Prof. Krzysztof Santarek, PhD, DSc (Eng.)
President
Krzysztof Santarek has over 45 years of academic, research, engineering, consulting and managerial experience. He graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology in Industrial Engineering and Management. He received his PhD in 1975, DSc in 1989. Since 2000 professor of technical sciences.
He is the author of 14 books and over 140 papers; promotor of 11 PhD’s; member of several renowned national and European scientific and professional organisations.
He lectures at the Warsaw University of Technology. With Technology Partners since its establishment as Vice-President; since 2018 as the President of the Foundation.
Key competences: advanced manufacturing systems, production & operations management, logistics, innovation and technology management, program & project management, international collaboration.
Michał Towpik
Vice-President
Michał Towpik has 20 years of consulting, financial and managerial experience.
He graduated from the Warsaw School of Economics and holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota.
He has held executive positions in the advisory, IT and e-mobility sectors and has been working for Technology Partners since 2006. He is Vice President and is responsible for project and financial management.
Key competencies: strategy development, financial management, project development and management.
“Technologies may fail but the right people never will”, he says with confidence.
Przemysław Kośmider
Vice-President
Przemysław Kośmider has 18 years’ foreign trade and international projects experience.
He obtained an MSc from Warsaw University, an Executive Master from HEC Paris and a diploma of postgraduate studies from the Warsaw School of Economics.
His professional experience includes management of a foreign office of a leading Polish aviation and defence industry exporter, participation in international research & cooperation projects and supporting SMEs within European projects in such fields as cross-sectoral and cross-border technology
Key competencies: international & multicultural cooperation, project coordination, SME management.
“No pain, no gain”, he says during his sport training as well as starting working on a new project.
Prof. Dr. Rafael Popper
Chief Scientific Advisor, Director of CFI Centre for Foresight and Internationalisation
Rafael Popper has over 20 years of worldwide working experience in foresight, entrepreneurship, and sustainable innovation management. His main areas of work include: ‘foresight’ as an instrument of innovation policy, the application of foresight and horizon scanning approaches to a wide range of science areas, the design of forward-looking activities and their evaluation with a focus on technological and social innovation policies, and the assessment and management of sustainable innovations. He has worked as principal scientist, entrepreneur, lecturer, researcher, and innovation policy consultant for various national and international organisations in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. He has written award-winning scientific publications and led award-winning research organisations and teams. He is regularly invited as keynote speaker in international events organised by prestigious government, business, research and civil society organisations around the world.
“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking,”, he says and definitely leads by example.
Prof. Anna Boczkowska, PhD, DSc (Eng.)
Scientific Director
Anna Boczkowska has almost 30 years’ academic and research experience.
She graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, and received her PhD in 2000, D.Sc. in 2011, both at the same Faculty. Since 2018 professor of technical sciences.
Her professional experience is related to material sciences, especially composite materials, polymers, nanocomposites and smart materials. With Technology Partners since 2007 as scientific director in several EU-funded projects on aeronautics and materials engineering performed under EU FP7 (ELECTRICAL, SARISTU), EU H2020 (PLATFORM, OASIS, PHOBIC2ICE).
Key competences: research and development of new materials, project management, extensive technical knowledge, international collaboration.
”Always keep smiling whatever happens” – her motto for life.
Jarosław Sołtys
Project Director
Jarosław Sołtys has almost 40 years’ academic, B2B consulting, and managerial experience.
He graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology in Industrial Management and Organization.
He has broad experience in high-level managerial positions of companies from various industries – manufacturing, trade, and services (ERP, telco, professional services), in Poland and abroad, including listed companies and branches of foreign companies in Poland.
Key competencies: strategy implementation; project management; business optimization; creativity; extensive technical knowledge.
”There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing”, he says before his forest winter cycling.
Rafał Kozera, PhD (Eng.)
Senior R&D Specialist
Rafał Kozera graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering.
Winner of the first prize in the 18th edition of the Fiat Chrysler competition for the best doctoral dissertation. He was the R&D leader on the side of the project leader responsible for the scientific aspects of the European-Canadian PHOBIC2ICE project. Currently, the IceSurfer project manager, in which he continues research in the field of icephobicity.
