongside Germany, France, Spain, North Macedonia and Croatia. One of the Alliance's newest initiatives is the Student Entrepreneurship Centre.

Does the University currently operate any business incubators? Universities used to establish many of them to support start-ups. What does this look like at Jan Dlugosz University today?

The Student Entrepreneurship Centre is intended to serve as the University's first business incubator for both students and researchers with innovative business ideas. It offers access to a variety of funding opportunities and provides an environment where aspiring entrepreneurs can develop their first start-ups. CTWIONS supports participants throughout these processes and investment procedures. We also work closely with businesses to raise awareness of intellectual property protection. I am personally responsible for this area at the University. Although it is still not widely recognised, intellectual property now represents a substantial proportion of a nation's wealth. Countries with strong patent portfolios are becoming increasingly influential players in the global economy. There is still a clear need to promote awareness of intellectual property protection because many outstanding projects and dissertations are developed without considering how they should be protected. We cooperate closely with a patent attorney, who advises on the appropriate protection strategy. Our role as the Centre is to explain the available options, prepare suitable agreements and ensure that inventors and creators have the legal safeguards they need to protect their ideas and innovations. Why do I emphasise contracts? Because one of the Centre's core activities is participation in externally funded projects. I would like to point out that we are currently implementing Task 1, Development Incubator, as part of the non-competitive project Science4Business - Science for Business, financed by the European Union with a total budget of PLN 297 million. Jan Dlugosz University is carrying out this project within a consortium led by the WSB University in Dąbrowa Górnicza, with the KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology in Gliwice as the second consortium partner. The University's funding amounts to PLN 3 million, of which more than PLN 1 million – approximately 40% – will be allocated to mini-grants. We are therefore actively seeking promising ideas from our researchers. We will support them throughout the process, provide appropriate legal protection through carefully prepared agreements, safeguard their intellectual property rights and, ultimately, help commercialise their innovations, which is our primary objective.

Watch the full video interview.