POLITECHNIKA POZNANSKA

Their core work

Poznan University of Technology is a Polish technical university with strong capabilities in energy storage materials, robotics, pharmaceutical sciences, and ICT/telecommunications. They run a significant public engagement program through annual Researchers' Night events in the Wielkopolska region, while their research labs focus on electrochemical energy storage, robotic manipulation of complex objects, 5G networks, and drug delivery systems. They increasingly contribute to AI, smart water systems, and community energy projects, positioning themselves as a versatile engineering partner for applied EU research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2014-2018), Poznan UT focused heavily on public engagement through Researchers' Night events, won a prestigious ERC Starting Grant for energy storage materials research, and contributed to telecoms (5G) and transport noise abatement. From 2019 onward, their profile shifted decisively toward applied digital technologies — collaborative robotics, trustworthy AI, cyber-physical systems, and digital health — while adding environmental and community energy topics. The university evolved from a mix of basic research and outreach into a more application-oriented partner addressing societal challenges like climate adaptation, cancer care, and smart infrastructure.

Moving toward applied digital technologies (AI, robotics, smart systems) combined with sustainability themes — expect future projects at the intersection of intelligent systems and environmental challenges.

How they like to work

Poznan UT balances leadership and partnership roles well, coordinating 8 of 19 projects (42%) — though most coordinated projects are smaller Researchers' Night CSA grants while their larger research efforts tend to be as participant in international consortia. With 211 unique partners across 33 countries, they operate as an open networker rather than a closed-circle institution. This makes them an accessible partner: experienced enough to lead coordination when needed, but comfortable contributing specialized expertise within large multi-country teams.

Extensive European network spanning 211 unique partners across 33 countries, reflecting broad engagement rather than concentration in any single geographic cluster. Their coordination of the EUNICE university alliance (REUNICE project) further reinforces their role as a well-connected Polish hub for pan-European academic collaboration.

What sets them apart

Poznan UT combines hard engineering research (energy materials, robotics, telecoms) with unusually strong public engagement experience — few technical universities coordinate five consecutive Researchers' Night programs. Their ERC Starting Grant in electrochemical capacitors signals genuine research excellence in energy storage, while their recent pivot to AI and sustainability makes them a timely partner for Horizon Europe missions. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: deep Polish regional networks, proven EU project management, and technical depth across multiple engineering disciplines.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IMMOCAP
  ERC Starting Grant (EUR 1.39M) on next-generation electrochemical capacitors — by far their largest project and a marker of individual research excellence in energy storage.
• REMODEL
  Their biggest participant-role project (EUR 686K) on robotic manipulation of deformable objects — represents their strongest commitment to the robotics/manufacturing crossover.
• REUNICE
  Coordinated a EUR 282K project building research strategies across the EUNICE European university alliance — demonstrates institutional-level leadership beyond individual lab work.