Over the past 5 years, he has provided 35 documented expert opinions and surveys commissioned by industry. He completed many scientific internships and trainings in Poland and abroad, which allowed him to gain practical experience in the production and characterization of composites, also with a polymer matrix. He uses advanced methods of preparation and characterization of composite materials, among others high-resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy (STEM), ultramicrotome, atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermal analysis, hydro and iceophobic testing methods.
”Always look on the bright side of life”, he says.
Paweł Durałek
Technical Researcher
He has 8 years’ experience in plastics processing and quality control in manufacturing companies.
He graduated from the Krakow University of Technology Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology specializing in Plastics Technology and completed post-graduate studies on Plastics Processing and Technology at the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT).
He was responsible for the melt-blown pilot line within the Platform and Oasis projects (H2020). He works on tasks related to plastics processing and modification in projects carried out by the WUT Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering.
Key competencies: Processing of thermoplastics and thermoplastic-CNT nanocomposites, including the production of functional.
”When you do not know what you are doing, do it neatly”, he says.
Paulina Latko-Durałek, PhD (Eng.)
Senior Researcher
Paulina Latko-Durałek has been cooperating with Technology Partners since 2011 as an expert in FP7 and H2020 research projects dealing with CNT-doped thermoplastic polymers.
She graduated from the Cracow University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, where she majored in Plastic Technology, and from the Fachhochschule Münster Faculty of Applied Chemistry. She obtained her PhD in 2018 at the Warsaw University of Technology Faculty of Materials Sciences and Engineering and completed a Project Management post-graduate course at the Warsaw School of Economics.
Key competencies: knowledge on polymer materials; application of research techniques; presentation skills
”Always short of time but never missed a deadline”, she says.
Kamil Dydek, PhD (Eng.)
Project Director
Kamil Dydek has almost 10 years’ academic and research experience. He graduated from the Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering of Warsaw University of Technology in 2015, and then received his PhD in the discipline of Materials Engineering in 2023. In June 2019, he completed postgraduate studies in “Project Management” at the Warsaw School of Economics. A PRINCE2 Foundation Certificate in Project Management as well as Microsoft Project, Planning and Implementing of projects, are among his project management certifications. In January 2022, he graduated from the Kaizen Industry 4.0 MBA program at the Warsaw University of Technology Business School. He is certified as a KAIZEN Manager™ by the KAIZEN Institue. In addition, in May 2022 he graduated from the postgraduate program Academy of Leadership Psychology, which is an original programme by Jacek Santorski.
Kamil Dydek’s research activities mainly focus on the fabrication and characterization of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers with enhanced electrical and mechanical properties. The results of the research conducted by the doctoral student have been included in 23 scientific publications of international scope, which have been cited 144 times. The Hirsch Index of published works according to the Scopus database is 6. He has co-implemented 22 research and development projects funded by both national and European funds. In 2020, he received project funding from NCBiR under the elite LIDER program, aimed at young scientists. He has extensive experience in cooperation with industry: in the last five years he has participated in the performance of 23 expert reports and studies commissioned by industry.
“The best view comes after the most challenging climb.”
Anna Zmiievska
Project Director
Anna Zmiievska has over 10 years’ experience in the field of grant funding attraction for R&I projects. She assisted numerous research teams from higher education establishments, research institutions, industries and SMEs to fine-tune, structure and duly present their projects to get funding from public funding programmes. Working within the EU context, Anna also has well established links within the Eastern European countries, including Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Albania, Armenia, etc. In total, Anna supported preparation and submission of 70+ of proposals for different types of calls and budgets ranging from several thousands to 15 million Euros, with the internal success rate of near 15%. Anna has expertise in management of multi-beneficiary projects, communication activities on different levels, well-developed skills in analytics, business planning, research commercialization and exploitation, tech transfer. She underwent dozens of internships, courses and trainings in well-known foreign institutions in EU and USA on the above topics.
