The Łukasiewicz – Małopolska Institute of Technology will employ over 500 people, including approximately 350 in the research and engineering-technical divisions. The institute will be established using the existing resources of Łukasiewicz – Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials and Łukasiewicz – Krakow Institute of Technology. Their staff is already developing technologies for defense, construction, and healthcare.
The new institute combines the expertise of experienced staff and specialists in the fields of advanced materials, industrial technologies, and commercial applications, as well as a rich infrastructure consisting of specialized laboratories, production facilities, and capabilities for research, testing, and certification.
Services for Businesses
The merger of Łukasiewicz – ICiMB and Łukasiewicz – KIT primarily means that entrepreneurs and industrial partners will gain access to a broader range of R&D (research, development, and technology): from raw materials, the development and testing of innovative materials, through the design and implementation of technologies for industry, to solutions related to automation and robotics. A distinctive feature of the institute will be its ability to conduct work on a quarter- and half-technical scale—that is, under conditions that mirror industrial settings.
– One of the priorities of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education is to create conditions for effective collaboration between science and business. The Łukasiewicz – Małopolska Institute of Technology will be a key link in this ecosystem, supporting knowledge transfer, the development of innovation, and the building of a modern economy based on advanced technologies. Modern science must respond to the specific needs of the state and entrepreneurs; therefore, the new institute in Kraków will be a place where research results will be more quickly transformed into technologies, products, and solutions that strengthen the competitiveness of Polish companies and the resilience of our economy — emphasizes Dr. Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education—emphasizes Dr. Marcin Kulasek, Minister of Science and Higher Education.
Greater Opportunities for the Economy
The Łukasiewicz – Małopolska Institute of Technology is part of the Łukasiewicz Research Network, the largest research and implementation organization in Poland. The institute will operate at 11 locations in the capital of Małopolska, Warsaw, Opole, Gliwice, and Zabrze, and the building at 73 Zakopiańska Street in Kraków has been selected as its headquarters.
– This integration will help us carry out projects of greater scale and complexity, and the new interdisciplinary project teams will better meet the needs of our business partners. We anticipate an increase in market revenue of approximately 60 million PLN, nearly half of which is expected to come from R&D projects. “As a result, the Łukasiewicz laboratories in Kraków will be less dependent on state budget subsidies,” says Dr. Hubert Cichocki, president of the Łukasiewicz Center.
The creation of the new entity is expected to result not only in a larger scale of operations but also in the development of new products and services for businesses.
“ The merger of the two institutions does not merely mean a consolidation of their capabilities, but creates a new level of quality and opportunities resulting from synergies. Each of the merging institutes brings different experiences, technologies, infrastructure, and specialists to the new organization.” A priority for the newly established institute will be cooperation with industry and the academic community in Kraków,” says Dr. Paweł Pichniarczyk, Ph.D., Eng., professor at AGH University of Science and Technology, who will serve as director of the Łukasiewicz – Małopolska Institute of Technology.
Effective Implementation of Technology in Industry
The new research center will combine research and development with the practical implementation of technology. Collaboration with businesses will be particularly important—both in solving specific technological problems and in creating new products, materials, and processes.
“Today, Polish science needs strong institutions capable of taking on ambitious technological challenges and competing on the international stage.” I welcome the establishment of the Łukasiewicz–Małopolska Institute of Technology. Combining our strengths is an important step toward building a more effective research and development base for the Polish economy. As AGH, we also see in this consolidation new opportunities for developing scientific and technological cooperation, to the benefit of Polish industry,” emphasizes Prof. Jerzy Lis, Ph.D., Eng., Rector of AGH and Chair of the Council of the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials.
The establishment of a new research center based on the long-standing experience and knowledge of the two institutes is also expected to translate into greater development potential for the Małopolska Province and more effective implementation of innovations throughout the country.
– The merger of the Łukasiewicz Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials and the Łukasiewicz Krakow Institute of Technology is an important step toward building a strong and modern scientific and research infrastructure. Integrating the capabilities of both institutes strengthens the position of the new entity, expands its research capabilities, and simultaneously bolsters the innovative potential of the entire region. This is an investment in the development of Małopolska, its competitiveness, and its ability to create and utilize modern technologies. “I am convinced that combining the knowledge, experience, and expertise of both teams will bring tangible benefits not only to the scientific community but also to the economy and the residents of our region, ” says Krzysztof Jan Klęczar, Governor of Małopolska.
From Ceramics to Hydrogen
Łukasiewicz–KIT draws on expertise developed across three research centers, complemented by accredited laboratories, a Certification Department, and a Production Department specializing, among other things, in the design and manufacture of medical devices and packaging lines for various industries.
Łukasiewicz – ICiMB, on the other hand, brings the potential of six additional research centers. The combination of the infrastructure and expertise of both institutes will ultimately allow for the creation of six integrated research centers, within which sixteen research groups will operate, as well as an extensive service laboratory.
The Center for Advanced Materials will focus, among other things, on specialty and refractory ceramics as well as high-temperature materials, while the Center for Sustainable Construction will focus on precast components, the use of cement, concrete, mortar, and aggregates, as well as recycling, waste management, and environmental protection.
Laboratories for Defense, Security, and Health
Specialists at the Center for Biomedical Technologies intend to research bio- and nanomaterials and medical devices, as well as conduct biological validation, while scientists at the Center for Manufacturing Technologies will focus on casting, process modeling and optimization, and prototypes and demonstrators.
Meanwhile, the Center for Fire Safety and Acoustics will focus on construction chemistry, fire reaction and resistance, as well as acoustics and thermal insulation materials. Researchers at the Center for Lightweight Composites will focus on lightweight structures and multi-material systems, polymer, metal, and ceramic composites, as well as carbon, glass, and polymer fibers.
In addition, the Institute is to carry out — in accordance with the main strategic directions of the Łukasiewicz Research Network — research and development work for security and defense, including dual-use technologies related to advanced ballistic ceramics, shelter construction, and hiding places.
The research potential of both institutes is reflected in projects addressing current challenges in industry, defense, security, energy, and construction. At Łukasiewicz–KIT alone, 29 projects are currently underway, funded by, among others, the National Center for Research and Development, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the National Science Center; meanwhile, Łukasiewicz–ICiMB is currently carrying out 22 projects funded, among others, by the Łukasiewicz Center, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the National Center for Research and Development.
Research and Financial Benefits
In 2025, Łukasiewicz – KIT generated revenue from research and development (R&D) projects totaling approximately 30 million PLN, while Łukasiewicz – ICiMB generated revenue of approximately 21 million PLN. The combined total revenue of both institutes amounted to approximately 120 million PLN. It is projected that the integration of the two entities over the next four years will result in an increase of approximately 50 percent in revenue from R&D work, with total projected revenue of approximately 180 million PLN.
