Poland: Gdansk University of Technology and Gdansk Shipyard Sign Cooperation Agreement

A natural partner for SG is the Gdańsk University of Technology (PG). On February 22nd , SG and PG signed a cooperation agreement. The Framework Agreement, signed at a meeting of the PG Senate, is intended to provide a platform for cooperation between the company and the university.

“Practice shows that the conventional experience is not enough. If we want to develop, exist in the market and create a scientific and technological base, we need a partner” said prof. Boshidar Metschkow, vice president of SG.

Cooperation will be based primarily on the knowledge, experience and potential. Representatives of both parties expressed their willingness to support and stimulate innovative entrepreneurship, technology transfer and creating effective links between science and business. A joint initiatives in research and development projects are also planned.

The goal of this initiative is both to train highly qualified engineers, and gain young people’s interest in maritime sector. Currently, students are less eager to bound their future with shipbuilding industry. Problems that sector is experiencing are undoubtedly some of the reasons. Nevertheless, young, and talented professionals are considered the future of shipbuilding industry in Poland.

“Our intention is to expand research and projects carried out in cooperation with the Technical University to a very wide range in terms of PG departments” reveals Metschkow, who had been trying to combine academic work with practical experience in the field of shipbuilding since the beginning of his career. “The project is intended to include not only the Department of Ocean Engineering and Ship Technology, but also computer science, electrical engineering, surveying and more.”

Another sign of shipyard`s activity in the scientific field is participation in EU research project RETROFIT. The project is being carried out since October last year, by a consortium of 14 partners from seven European countries – the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Norway, Finland, Belgium and Polish. Retrofit means adapting the technology so that existing and newly built units meet all applicable environmental standards. A Spanish 210-meter ship, ro-ro, Jose Maria Entrecanales has been chosen as a research object.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, February 29, 2012; Image: gdanskshipyard