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RESEARCH |
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Deputy Rector for Science |
The Scientific Research Department is resposible for co-ordination of research activities, in pursuance of the University policy. The Scientific Research Department is also responsible for:
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RESEARCH
The research and development is conducted in 26 University Research Programmes, the list
of which is given on successive pages. 1556 research and development projects were
conducted in 2002. The projects were financed from different sources: donations of the
Committee for Scientific Research (in this 390 grants), and orders obtained from the industry
and other Polish and foreign institutions. The above activities have been performed at 15
faculties , most of which have been ranked by the KBN as Category One and Two. The AGH
staff proves to be very efficient in gaining financial means for research. In contest number
XXIV for establishing individual research projects, the AGH submitted 150 proposals to the
KBN and reached an over 41% success factor.
Efficiency of the scientific research activity has been confirmed by publications issued, patent
protection of inventions and scientific degrees obtained in 2002. There were 3931
publications issued, including 123 books (5 of them published abroad), 296 chapters (37 of
them included in foreign books), 1709 articles (493 in foreign periodicals), 1803 papers (555
of them in conference materials published abroad), 39 other items (maps, atlases, patents).
18 thesis for the title of associate professor were approved by the Commission for Scientific
Titles and Degrees and 106 scientists were graduated with Ph.D. 44 patent applications were
submitted to the Patent Office, 33 invention have obtained patent protection. 20 license and 4
implementation contracts, and 30 export and 163 import contracts were concluded.
To promote the University's research results a database of the offered technologies is
accessible on the University website.
University research program
- The principles and methods of exploration and identification of mineral deposits and underground water from the commercial point of view.
- Forecasting and prevention of hazards in mining.
- Complex utilisation of solid, liquid and gaseous mineral deposits and new techniques of their opening out and exploitation.
- Complex processing and utilisation of minerals and production wastes.
- New technologies in drilling and bore-hole exploitation of mineral deposits and underground water.
- Techniques of measurements and calculations in mine surveying, industrial and urban geodesy, and the problem of photogrammetry in satellite geodesy.
- Mining technologies in underground constructions and environment protection.
- Theoretical and technological basis of processes in metallurgy, plastic forming and foundry engineering.
- Basics of mechanics, automatics, robotics and vibroacoustics.
- Construction and operation of machines and technological installations.
- Production, conversion and effective utilisation of energy.
- Methods and CPU aided tools in parallel calculations, computer networks, expert and CAD/CAM systems.
- Methods and instrumentation of measurement systems, data processing, storing and transfer of information.
- Methods of analysis, optimisation and designing of electric drives and other industrial equipment control systems, and electric and electronic systems
- Application of the neural networks.
- Application of computers in industrial processes.
- Energochemical coal processing, coal and inorganic sorbents.
- Mechanisms and kinetics of the physical and chemical processes in condensed phases.
- New technologies and ceramic materials of the assigned properties.
- Structure and physical properties of crystalline and amorphous solids and methods of obtaining.
- Development of the measurement methods, detectors and procedures for analytics.
- Basics and applications of the nuclear physics and engineering.
- Survey of the environment, its complex protection and formation.
- The economics, organisation and adjustment to the world trends of production infrastructure in Poland, in the field of the University profile.
- Technical and economical problems of restructuring and closing-down of the underground and opencast mines and metallurgical plants.
- Selected mathematical problems and their applications
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PROMOTION
One of the most important tasks of the University authorities is representation of the University in Poland and in international environment, creation of its good image and promotion, which highly influences number of candidates for students, number of research orders obtained, financial strength of the University and finally its status. Important promotion activities are:
- contacts and meetings with political authorities: the President's Office, the Polish Parliament (Commission of Education, Science and Technical Progress), and local authorities
- active collaboration with the institutions responsible for the universities and science (Ministry of Education, Supreme Council of Universities, KBN (Committee for Scientific Research), Agency of Technique and Technology)
- participation in activities of the various Rectors' Conferences and the University-and- Business Forum.
High status of the University has been confirmed by participation of its representatives in the
committees and panels of the Polish Academy of Science (PAN), the Polish Academy of
Science and Art (PAU), the Ministry of Education, the Committee for Scientific Research
(KBN), the Central Board for Scientific Titles and Degrees, and the Main Council of the High
Schools.
Recently the University was honored by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland with 3
prestige awards for research and technical achievements and was a nominee for the Economic
Award granted by the President of the Republic of Poland.
Deputy Rector for Science and Research organized a national conference on innovations and
transfer of technology Participants of the conference were Deputy Rectors for Science and
Research from other technical universities, Director of the Research Department of the
Committee for Scientific Research (KBN), Chairman of KBN Research Groups,
representatives of The Ministry of Education and Sport, Polish Chamber of Patent Attorneys,
Institute of Polish Brand, and the Centre of Advanced Technologies. Effectiveness of
research, innovations, transfer of technology, methods of increasing of number of patent
protection applications and approvals were the main subjects of the conferences.
