Broadening energy technology An EU-funded project contributed to unlocking the research potential of less developed regions in the EU by improving the research capacities of a top Polish research centre. Energy © Thinkstock The 'Research center for energy and new technologies' (RECENT) project specifically sought better integration of the Institute of Thermal Technology (ITT) into the European Research Area (ERA). ITT is based in Upper Silesia, a highly industrialised part of Poland. RECENT members focused on three energy-related topics: energy systems, clean combustion and numerical simulations. Within this research framework, the project employed additional and secondary Polish staff as well as foreign scientists. Visits from external experts also ensured generous knowledge exchanges, and junior staff were hired on one-year contracts. Scientific equipment was purchased as well in order to strengthen ITT facilities. This included a rapid and high-resolution infrared camera and a particle image velocimetry system, which is used to obtain instantaneous velocity measurements in fluids. Furthermore, the project organised three international conferences where 220 papers were presented, as well as three workshops for PhD students primarily from ITT. More than 50 projects financed by the industry, as well as 14 major projects financed by various national funding agencies have been executed as a result of RECENT. These successes imply that ITT has been better integrated into the ERA through the development of its human potential. The training and upgraded equipment provided through the RECENT project also opened up new areas of cutting-edge research in energy at ITT.
