Beginning in October, Prof. Andrzej Białowiec joins the scientific community of Łukasiewicz – PORT, where he will lead and develop the Biomaterials Engineering and Environmental Technologies Research Group. This strategic decision enables the institute to expand into new, priority research areas within the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
“The process of selecting a leader for this research group took several months. From the start, we knew we needed a scientist with extensive experience, strong network-oriented collaboration skills, and the ability to mentor young researchers. Prof. Białowiec meets all these requirements and will help us grow in additional strategic domains of the Łukasiewicz Network,” says Prof. Jarosław Bosy, Director of the institute.
Until now, Łukasiewicz – PORT has carried out projects aligned with two strategic areas: defense and national security and industrial chemistry. The appointment of Prof. Białowiec opens the door to two more—circular economy and energy transition—which today rank among the most important scientific and economic priorities.
A Researcher and a Practitioner
For more than 25 years, Prof. Białowiec has worked in bioeconomy and environmental engineering. He specializes in biomass and waste processing technologies—from anaerobic digestion and torrefaction to gasification and innovative Waste-to-Hydrogen and Waste-to-Carbon concepts. As he often emphasizes: “Waste is a source of scientific inspiration.”
Technologies he has developed have already been implemented 16 times at industrial scale, and his expertise is sought after by multiple organizations. He serves on the Scientific Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław and sits on the board of the Lower Silesian Hydrogen Valley Association. His knowledge supports academic institutions as well as industry and local government partners.
Prof. Białowiec has completed the full research pathway—from basic science through R&D projects to implementation and commercialization. He has led over 35 research projects and collaborated with leading institutions worldwide, including Penn State University, Technical University of Munich, and Fudan University.
He is also a highly respected mentor—he has supervised nine PhD graduates, with nine more currently under his guidance. He attracts young researchers from many countries, offering them individualized development paths.
A New Perspective for Łukasiewicz – PORT
Hiring Prof. Białowiec is part of the institute’s broader strategy to expand its involvement across additional strategic areas of the Łukasiewicz Research Network. Thanks to his scientific and practical expertise, Łukasiewicz – PORT gains a leader capable of building international consortia, securing major projects, and successfully implementing new technologies.
“Practical solutions for the economy are a direction we intend to strengthen consistently. That is why it is crucial for our institute to bring in researchers with implementation experience,” emphasizes Prof. Bosy.