Dr. Lina Smovziuk
Project Director
Lina Smovziuk obtained Master’s and PhD Degrees in Material Science and Aerospace Engineering from the National Aerospace University “KhAI”, Ukraine. Starting her career as a researcher, she switched to international R&I project management in 2009. Possessing a blend of research expertise and management skills, she has the talent and creativity to bridge the researchers’ ideas and capabilities and the expectations of funding agencies. Through her management career, she led the preparation of dozens of successful funding applications in material science, aerospace, ICT, energy, health and other research fields by small to big multinational consortia. She is passionate about collaborating with highly motivated research teams dedicated to transforming their knowledge into innovative solutions that positively impact the environment, economy, and society.
“We’ve done our best and even a bit better”, she likes to say after the proposal submission.
Bartłomiej Przybyszewski
Researcher
Bartłomiej Przybyszewski has almost 10 years’ academic and research experience.
He graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering and received his Master’s degree in 2012. Since 2016 Ph.D. candidate at the same Faculty. For four years he was a science and research employee in Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology at the Dresden University of Technology and worked in several EU-funded projects.
He has a scientific experience in manufacturing and characterization of composite materials. For over three years his scientific work focused on developing of manufacturing processes of composite materials with use of different polymer as well as metal matrices. In his PhD he focuses on chemical and physical modifications of icephobic and hydrophobic coatings utilized in the aviation sector. With Technology Partners since 2016 as an expert in H2020 research project dealing with icephobic materials.
Key competences: research and development of composite materials, knowledge on icephobic and hydrophobic coatings, presentation skills, international collaboration.
“You gotta risk it, to get the biscuit”, he says before submitting a new project proposal.
Barbara Kresa
Chief Accountant
Barbara Kresa has over 30 years’ experience in Finance, Accounting and Tax Departments (FSO, Renault Trucks, Volvo Trucks, Polish Academy of Science Institute). In Technology Partners since 2014.
Education: Master’s Degree from the Independent University of Business and Public Administration in Warsaw, specialisation: Accounting and Finance.
Additional courses: Accountancy for candidates for chief accountants, Polish Accountancy Academy; Qualification Certificate of the Ministry of Finance necessary to provide accounting services.
Key competencies: familiarity with bookkeeping, tax regulations, settlements of business trips.
”A new situation is not a new problem but a new experience and a new challenge”, she says of issues that have flabbergasted everybody else.
Krzysztof Dragan, PhD, DSc (Eng.)
Senior Researcher
Krzysztof Dragan has pursued a professional career in the area of technical structure diagnostics, obtaining a PhD on the topic of composite structures in 2008. His work deals with the issues of structural diagnostics and monitoring.
He cooperates with Polish and international scientific research centres on the development of products supporting the diagnostics and monitoring of such constructions as composite structures, wind turbines, and industrial and power-generation structures.
In 2017 he obtained a D.Sc. degree. Areas of specialisation: non-destructive testing of structures; sensor technologies integrated with structures; diagnostics support with the use of machine learning algorithms; structure monitoring; composite structures; signal analysis.
“In research and science there are no short-cuts, just painful experiences,” as he knows from his work.
Andrzej Woroniecki
Project Manager
Andrzej Woroniecki has 20 years’ experience in working on projects relating to innovation and knowledge management, as well as S&T. In Technology Partners since 2003.
He graduated from the University of Social Sciences (formerly Academy of Management) in Lodz in Organisation Management.
His professional experience includes participation in national and EU-funded projects performed under EU FP7, EU H2020 (aeronautics, materials engineering), Innovative Economy Operational Programme (research management), DIALOG Programme (research cooperation) and others (transport, social business).
Key competencies: knowledge and innovation management; EU innovation policy; multidisciplinary project coordination and reporting.
”May the Force be with us”, he says after a new project proposal has been submitted.
Tomasz Wejrzanowski, PhD, DSc (Eng.)
Senior Researcher
Tomasz Wejrzanowski has almost 20 years’ academic experience.
He graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology where he currently holds the position of professor at the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering. His professional interests are focused on the characterization and design of advanced engineering materials.
