A summary of 2025 at the Gdańsk University of Technology | Gdańsk University of Technology

“I will proudly look back on the achievements we have made in the year that is coming to an end. The work of our scientists, doctoral students and undergraduates deserves the highest praise. Our position in this year's rankings confirms the hard work we do at the Gdańsk University of Technology. I am convinced that the coming year will be another year of great success. I would like to thank the entire community of the Gdańsk University of Technology for an extremely fruitful year and wish you a wonderful new year 2026,” summed up Prof. Krzysztof Wilde, Rector of the Gdańsk University of Technology.

Revolutionary scientific projects, inventions and discoveries

The past year has been extremely busy for scientists and researchers at the Gdańsk University of Technology. Many projects have been completed, resulting in ready-to-use technologies and inventions in healthcare, the environment, digitalisation and many other areas of life.

The team from the Gdańsk University of Technology, led by Michał Kucewicz, PhD, Professor at the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, is playing a key role in the development of the next stage of epilepsy treatment, which is based on the analysis and stimulation of brain activity. The project, led in Poland by the Gdańsk University of Technology, is a continuation of the research conducted at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, where Prof. Kucewicz worked on the use of electrodes to improve memory and cognitive functions.

Prof. Robert Bogdanowicz from the Department of Optoelectronics at the Gdańsk University of Technology, together with his team, has developed a technology that could revolutionise medical diagnostics. The Gdańsk Tech scientists have been granted exclusive rights to innovative electrodes using nanodiamonds by the European Patent Office. This is one of the few patents of this kind in Europe. At the same time, another patent application – concerning optical sensors with quantum colour centres – has been approved.

The ‘Bio-Eco-Innovative Portable Thermal Storage System for Electromobility Applications’ is an invention by Prof. Rafał Andrzejczyk from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology. It can be used in electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as in ventilation and air conditioning, and heating systems. The invention has been granted European patent protection.

The Gdańsk University of Technology will establish the CAISE cloud platform for developing universal intelligent services to be used in various areas of public activity, including justice, healthcare and education. Gdańsk Tech is the only university to have obtained nearly PLN 55 million for the implementation of this project from a competition organised by the National Centre for Research and Development as part of the National Recovery Plan.

A team of scientists from Gdańsk Tech, led by Prof. Mattia Pierpaoli from the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, has developed electrodes that can effectively oxidise pharmaceutical compounds commonly found in wastewater.

Based on the pyrolysis process, members of the interdepartmental RedOX research club at the Gdańsk University of Technology, under the supervision of Prof. Katarzyna Siuzdak (IFFM PAS), Prof. Andrzej Nowak (Gdańsk Tech) and Prof. Jacek Ryl (Gdańsk Tech), attempted to upcycle... Chinese cabbage. The scientists demonstrated that appropriately processed organic waste can be used to produce electrode materials used in sensors.

Researchers from the Institute of Naval Architecture at Gdańsk Tech have completed groundbreaking studies on the phenomenon of surf-riding on bichromatic waves. The experiments carried out and international cooperation have yielded results that are unique on a global scale. The experiments conducted by researchers at Gdańsk Tech cover various scenarios of ship movement for different bichromatic wave parameters and ship speeds.

Future research

Many other projects are currently in the research phase or are just entering it. Thanks to numerous grant programmes, scientists are working on, among other things:

• diafite – a material that could revolutionise energy storage,
• a tool for assessing the risk of intracranial aneurysms and their rupture,
• developing routes for the spread of plastic waste in inland waters and proposing solutions that will limit its release into seas and oceans,
• construction material with integrated self-monitoring, self-heating and self-regeneration functions,
• durable batteries for drones or cars that remain stable during charging and discharging,
• an ultrasound-assisted system for testing the technical condition of ships,
• an alternative to antibiotics,
• researching how trees improve the quality of life in cities,
• the development of new therapies for diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis,
• the method of obtaining cheap, green hydrogen,
• research on transition metal compounds and quantum magnetism,
• new thermal energy storage solutions.