The University is proud of its particular links, exceptional in the Polish conditions, with the
University graduates. The top assignment of the University authorities should be a further
improvement of the collaboration with the Alumni Association not only for the sake of
promotion but also of financial support of the University.
The AGH University Science and Technology Alumni Forum promotes the University and
initiate co-operation with the industry, governmental and local authorities.
DOMESTIC COOPERATION
The University actively collaborates with other Krakow universities and scientific institutions
both at the level of the Rectors' Board and in direct cooperation .
The University is an active organizer of domestic and international scientific conferences.
62 conferences and symposia were organized in 2002.
The University considers to be very important close cooperation with the local and regional
authorities: the Voiwoda ship, the Association of the Małopolska Communes, the City Board
and the Local Government of Krakow. Deputy Rector for Science and Research has been a
member of the Małopolska Region Monitoring Committee, co-ordinating allocation of the
support funds.
Applications for financial support of the several infrastructure development projects have
been submitted to the authorities of the Małopolska Province within frameworks of the
Operational Program for Regional Development in 2004-2006. The Program is supported
with structural funds provided by the European Union.
Cooperation with Polish industry is satisfactory. The collaboration is crucial for the industry
to secure competitiveness on the global market, which becomes more and more complex,
innovative and competitive At present, an enterprise is the main carrier of innovation as its
potential is determined by such factors as engineering knowledge, financial means, market
information, and skilled executives.
Although the University representatives work as advisors and consultants in many enterprises,
and playing an important role in the University activity, so far industry has not took fully
advantage of the existing University potential and resources. New possibilities have been
created by collaboration of the University with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce,
Cracow's Industrial Society and Business Centre Club.
A number of long-term co-operation agreements have been signed with several domestic and
foreign institutions such as KGHM Polska Miedź SA - Lubin, ZZPC "OPOCZNO" -
Opoczno, Odlewnie Polskie SA - Kielce, and Exbud SA - Kielce, Grupa ZASADA, Delphi,
Wieliczka Salt Mine, LG Phiips Displays Poland). Subject of the agreements is scientific,
research and educational collaboration, and the aim is comprehensive utilisation of the
partners' potential in order to participate actively in a sustainable development of the country.
The University understands importance of collaboration with small business. The experience
gained by developed countries indicates that small companies are the most efficient
innovation carriers - all should be done is to secure an appropriate infrastructure for
innovative activities. Universities are able to support small enterprises with scientific and
engineering information spread in computer networks, and research instruments (an
opportunity of utilisation of laboratory research results), and infrastructure (renting of
properly equipped facilities in so-called business incubators, and high tech parks or centres).
Particularly important, regional aspect of the infrastructure of innovative activities is creation
of the research and engineering parks and centres . The idea of 'Technopolis' - concentration
of universities, and research, development, and design institutions, and high tech production
facilities in a one area - works well in real life. As far as minor research and engineering
parks are concerned, a prospective success is determined by strict collaboration among small
companies themselves and the park organizer - e.g. university.
Intensified efforts of the University authorities, aimed at creation of the technological park,
have been successful. In March 1998 the University became a shareholder of the "Centre of
Advanced Technologies Cracow Ltd". Besides the University, other shareholders are the State
Treasury, the Jagiellonian University, The Technical University of Cracow, Sendzimir
Steelworks and the Krakow Council.
The last joint project of the University and the Centre of Advanced Technologies is creation
of the Małopolska Region Certification and Standardisation Centre for Products and Services
in Electronic, Electric, Machines, and Information Industries.
One of the significant tasks of the University is search for funds necessary to utilize new
technologies, resulting from research and development activities. One of sources can be
private capital, and to gain access to such resources the University started collaboration with
the Krakow Centre of Advanced Technologies, Business Incubator in Nowy Sącz, and
Industrial Cluster in Tarnów.
Another source could be so-called 'offset'. 14 projects of the University research works,
including aluminum processing, composite materials, electronics, automatics and power
engineering have been submitted within the frameworks of the planned F-16 aircraft offset
transaction. The projects were:
- Opening of the centre for designing and production of thin layer elements and solar panels.
- Technological concept and construction of a multi-functional facility to vacuum spreading of thermo - insulation and fireproof coats on synthetic materials.
- Optimisation of parameters in "KoBo" deformable resisting aluminium alloys extrusion process.
- Technological concept and implementation of production of new generation orthopedic equipment made of composite materials.
- Laboratory for testing and certification of electric power quality.
- Technological concept of data processing for controlling in real time.
- Centre for designing and modeling of integrated circuits and microelectronic systems.
- Implementation of serial production of magnetic instruments for testing steel and steel-rubber ropes and pipes, belts made by OTIS, belt conveyors and other ferromagnetic elements.
- The Central European Authorised Training Centre for LonWorks Technologies.
- Underwater plasma cutting of metals.
- Technological concept and construction of multifunctional Robot.
- Service in the scope of quality, effective generation and processing of electric power, and production of supercondensers.
- Technology of electrodynamic forming of metals.
- Biological (aerobes and anaerobes), chemical and thermal treatment of wastes.
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