Tomasz Wejrzanowski is an author of more than 100 international journal publications. He is also a co-author of chapters in 5 books and 2 patents in the area of materials design. He is currently a coordinator of several projects related to materials for power and aerospace industry applications.
Key competencies: material design, computational materials science, 3D imaging of materials microstructure
“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I’ll maybe remember. Involve me and I’ll understand”, thinking of how to become a perfect tutor…
Richard Granger
Director, European Office
Richard Granger has over 45 years’ experience as a manager, consultant and lecturer in technology and innovation management.
His academic studies and research on solid-state physics were at the University of Sheffield. Today, he lectures at Royal Holloway, University of London, and at Chalmers University in Sweden.
Following 20 years at a leading UK commercial R&D centre, he has provided consulting and advisory services to companies and governments in many sectors, in most parts of the world. His focus is on the techniques for building and implementing technology strategy.
Key competencies: strategic management of technology, R&D and innovation; change management in technology-based organisations.
Anna Nikodym-Bilska
Senior Specialist
Anna Nikodym-Bilska has been working for RTOs, as well as Defence and Security sector private companies since 2004. Anna has been involved in international project cooperation with key partners, EU bodies and NATO agencies. She has taken part in FP7 and H2020 projects and is a H2020 expert/evaluator for REA and EASME. She provides SMEs training and workshops in successful application to H2020.
She is a TOP 500 INNOVATORS Programme alumna (Science-Management-Commercialization Program studies, UC Berkeley, 2013) and since 2015 has coordinated a cooperation platform for TOP 500 INNOVATORS researchers, business and industry.
Key competences: Innovation Management, Project Management, Risk Management, Business Development in R&D Institutions, Science to business
”Cheerfulness, come quickly”, she says starting evaluation of new applications.
Sebastian Gościniarek
Transport Specialist
Sebastian Gościniarek has been professionally involved in the aviation industry for over 15 years. He worked for airports, airlines, handling companies, local governments and government agencies, as well as private investors in Poland and in the CEE region. He delivered a variety of consulting projects in the fields of strategy, business plans, feasibility studies, financing and cooperation with investors and private entities.
He is a graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) and University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management, where he earned an MBA
Key competences include airports development planning, airports-airlines cooperation, air service development, connectivity improvement, cooperation of various means of transport, the impact of aviation on economic and social development.
“If you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything at anytime, and would achieve nothing”, as Margaret Thatcher said.
Bartosz Baca
Transport Specialist
Bartosz Baca is an advisor with 12 years of experience. He combines his extensive experience in the transportation sector with research, analytic and design skills. In his work he focuses on strategic advisory on the one hand and leads customer experience, service design and human-centred design processes on the other.
Previously he was a member of the PwC Transport Infrastructure and Public Sector Team where he gained extensive experience in different areas of advisory services for public, private and transportation sector entities.
He is a graduate of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Rennes 1 University in France, and Warsaw School of Economics.
Key competences: modelling transport services, client experience, business strategy, service design, revenue generation.
Jan Zagórski
Senior Specialist
Jan Zagórski has over 20 years’ experience gained working on numerous restructuring, foreign cooperation and research projects as well as experience as a translator and editor.
He attended the University of California, Santa Cruz; the University of Warsaw and the International School of Commerce.
His professional experience includes work on EU-funded projects relating to European integration with particular emphasis on Poland’s EU accession, the national Science and Technology sector and research projects dealing with materials science, aviation, international research cooperation and integration of Polish RTOs.
Key competencies: extensive knowledge of the European Science and Technology sector and EU institutions, highly-developed language and specialised translation skills.
”Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative”, as Bing so rightly put it.
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS Council
Prof. Hubert Izdebski, PhD, DSc
President of the Council; professor of legal sciences; historian of ideas and law; administrative theoretician, specialising in drafting bills and in public administration issues; legal counsel and attorney.
Józef Gromek, PhD (Eng.)
Council member
Prof. Zbigniew Śmieszek, PhD (Eng.)
Council member
Prof. Ryszard Kozłowski, PhD (Eng.)
Council member
Marek Daszkiewicz, PhD (Eng.)
Council member
Andrzej Plewiński, PhD (Eng.)
Council member