Publications in prestigious journals and citations

71 scientists from the Gdańsk University of Technology were included in the World's TOP 2% Scientists ranking, which recognises researchers whose publications are most frequently cited worldwide. The Gdańsk University of Technology ranked second best nationally in terms of the number of scientists on the citation list for 2024 among all Polish scientific institutions, and fourth best when taking into account the list of scientists covering their entire output.

This year, the prestigious British journal Nature published an article co-authored by Kamil Kolincio, PhD, Eng., from the Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics at the Gdańsk University of Technology.

Science for defence

Numerous projects related to national security are being carried out at Gdańsk Tech. In 2025, the first, extremely successful stage of the STRATUS project – an innovative system for disabling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – was completed. The research is being conducted at the Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, which is leading the project, and Prof. Kazimierz Jakubiuk heads the research team.

Meanwhile, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at Gdańsk Tech is working on a vehicle for identifying sea mines and hazardous objects, codenamed TUKAN. The National Centre for Research and Development has awarded a grant of over PLN 8.6 million for this purpose. This is another project that will be of use to the Polish Navy in the future.

On the future of Polish science at the Gdańsk University of Technology

In October, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education presented the main assumptions of the draft Higher Education Strategy to 2035 and announced consultations on the draft strategy with the academic community. Meetings were held at four universities, including the Gdańsk University of Technology. On 12 December, the university was visited by Deputy Minister Maria Mrówczyńska and Prof. Agnieszka Dardzińska-Głębocka, chair of the ministry’s team responsible for developing the strategy. The discussion was attended by representatives of the authorities, scientists, doctoral students and students from Pomeranian universities.

Consultations on the Higher Education Strategy – Gdańsk Tech meeting coverage

High positions across international rankings

The Gdańsk University of Technology has been included in three rankings considered to be among the most important rankings of higher education institutions in the world: QS World University Rankings, THE World University Rankings and U.S. News Best Global Universities.

In the QS World University Rankings, Gdańsk Tech ranked fifth nationally (jointly with the AGH University of Krakow and the University of Wrocław) and was in the 801-850 band globally.

Gdańsk Tech also ranked fifth nationally in THE World University Rankings 2026. Globally, it ranked in the 1001-1200 band.

In the U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025-2026 ranking, the university ranked 989th, which means it moved up 90 places compared to the previous year, which is also its best result to date.

Open Day at the Gdańsk University of Technology 2025. Photo: Krzysztof Mystkowski/Gdańsk Tech

In 2025, the Gdańsk University of Technology confirmed its strong international position. The university became the undisputed leader in sustainable development in Poland, ranking highly in two prestigious rankings. In the UI GreenMetric ranking, which assesses universities in terms of their action towards sustainable development, Gdańsk Tech ranked first in Poland and 38th in Europe. In turn, in THE Impact Rankings, which assess universities’ commitment and action towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, our university ranked first nationally (jointly with the University of Gdańsk) and was in the 301-400 band globally.

It is also worth noting that the university ranked fifth in Poland, 207th in Europe and 479th worldwide in the QS Sustainability Ranking. This ranking recognises universities that contribute to building a more sustainable future through research, teaching, management and social impact.

The Gdańsk University of Technology also achieved its best result in ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) 2025. This year's edition ranked as many as eight academic subjects represented by Gdańsk Tech, which is a significant increase compared to 2019-2024, when the university was ranked in two or three areas.

For the third time in a row, the Gdańsk University of Technology ranked second nationally (jointly with the Silesian University of Technology) and 67th in Europe in the EngiRank 2025 ranking, which assesses European technical universities.

Strong position in national rankings

Gdańsk Tech also maintained its strong position in national rankings. In the Perspektywy 2025 University Ranking, the Gdańsk University of Technology ranked third among technical universities and fifth among all academic institutions.

In this year's ranking of public universities most frequently chosen by candidates, prepared by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Gdańsk University of Technology ranked fourth with 33,162 candidate applications.

Achievements of students, research clubs and athletes

When summarising 2025, we cannot forget the accomplishments of the students of the Gdańsk University of Technology and university research clubs.

The PGRacing Team achieved historic success on its 10th anniversary. Members of the ‘Mechanik’ Student Research Club at the Gdańsk University of Technology had their best season ever. The students took first place in the overall classification at a competition in the Netherlands and also secured podium finishes in individual categories in Austria and the Czech Republic.

