About us
Research and Innovation Centre Pro-Akademia is a research organisation that has been conducting interdisciplinary applied research and teaching activities in the field of technical and social sciences since 1996. The Centre is a non-profit institution based in Central Poland, with the status of a public benefit organization, which reinvests all profits generated in scientific activities, dissemination of research results and teaching. Together with our partners from the world of science, industry and the public sector, we create new solutions (technologies, products, services, public policy concepts) in the field of sustainable energy, circular economy and bioeconomy.
The Centre provides tailor-made research and innovation services covering the entire value chain of new technology development:
- co-designing innovations with end users,
- Proof-of-Principle / Proof-of-Concept laboratory tests,
- prototyping,
- commercialization,
- advisory servcices,
- building competencies necessary for wide implementation of innovations.
In our activity to date, we have completed over 100 research, training and consulting projects commissioned by EU institutions, private entities, central and local government administration. We have implemented and maintain a certified quality management system for the design and implementation of research services in accordance with the PN-EN ISO 9001:2015 standard. The quality of our scientific activities is also subject to regular assessment carried out by the Polish Ministry of Science. We are also the operator of the Technology Transfer Centre, where our laboratories and research infrastructure are located.
Our principal research and innovation areas are:
Our important successes over the last few years include:
- 2018: The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change granted RIC Pro-Akademia, as an organization competent in the areas covered by the Convention, the status of an Observer of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
- 2021: The Center was among the TOP 10 Polish scientific units in terms of funding obtained per 1 scientist from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program according to the Polish National Contact Point ranking.
- 2022: In the evaluation of research organisations for the years 2017-2021 carried out by the Polish Ministry of Science, we obtained the scientific category B+ in the discipline of environmental engineering, mining and energy. If the Center were a university, we would be authorized to award doctoral and habilitated doctor degrees.
- 2023: The Center was nominated for the Polish Intelligent Development Award 2023 in the Social Innovation category.
Since 2007 we have been coordinating Cluster 'Bioenergy for the Region' - a co-operation platform of over 80 companies, including local authorities operating several critical infrastructures and wastewater treatment plants of Central Poland, research institutions, local administration and business support institutions. The main aim of the Cluster is sustainable energy development in Central Poland. In the context of climate change the Cluster promotes innvoative solutions in sustainable energy in local and regional dimensions.
Mission statement
to conduct high-quality research, disseminate knowledge and build competences for innovation and sustainable development among the economic and scientific communities, business environment institutions and non-governmental organizations, individuals and government and local government administration.
Our values
- Innovation – manifested in the search for novel technical and economic solutions that support sustainable socio-economic development
- Interdisciplinarity – manifested by combining various scientific disciplines and various stakeholder groups to create new knowledge
- Independence – manifested by maintaining an attitude of not giving in to any influence that could pose a threat to the ethical and professional performance of the Centre's mission
- Apolitical – manifested by the Centre's lack of involvement in the activities of any political parties
- Transparency – manifested in full openness of substantive and financial reports on the Centre's activities to the public
- Economy – manifested by striving for rational use of all resources