Title: "Development of a revolutionary Earth imaging service using the satellite REC constellation"

under Measure 1.1.1 of the Intelligent Development Operational Program 2014 - 2020.

Project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund

Agreement number: POIR.01.01.01-00-0824 / 19-00

Beneficiary: SatRevolution S.A.

Consortium member: Wrocław University of Science and Technology

Supervisor at WrUST: dr hab. inż. Paweł Knapkiewicz

Duration: 01.04.2020 - 31.12.2023 

Project value: PLN 53 142 392.71

Amount of funding of the Project: PLN 33 431 698.63

The subject of the project is the development of an innovative Earth imaging technology using the REC constellation consisting of ScopeSat high-resolution optoelectronic nanosatellites for the purposes of geodesy and cartography, crisis management, the insurance sector, precision agriculture and for imaging applications.

An optical instrument with segmented aperture of the primary and secondary mirrors is particularly important and innovative solutions for this observation satellite. These mirrors will consist of three movable segments with the possibility of precise correction of position each of them. So far, the applicability of the segmented aperture has only been proven theoretically. At the Faculty of Electronics, Photonics and Microsystems, the Department of Microsystems, the world's first optical instruments with segmented aperture and mechanisms enabling ultra-precise correction of the position of mirrors are developed. Thus, competences in the field of designing and testing optical instruments with an aperture of up to 200 mm have been developed.

Title: National Laboratory of Photonics and Quantum Technologies, NLPQT

Funding institution: The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund

Consortium Leader: Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw

Consortium members: Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Institute of Physical Chemistry  - Polish Academy of Science, Silesian University of Science, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poznań Supercomputing  and Networking Center – affiliated to the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (Polish Academy of Science)  Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Supervisor at WrUST: prof. dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Abramski

Duration: 02.11.2018 – 31.12.2023

Project value:  205 742 659,01 zł

Amount of funding for the whole consortium:   145 161 566,30 zł

Amount of co-funding for WrUST: 23 997 764,69 zł

Description: The aim of the project is to create a National Laboratory for Photonics and Quantum Technologies. The laboratory has the form of a dispersed structure created by a consortium of scientific institutions: 7 partners from 6 provinces (Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw - leader of the NLPQT consortium, Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences - Silesian University of Technology, Wrocław University of Technology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences - Poznań Supercomputing Center - Sieciowe, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń).

The Laboratory includes the following research infrastructure:

 - pattern frequency signal distribution system based on an optical atomic clock and the PIONIER fiber optic network, serving the most important academic centers in Poland and selected commercial recipients,
 - a network of scientific laboratories specializing in photonics,
 - a network of scientific laboratories conducting research in the domain of quantum technologies.

Potential recipients of the results and research infrastructure built under the NLPQT project are both other research institutions and commercial recipients, industry looking for advanced solutions in the field of widely understood photonics, optoelectronics and quantum technologies.

Title: Fiber-based mid-infrared frequency combs for laser spectroscopy and environmental monitoring

Funding institution: The Project is supported by the Foundation for Polish Science within the First TEAM program co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund (contract no. POIR.04.04.00-00-434D/17-00).

Consortium leader: -

Consortium members: -

Principal investigator: dr hab. inż. Grzegorz Soboń

Duration: 01.06.2018 – 29.08.2022

Amount of funding: PLN 4 574 235,00

Project’s website: http://www.comb.pwr.edu.pl/

The main goal of the Project is to develop novel types of compact fiber-based optical frequency combs in the mid-infrared spectral range, which will be suitable for field deployment and outside-lab operation. Such sources are on demand of many applications, particularly laser spectroscopy, e.g. fast and sensitive detection of multiple air pollutants (especially greenhouse gases) at a time, as well as precision spectroscopy (high-resolution studies of broadband molecular spectra). The broad spectral coverage of frequency combs allows to overcome the major limitation of existing spectroscopic techniques based on continuous-wave (CW) lasers: it enables measurement of entire molecular bands and simultaneous monitoring of multiple gas species. The mid-IR combs developed in the frame of this project will be tested as sources for comb-based spectroscopic systems, incorporating Fourier-transform spectrometers and continuous-filtering Vernier spectrometers. The second topic of the project is devoted to the development of a femtosecond fiber laser for applications in two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy. This task is done in collaboration with Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (Warsaw, Poland).

The project is conducted in close cooperation with recognized partners: Dr. Aleksandra Foltynowicz (Umeå University, Sweden), Dr. Gerard Wysocki (Princeton University, US), and Dr. Piotr Masłowski (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland), world leading researchers with proven track records in the field of optical frequency combs and laser spectroscopy. The Project is funded by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP).

Title: Development of new technologies for early warning, prevention and control of hydrogen sulphide
leakages in refinery areas

Funding institution: The National Centre of Research and Development (NCBiR

Consortium Leader: -

Consortium members: Xi’an University of Science and Technology, China National Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corp.), Research Institute of Safety and Environmental Protection, CNPC.

Supervisor at WrUST: prof. dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Abramski

Duration: : 01.04.2021 – 31.03.2024

Project value:   

Amount of funding: 1 950 250,00 zł

Description: As part of the project, it was planned to develop a new technology for effective
warning, monitoring and minimization of the effects of leakages in refinery areas highly toxic and
dangerous to human life and the environment of hydrogen sulphide (H2S). This technology will be
based on a combination of a laser sensor for remote H2S measurement at a distance of up to 50m,
using the CLaDS (Chirped Laser Dispersion Spectroscopy) method and a mid-infrared laser source, and
an early warning, prediction and response system for gas leakage. This type of solution is currently
unavailable on the market and fully meets the security needs of the petrochemical industry. The
developed technology will ensure greater versatility and efficiency compared to the currently used
systems, which will directly translate into a significant improvement in the safety of the natural
environment and human life, while securing the continuity of production processes in the event of an
H2S leak.

