On behalf of the University, the agreement was signed by the Rector-Commandant, Brigadier General Professor Dr Eng. Przemysław Wachulak while the Company was represented by Chairman of the Board Piotr Kledzik and Board Member Tomasz Rakowski.

“I am very pleased that, based on our shared experience to date, we can begin a permanent partnership for research and development as well as implementation. Its scope will be very broad, covering the areas of construction, civil engineering, transport, environmental protection and advanced materials technology. The Military University of Technology conducts research at a high scientific level with the aim of future implementation and practical applications. Over the last decade, we have made significant contributions to implementing technologies that support our country’s Armed Forces, the Polish economy and society. Our solutions are not sitting in drawers; they have a real, positive impact on the functioning of our Armed Forces and our national economy,” emphasised Brigadier General Professor Przemysław Wachulak.

The Rector-Commandant added that in the field of construction, the University is responding to the growing needs of the military and civil protection in terms of designing, building and utilising shelters and hideouts. WAT specialists are working on the Minister of the Interior and Administration’s team on a regulation concerning protective structures. The Ministry of National Defence is concurrently developing guidelines governing such military facilities. Shelter construction and related chemical, biological and photovoltaic technologies are a promising field for collaboration with WAT’s Institute of Optoelectronics and its Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy. The University also offers concrete strength testing and safety assessments of construction materials in an accredited laboratory.

“Challenges in the areas of the economy, demographics and technology are also affecting the construction industry. The most important of these include acquiring a skilled workforce and meeting the requirements of the Green Deal in the areas of sustainable energy and low emissions. Responding effectively means seeking and implementing innovative solutions which is one of the pillars of PORR’s business strategy. Breakthrough ideas and concepts are born where practice meets theory and where experience meets the latest knowledge and research, that is in the synergy of business and science,” said PORR’s Chairman of the Board, emphasising the growing importance of prefabrication technology in construction for the future.

The other signatory of the agreement on behalf of PORR, Tomasz Rakowski, whose responsibilities in the company include innovation, added that the agreement with the Military University of Technology was another step in the implementation of the company’s strategy which is focused on increasing innovation. “Together with the academic community, we will work on advanced engineering solutions to improve the efficiency of construction processes, including in the areas of sustainability, materials technology and safety,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Colonel Professor Dr Eng. Michał Kędzierski, the Director of the Institute of Optoelectronics (IOE) Dr Eng. Krzysztof Kopczyński - Professor at WAT, the Director of the Biomedical Engineering Centre at IOE, Major General (Ret.) Professor Dr Eng. Zygmunt Mierczyk, and Dr Eng. Jarosław Siwiński - Professor at WAT. The shared experience of the University’s experts and PORR to date includes activities in the field of construction, civil engineering, transport, environmental protection, advanced materials technology, as well as special construction for the national defence and security system.

PORR and WAT have submitted a joint application to the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) for the implementation of a project related to the technology for producing and testing the properties of concrete with polymeric sulphur. The polymeric sulphur is produced using the company SULROCK’s technology for polymer binder, which is a thermoplastic adhesive for filling aggregate. Possible applications for the new composite - cement-free concrete - include road construction, hydraulic engineering, tunnel construction, railway sleepers and shelters. An important area of application for sulphur concrete is environmental protection and waste management and disposal. During the formal signing of the agreement between PORR and WAT, SULROCK was represented by Tomasz Szymczak.

The signatories intend to initiate and conduct research and development as well as implementation work and collaborate in securing third-party funding for their projects, including through competitions of the National Centre for Research and Development in the fields of security and defence. They will work together to commercialise the results of their research and development, transferring the outcomes of these efforts into the economy. In addition, the University and the company want to jointly promote research results, including innovative technological solutions, to reach a wider audience. They also plan to share support, advice, consultations and expertise. Important elements of the partnership will include the organisation of training sessions, courses and scientific conferences as well as the exchange of knowledge and experience between the teams. Moreover, students and PhD candidates will have the opportunity to take part in work placements and joint research projects, which will allow them to gain valuable experience and engage in PORR’s research work.