Members of the KORAB Ship Technology Students' Club can boast a unique invention. They have created a muscle-powered underwater vehicle – Nautilus 3. But that's not all. The students associated with the club were also successful at a prestigious solar boat competition in the Netherlands, taking a high sixth place in the overall classification.

Words of highest praise should also go to student athletes, who won the Polish Academic Championships for the Gdańsk University of Technology for the sixth time in a row.

The research clubs presented themselves during the Open Day at the Gdańsk University of Technology. Photo: Krzysztof Mystkowski/Gdańsk Tech

At Gdańsk Tech, we value educators

The driving force of student success is often supportive educators. Academic teachers not only educate Gdańsk Tech students, but also provide them with mentoring and assistance in the implementation of projects. On the National Education Day, a formal gala dedicated to educators was held for the third time – those who passionately teach, inspire and develop both students and themselves.

The highlight of the gala was the presentation of the #Edushare program awards. This is a unique program because it is the students who have the key voice. They are the ones who put forward and nominate their most charismatic, inspiring and motivating lecturers.

Gdańsk Tech reached for the stars

An unprecedented event was the visit of Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, PhD, Eng., a Polish astronaut and engineer working at the European Space Agency (ESA), who flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in the summer. On 4 December, as part of the Polish nationwide technology and science tour ‘IGNIS – Poland Reaches the Stars’, the astronaut visited the university.

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, PhD, Eng., met with student research clubs. Photo: Dawid Linkowski/Gdańsk Tech

Several hundred people met him at the Gdańsk University of Technology – students, doctoral students, and primary and secondary school pupils from Pomerania. The astronaut talked about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the IGNIS mission, Polish experiments on the International Space Station, and why, in his opinion, the future of the Polish economy should be based on knowledge, science, and space technologies.

The ‘Construction Oscar’ and investment in sport

The Gdańsk University of Technology signed a letter of intent with the city of Gdańsk regarding the construction of a modern sports and events arena. The facility will be built on the currently undeveloped grounds of the Gdańsk Tech Academic Sports Centre. The arena will accommodate over 2,000 spectators, and thanks to its extensive amenities, including a gym, fitness room, sauna, wellness treatment rooms and conference rooms, it will become not only a venue for sporting events, but also a training base for local indoor sports teams.

Opened in December 2024, the Eco-Innovation Centre received the so-called Construction Oscar, an award in the Construction of the Year competition organised by the Polish Association of Construction Engineers and Technicians in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Development and Technology.

Photo: Agnieszka Głowacka/Gdańsk Tech Academic Sports Centre

Supporting talented young people

This year, ‘Politechnika Talentów” summer school was held for the third time. What is it like to study at the Gdańsk University of Technology? Nearly 200 students from the best secondary schools in Pomerania could find that out. It was two days full of learning and fun.

‘Politechnika Talentów’ summer school – event coverage

The Gdańsk Tech Talent Scholarships were awarded for the second time. Six scholarship holders, including students from Mazovia and Podlasie, received admission to Gdańsk Tech for a degree program of their choice, the support of an academic mentor, PLN 2,000 per month for the entire duration of their studies, as well as accommodation in a student hall of residence and the opportunity to take an individually tailored academic schedule.

In addition, on 21 March, thousands of students took part in the Open Day on the Gdańsk Tech campus.

The academic community's shared celebrations

Traditionally, in spring, the academic community celebrated the University Day. On this occasion, a reunion of graduates and a meeting with Bazuna took place. There was also an outdoor concert, which this time, due to weather conditions, was held... inside the Main Building. As a result, we were treated to a unique, extremely atmospheric spectacle. The artists presented Stanisław Moniuszko's opera The Haunted Manor. That evening, the Main Building was indeed transformed into a haunted manor!

In December, the Christmas Miracle Fair was held for the first time. The initiative brought the university community together around the idea of sharing and celebrating. Thanks to the commitment of the participants, over PLN 10,000 was raised. There was also a joint lighting of the lights on the university's Eco-Christmas tree, which was placed at the top of the stairs leading to the entrance to the Main Building.