The official signing of the agreement took place on 19 March at the University of Lodz Rector's Office. On behalf of the university, the document was signed by the Rector of the University of Lodz, Prof. Rafał Matera, while ABB was represented by Tomasz Wolanowski, Vice President of ABB in Poland. The agreement defined key areas of cooperation, including the implementation of scientific, research and development and educational projects.
The university is first and foremost about people. The slogan ‘human university’ is not only an expression of our identity, but also a commitment to building relationships externally. ABB, the cooperation with which we will now deepen, is an excellent example. I know that you were present at the Faculty of Physics and Applied Informatics, supported the Ideathon and the 1st Rector of the University of Lodz Prof. Tadeusz Kotarbiński Award – this proves how much we have in common. Your commitment to the humanities demonstrates your openness to diversity and confirms that the humanities perspective brings significant value to thinking about technology development
– Prof. Rafał Matera, Rector of the University of Lodz.
Continuation of the long-standing cooperation
The signed agreement is a continuation of the existing cooperation between the University of Lodz and ABB. The company has been actively supporting the development of the University for years, investing in innovative initiatives and providing students with access to modern technologies. ABB equipped the Virtual Reality Laboratory at the Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science in 2018 and the ABB Relaxation Zone was established at the same faculty in 2023. In addition, the company regularly engages in student initiatives, being, among other things, a strategic partner of Ideathon. ABB is also an active partner of the prestigious competition for the Award of the First Rector of the University of Lodz, Professor Tadeusz Kotarbiński.
We are aware that ABB, as a technology company, is not an obvious partner for a university. We have been cooperating with leading technical universities for years – globally, but also in Poland. However, for some time now, we have noticed that this is not enough to have a real impact on the next generations, the future of business and the world. That is why we are developing cooperation with humanities universities. We see our role in building a broad awareness of the changes taking place in technology and the extent to which it shapes reality, including the labour market. In turn, this cooperation allows us to embed our projects in a broader context – ethical, social, cultural. We learn from you. Our engineers return from meetings with the University of Lodz students with heads full of new observations and inspirations, discovering that the differences between the world of humanities and technology do not divide, but open up space for new ideas and solutions. Recently, we have been taking the first steps in this direction, and today we are signing an agreement with the hope that the next ones will be bolder, bigger and undertaken more and more quickly
– Tomasz Wolanowski, Vice President at ABB
Cooperation between science and business
The cooperation between the University of Lodz and ABB is another step towards the integration of the academic community with the business sector. The partnership enables the exchange of knowledge and experience and the adaptation of the curriculum to the current needs of the labour market. ABB thus joins the group of key partners of the University of Lodz, which already include companies such as Accenture, Nordea, PwC, Rossmann, PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna and Fujitsu.
University of Lodz – science and development
The University of Lodz is the largest university in central Poland, educating almost 26,000 students and employing over 3,500 academic and administrative staff. It combines science with business, offering expert knowledge and providing qualified specialists to various sectors of the economy. More and more international students choose to study in Lodz, while Polish students take advantage of international mobility. The university actively participates in the life of the city, engaging in numerous social and cultural projects.
ABB – a global leader in innovation
ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, which has been setting the directions for the development of modern technologies for years. The company works for a more sustainable future that allows for more efficient use of resources. The cooperation with higher education – helping students develop skills, carry out research projects and gain experience constitutes an important element of its social commitment. ABB has connected 105,000 people who work together in over 100 countries. It values diversity and believes that looking at challenges from many perspectives is the basis for success in business. More information.
Source: Centre for External Relations and Social Responsibility of the University, University of Lodz
Photos: Bartosz Kałużny