World-class Polish research centre excels in network intelligence
Wrocław University of Science and Technology, one of Poland’s top educational institutions and technical universities, has been gaining ground on a pan-European level and on the world stage as well. One initiative in this direction was the launch of the university’s ENGINE Centre, supported by the EU-funded project ENGINE (European research centre of network intelligence for innovation enhancement). The ENGINE Centre was established to become a national and global leader in research and innovation, with focus on network intelligence and model-driven data analytics. It takes computer science to a more interdisciplinary arena that involves physics, robotics, medicine and social sciences through stronger collaboration among researchers, as well as with industry and SMEs. To achieve this, the project focused on developing staff through training and fostering partnerships with 20 key research centres in Europe. This was followed by collaboration with industry through workshops on intellectual property rights issues, technology transfer, innovation policy, brokerage events and funding mechanisms for commercialisation. ENGINE oversaw the recruitment of more than 12 experienced researchers, in addition to upgrading research equipment and inaugurating new laboratories. Six new laboratories were established or upgraded for the study of complex networks, massive data analysis, distributed computing, data mining, teleformatics, computer networking, biomedical signal analysis and human-computer interaction. The curriculum was also enhanced through international courses, training days, seminars, workshops and conferences, which set the Centre on a solid path for offering lifelong learning and professional traineeship. Twinning activities and exchange visits were also organised, involving over 20 technically advanced colleges and universities across Europe. These actions and initiatives have opened new horizons for advanced, innovative research regarding network intelligence and its commercialisation, supported by strong links with industry players. The Centre’s full integration into the European Research Area (ERA) has raised the University’s profile abroad for joint interdisciplinary projects. It has also attracted more Polish students and stakeholders to its fold, resulting in a higher number of graduating doctorate students. The future of network intelligence and innovation looks brighter than ever for Poland and for the EU.
Keywords
Network intelligence, innovation, ENGINE, robotics, human-computer interaction
