Summary of the Event Drone Initiative 2.0
“Drone Initiative 2.0” was a meeting dedicated to the development of dual-use technologies and their applications – with a special focus on the maritime domain, held on April 23, 2026, at CK STOS. The event gathered approximately 30 participants, including directors of centers, representatives of the university administration, scientists, as well as members of Science Clubs and research teams. The purpose of the event was to exchange experiences, present achievements to date, and discuss the future direction of interdisciplinary technological initiatives carried out at Gdańsk Tech.
“Drone Initiative 2.0” was a meeting dedicated to the development of dual-use technologies and their applications – with a special focus on the maritime domain, held on April 23, 2026, at CK STOS. The event gathered approximately 30 participants, including directors of centers, representatives of the university administration, scientists, as well as members of Science Clubs and research teams. The purpose of the event was to exchange experiences, present achievements to date, and discuss the future direction of interdisciplinary technological initiatives carried out at Gdańsk Tech.
The event was opened by Prof. PhD DSc Józef E. Sienkiewicz, Vice-Rector for Cooperation, who emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the development potential of projects in the field of dual-use technology.
Next, Marcin Zieliński from PG Biznes Hub, the event host, presented a summary of the events over the year since the initiative was launched. Key achievements and directions for further development were discussed, highlighting the growing interest in the topic and the engagement of the scientific community.
Expert Knowledge and Development Perspectives
The next part of the event featured a series of expert presentations on security and new technologies:
- Commander (reserve) Kamil Sadowski presented issues related to the protection of critical infrastructure in the underwater environment, pointing out new types of threats and the role of advanced technologies in their neutralization,
- Artur Rorzkowski (PG Biznes Hub) presented funding opportunities for implementation projects under the Development Incubator program, encouraging applications for funds to develop innovative solutions,
- Paweł Lulewicz (PG Biznes Hub) discussed the concept of test platforms as a model of effective interdisciplinary cooperation, enabling faster implementation and testing of new technologies.
Future Technologies in Practice
An important part of the program consisted of presentations of specific solutions and research:
- Jakub Pawelec (NKSA) presented an example of successful interdisciplinary collaboration,
- PhD Eng. Andrzej Chybicki presented the use of hydroacoustic data and AI tools for anomaly detection,
- PhD Eng. Błażej Meronk discussed methods of detection and identification of objects under limited visibility conditions.
During the coffee break, participants also had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with examples of modules that can be integrated with an underwater inspection vehicle.
Practical Solutions and Demonstrations
The subsequent part of the event also showcased examples of student solutions:
- USV URWIS – a vehicle designed for rescue and patrol missions,
- ASV ZIMORODEK – a fully open and autonomous surface platform.
Special attention was also given to summarizing the development of the ROV “Pirania” project, whose first mission was one of the key achievements of last year’s edition of the initiative.
Networking and Collaboration
The meeting concluded with a networking session that enabled participants to exchange experiences directly and discuss potential areas of cooperation. The event was an excellent opportunity to showcase both research achievements and the possibilities for practical implementation of developed technologies – especially in the context of integration on test platforms.
The “Drone Initiative 2.0” demonstrated the great potential in combining scientific, technical, and organizational competencies. The meeting confirmed the growing importance of dual-use technologies and the need to build interdisciplinary research and development teams.
Follow-up – Workshop Meeting Dedicated to the ROV Pirania
On May 7, 2026, a workshop meeting dedicated to the ROV Pirania platform – an innovative solution dedicated, among others, to monitoring and protecting underwater infrastructure – took place at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at Gdańsk Tech.
This event was a consequence and direct continuation of the First Operational Mission of the ROV Pirania on April 14 this year. Representatives of potential clients – uniformed services and energy infrastructure operators – participated in the meeting.
The meeting served as a venue for an open discussion on aligning the platform’s operational capabilities with the real needs of users.
The event marked another milestone in the development of the ROV Pirania project – confirming interest in the solution from key end-users and enabling the collection of valuable substantive input regarding the directions of its further development.
The goal of the ongoing activities is to create a solution fully meeting the users’ needs and distinguished by functionality and effectiveness compared to technologies available on the market.