Łukasiewicz – PORT has received a recommendation for funding for two large infrastructure projects submitted under the BINGO call of the European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021–2027 program, within the track dedicated to network-type institutions. The initiatives are of key importance for the development of modern research infrastructure and will form the foundation for future scientific projects related to energy transformation, national defense and security, as well as precision medicine and genomics.
Interinstitutional Center for Advanced Energy Technologies (BINGO-IEL2)
The first project, implemented in partnership with Łukasiewicz – Institute of Electrical Engineering, focuses on the development of research infrastructure related to advanced energy technologies, microelectronics, and materials engineering. It includes the modernization and expansion of clean room facilities at Łukasiewicz – PORT, including the purchase of specialized equipment such as an electron-beam lithography system and a MOVPE reactor, as well as the expansion of facilities for micro- and nanostructuring of materials. Of key importance is the creation of conditions for the development of HEMT transistor technologies and other semiconductor components essential for the defense sector and the state’s technological security. On behalf of Łukasiewicz – PORT, the project will be led by a team consisting of Prof. Detlef Hommel, Prof. Robert Kudrawiec, Dr. Krzysztof Rola, and Dr. Krzysztof Czyż.
– The BINGO project will significantly strengthen the institute’s infrastructure in the areas of microelectronics and materials engineering – says Dr. Rola, while Dr. Czyż adds: – The modernization of clean room facilities and the expansion of the laser infrastructure will make us an even stronger partner for institutes of the Łukasiewicz Research Network and for industry, especially in projects related to national defense and technological security.
The total value of the project is PLN 63.2 million, of which PLN 34.3 million is allocated to Łukasiewicz – PORT. The funding for the institute amounts to PLN 25.4 million. The remaining amount constitutes the institute’s own contribution dedicated to the development of infrastructure crucial for further research.
Genomics for Poland (G4PL)
The second initiative is a nationwide project implemented by a consortium of twelve leading scientific institutions under the leadership of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The goal of G4PL is to create a comprehensive, integrated infrastructure enabling advanced genomic research in Poland and to align national standards with European requirements for data processing.
The project addresses a significant gap in the national R&D system—namely, the lack of a coherent and modern infrastructure that would allow scientific institutions to generate, store, process, and share genomic data in a manner compatible with European infrastructure. Its implementation will strengthen the country’s biological security and contribute to building sovereignty in the area of genetic data.
The scientist also points to the strategic dimension of the initiative: – “Genomics for Poland” is more than just another research project. It is a nationwide investment in genomic data sovereignty and in integrating Poland into the European genomics space. If we want to develop precision medicine and modern diagnostics, we must have our own coherent infrastructure and a well-characterized population—otherwise, we will always rely on data from other countries.
The project at Łukasiewicz – PORT will be carried out in cooperation with the Genetic and Microbiological Diagnostics Laboratory, led by Dr. Paweł Sega, and the Biobank Research Group, headed by Dr. hab. Patrycja Gazińska.
The total value of the project is PLN 248.3 million, of which PLN 11.0 million is allocated to Łukasiewicz – PORT. The funding for the institute amounts to PLN 8.8 million, while the remaining funds constitute the institute’s own contribution, enabling the implementation of the full scope of genomic infrastructure.
Infrastructure as the Foundation of Long-Term Scientific Development
Both projects are infrastructural and long-term in nature, creating a solid foundation for the implementation of future research in areas of key importance to the state. The potential of the planned activities has been recognized by the evaluating institutions within the European Funds for a Modern Economy program. Their implementation assumes close cooperation among institutes of the network and scientific units across the country. These initiatives also confirm the growing role of the Łukasiewicz Research Network as an integrator of scientific and technological communities and as an important partner for public administration and industry.
