Consortium

UNIVERSITY OF GDANSK

The University of Gdansk (UG) aims to become a prominent institution that enables individuals to realize their potential and achievements, especially through collaboration with business and in the context of a research-oriented university.

The University of Gdańsk will serve as a dynamic platform for fostering dialogue, exchange of ideas, and collective action towards achieving sustainable and transformative outcomes.

OUR GOALS

UG explores the concept of catalyzing transformative changes through stakeholder engagement. It recognizes the importance of collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility in driving positive societal and environmental impact. The university seeks to promote public engagement through outreach and education activities, mobilizing communities to participate in solving social problems.

Additionally, UG also aspires to achieve sustainability on campus, minimizing environmental impact while promoting social and economic sustainability.

INTERVENTION AREAS

UG university started working on CATALISI project with the 3 big domains and 3 intervention areas – namely:

Research careers and talent support

Recognition of qualifications and research careers

Research modus operandi

Public engagement with and outreach to society to solve social challenges

Finance

Sustainability in campus operations.

UG story OF TRANSFORMATION

Challenges

Research careers and talent support

Fear of losing intellectual property
Lack of support and monitoring in building the career path of a scientist (complex interdisciplinary profile, physics + business)
Unable to establish a partnerships with business
Bureaucracy is too constraint

Research modus operandi

No remuneration in horizontal projects
Ability of researchers to manage projects
Internal competition between units
lack of UG brand management strategy with effective customer relationships
Lack of innovation readiness level system

Finance

Lack of understanding of market needs (UG)
Lack of founds
Lack of a promotion and sales mechanism
Bad experiences in cooperation with business
Lack of relationships between researchers

methodology

Research careers and talent support

Have a support center for scientists
Increase awareness of scientists about intellectual property and the value of their works/discoveries
Train the staff to increese the cooperation with business
monitoring of employees’ professional qualifications and skills
Check needs of the environment, and design forms of education, not vice versa

Research modus operandi

Create customer journey map
Training on building relationships with customers
Introduce an integrated training system for UG employees
Learning to identify commercial services

Finance

Regular meetings with entrepreneurs
ESG Manager post graduated studies
Diagnosis of potential/capacity in context of sustainability
Mapping of priorities
(wants and needs)
New approach to education

OUTCOMES \ ACCOMPLISHMENTS

A transformation strategy enhancing its research environment, innovation culture, and sustainable academic development., with special focus on:

Systemic and Structural Developments – UG has established dedicated support mechanisms for researchers, including a new center providing career and intellectual property (IP) guidance.
Enhancement of Research Modus Operandi – UG has developed a customer journey map for research and innovation services.
Financial and Entrepreneurial Progress – UG maintains regular meetings with entrepreneurs to strengthen university–industry linkages and co-develop sustainable solutions. The proofs for that are: ESG Manager postgraduate program and joint diploma programmes.

The core of the CATALISI-related actions at UG was the Action Plan (AP). including:

Public Engagement: Organization of IP and Innovation Week, expanding visibility of scientific achievements (Mar 2024–Apr 2025).
Education Innovation: Development of bachelor’s and master’s programs fostering science–companies-society dialogue (Jul 2023–Dec 2025).
Cooperation with the Wider Education Sector: to develop cooperation and integration of high schools and higher education
Citizen Science: Establishment of the Citizen Science Lab (Oct 2025),
Sustainability in Operations: Launch of sustainability events for students and teachers and book-sharing initiatives, promoting resource efficiency and social responsibility across campus (2024–2025).

Together, these achievements demonstrate UG’s growing leadership in integrating research excellence, innovation, and sustainability.

Team

UG’s commitment to sustainability and commercialization of research is reflected in its partnerships with businesses and its initiatives like the Technology Transfer Center and the Center for Sustainable Development. The university’s team brings a wealth of expertise across diverse fields such as political science, economics, finance, logistics, and sustainability, with a strong track record in managing national and international projects.

UG’s focus on open science, talent mobility, and sustainability aligns perfectly with CATALISI’s objectives, ensuring that the university can effectively implement and sustain the transformative changes envisioned by the project.