Funding from the Ministry of Education and Science
Project title: Lublin University of Technology for innovation
Agreement number: NdS/529949/2021/2021
Project implementation period: 24.04.2022 - 23.04.2024
Principal Investigator: prof. dr hab. inż. Zbigniew Pater
Project value: 1 679 675,00 PLN
Funds granted for Lublin University of Technology: 1 679 675,00 PLN
Abstract: The activities planned in the project are aimed at supplementing and expanding the activities undertaken by Lublin University of Technology (PL) to increase the efficiency of cooperation with business. The following activities will be undertaken as part of the project:
**I. Creation of Invention Prototypes**
- The Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer of Lublin University of Technology (CIiTT) will announce a competition for teams of creators who have submitted a patent application in the last 3 years (PL obtained 250 patents during this time). Creators interested in creating prototypes of their inventions will submit short applications to the competition committee, which will select 25 inventions with the greatest commercialization potential. The selected inventions will be presented on the PL website and during the hybrid opening conference of the project.
- Entrepreneurs participating in the conference will select 10 out of the 25 presented solutions for which prototypes will be made. During the project implementation, teams of scientists will create physical or virtual prototypes (depending on the specifics of the topic). At the end of the project, promotional materials about them will be created.
- CIiTT will take actions to commercialize the prototype solutions through their sale, licensing, or the creation of spin-off companies. The aim of the activity is to provide entrepreneurs with information about inventions created at PL, give entrepreneurs real influence on the directions of work conducted at PL, demonstrate the industrial applicability of inventions, and reduce the risk of their implementation.
**II. Industrial Internships in Enterprises**
- CIiTT will announce a competition for scientists to undertake industrial internships in enterprises (10 internships each year of the project). Scientists will submit applications based on which the competition committee will grant them support for the internship. The application will indicate the enterprise(s) where the six-month industrial internship will take place.
- During the internship, employees undertaking the internship will be exempt from teaching duties. CIiTT employees will conduct a simplified audit of the technological needs in the enterprises hosting the interns to define areas of future cooperation.
- As a result of the internship, recommendations regarding forms of cooperation will be developed, which will be permanently implemented into the university's management system and employee evaluation.
**III. Production of Films and Online Promotion**
- From the research results that have been commercialized, CIiTT will select the 10 most interesting implementations. Popular science films explaining the basic phenomena, processes, and technologies used in the given solution, as well as general information about PL's cooperation with the given enterprise, will be made about them. The films aim to promote PL's successes in commercialization as well as popularize scientific knowledge and curiosities about its practical use.
- A short instructional film about science-business cooperation will be made. This film will present the forms of cooperation with the university, basic information about intellectual property rights, and commercialization principles in an accessible way.
- Films summarizing the opening and closing conferences will be made. The films will present the inventions evaluated by entrepreneurs and the prototypes created during the project.
- All films and promotional materials will be positioned and promoted on PL's social media to increase their reach. Additionally, they will be used for promotional purposes during events organized by the university and at industry fairs and invention exhibitions.
**IV. Promotion at Fairs and Invention Exhibitions**
- CIiTT will select 2 trade events where inventions and R&D results obtained at PL will be promoted. The university will promote itself at an exhibition stand equipped with a screen for film projection. Leaflets and brochures promoting cooperation with the university will be available at the stand. The stand will be staffed by CIiTT employees.
- 10 inventions obtained by PL in the last 3 years will be promoted at invention exhibitions. Creators interested in promotion at exhibitions will submit applications to the competition committee, which will grant funding to cover exhibition fees and the costs of the university representative's participation in the exhibition (per diems, travel, and accommodation costs).
**V. Opening and Summary Conference of the Project**
- The opening conference of the project aims to promote inventiveness and science-business cooperation and engage entrepreneurs in identifying inventions for which prototypes will be made. Approximately 100 people are expected to participate in both in-person and remote formats. Participants will be able to vote on the inventions presented at the accompanying exhibition.
- The summary conference of the project aims to promote inventions and present the project's results, particularly the prototypes created during the project. Approximately 100 people are expected to participate in both in-person and remote formats. The conference will be accompanied by an exhibition of inventions and prototypes.
