Science, technology, business, and tourism were among the key topics discussed during an official meeting between the authorities of the University of Zielona Góra and the Lubusz Voivodeship, and representatives of the Liberec Region and the Technical University of Liberec in the Czech Republic. The meeting focused on strengthening Polish-Czech cooperation and exploring new opportunities for collaboration across these strategic areas.
The visit of the Czech delegation began at the Rectorate of the University of Zielona Góra. The discussions brought together representatives of academia and regional government, highlighting the importance of cross-border partnerships in education, research, innovation, and economic development. “Our cooperation with the Technical University of Liberec has already been developing for some time. We have, among other initiatives, agreements in place within the Erasmus programme. The profile of the university, which focuses strongly on technical disciplines, creates excellent opportunities for expanding cooperation with our own institutes in related fields,” said Prof. Wojciech Strzyżewski, Rector of the University of Zielona Góra. “There is significant potential for collaboration, particularly in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and the broader machinery industry. Today’s visit is also an opportunity to strengthen institutional relations, especially as the Rector of the Technical University of Liberec has recently assumed his position,” he added.
The importance of further strengthening cooperation was also emphasized by Dr. Aleš Kocourek, Rector of the Technical University of Liberec. “I expect our universities to deepen cooperation in the areas that naturally connect us. We are looking forward to developing concrete joint activities across various fields. We share many common interests and, importantly, our institutions are geographically close to one another,” he said.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss broader cooperation between the Lubusz Voivodeship and the Liberec Region. “I am pleased that this is the first visit of the Governor of the Liberec Region to Lubusz since I became Marshal of the Lubusz Voivodeship. We have already visited the Liberec Region twice this year. Beyond academic cooperation, we see considerable potential for collaboration in business and tourism,” said Sebastian Ciemnoczołowski, Marshal of the Lubusz Voivodeship. “We recognize the benefits of building competencies and facilitating exchanges of students and staff. Economic cooperation is equally important, creating opportunities to attract funding and undertake broader joint initiatives,” he added.
Martin Půta, Governor (Hetman) of the Liberec Region, highlighted innovation and entrepreneurship as particularly promising areas for future cooperation. “I believe this meeting represents another step towards a stronger partnership. Innovation and start-up development are areas where our regions have much in common and where we can achieve significant results together. This is a natural direction for both our regions and should become a priority for our universities and regional authorities alike,” he said.
Following the discussions at the University Rectorate, the delegation visited one of the University's advanced laboratory facilities. The laboratories have been established and continue to operate through close cooperation between the University of Zielona Góra and industry partners.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and specialized equipment, the facilities support research and development in areas such as robotics, welding technologies, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and virtual reality. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the University's strong links with industry and its commitment to fostering innovation-driven education and research.