Title: Low-loss mid-infrared anti-resonance fibers - research on possible applications in gas
lasers and laser gas detection 

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland ( SHENG 1 competition for Polish-Chinese research projects)

Consortium Leader: - 

Consortium members: Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIOM)

Supervisor at WrUST: prof. dr hab. inż. Krzysztof Abramski

Duration: 08.07.2019-07.07.2022

Project value: 1 879 300,00 zł

Amount of co-funding: 1 879 300,00 zł

Description: The aim of the research is to develop new configurations of the so-called anti-resonant
photonic fibers with an air core (AR-HCF) with parameters carefully selected for applications in
sensitive Laser Spectroscopy systems. Due to the innovative design, the fibers have a record low
transmission losses for mid-infrared radiation and will enable the transmission of the laser beam in
the basic mode. The optimized AR-HCF fiber configurations will significantly contribute to the
improvement of the parameters and functionality of the spectrometers constructed on their basis. The
project also envisages research on laser spectrometer systems in which new types of AR-HCF fibers
will be used as an alternative to bulky multi-reflection cells. The parameters of the constructed
systems will be compared with spectrometers using traditional multi-reflection cells. The research
will be supplemented by experiments with mid-infrared laser systems, in which the AR-HCF fibers
filled with gas (eg CO2) will serve as an optically pumped amplifying medium.

Title: Gas Absorption sensors Development for Environment based on novel mid-InfraRed hollow fibers with Enhanced functional design

Funding institution: The National Science Centre, Poland

Consortium Leader: University of Lille

Consortium members: Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Electronics, Photonics and Microsystems; Multitel, Belgium; Laserspec,

Principal investigator: dr inż. Karol Krzempek

Project value: 932 921,00 zł

Amount of funding: 932 921,00 zł

Duration: 15.06.2020 – 14.06.2023

The GADEIRE project aims at the development of novel types of optical fibers for applications in non-complex, precise and selective detection of gases hazardous to humans and the environment. The founding will result in a significant advance in functional fiber technology, which will eventually address the limitations of AQMS being currently deployed EU-wide as a part of the AAQD.

Within the GADEIRE project, we will propose to use specific types of silica based fibers, namely
hollow core optical fibers (HCs), with enhanced functionality, capable of transmitting mid-infrared
optical signals in a very efficient way. The combination of such silica-based hollow core fibers and
of large bandwidth Mid-IR laser sources will allow to develop a multiple gas sensing system.
Environmental gases will be pumped in the core of the HCs and the tunable mid-IR laser source,
injected in the HCs will scan the presence of different gases along the full length of the optical
fiber.

The international project is realized in a consortium between France, Belgium and Poland.

Title: A bio-nanosatellite using miniaturized lab-on-chip instruments and a methodology for conducting bio-medical research with its use in microgravity.

Funding institution: The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR)

Beneficiary: SatRevolution S.A.

Consortium members: Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wrocław University  of Environmental  and Life Sciences, Wroclaw Medical University, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy

Supervisor at WrUST: dr inż. Patrycja Śniadek

Duration: 1.11.2019 – 31.03.2021

Project value:  3 991 155,66 PLN

Amount of co-funding for WrUST: 800 002,74 PLN

Description: The goal of the project is to develop a CubeSat bio-nanosatellite to prepare research on the influence of microgravity on the properties of living biological samples and to determine their life potential in a metrological way. An important element of the bio-nanosatellite will be the so-called Lab-payload, which is being developed at the Department of Microsystems. It will include miniaturized and universal laboratories, based on the use of analytical microsystem technology and 3D printing techniques. These laboratories will ensure optimal conditions for the growth of biological objects such as fungi, oncological cells, lymphocytes and seed. Proper temperature, lighting, medium flow and optical detection will be ensured for the parametric evaluation of the cultures performed. As part of the work, long-term biological experiments will be carried out in a bio-nanosatellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with parallel reference tests on Earth.

Title: SALSETH - Innovative bio-inspired sensors and microfluidic devices for saliva-based theranostics of oral and systemic diseases

Funding institution: European Commission, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, (MEiN), Republic of Poland

Consortium leader: Univerzitet u Novom Sadu (Serbia)

Consortium members: Univerzitet u Novom Sadu (Serbia), Wroclaw University of Science and Technology - Faculty of Electronics, Photonics and Microsystems (Poland), Materials Research Center (Ukraine), WEST Aquila SRL (Italy), Naturality Research & Development (Spain), Ayus Gmbh (Germany), University of Malaya (malaya), Curtin University of Technology (Australia)

Supervisor: dr inż. Wojciech Kubicki

Duration: 01.12.2019 - 30.11.2024

Project value: 3 543 840 PLN

Amount of co-funding for WrUST: 774 304 PLN

Description: Oral hygiene is the cornerstone of good oral health and World Health Organization recognizes oral health as an integral part of systemic health. Among the non-invasive organic fluids, saliva is one of the most preferable and practical specimens for oral and systemic health monitoring as it is readily available and easily collected and stored. Saliva is frequently called a “mirror of the body” since it can reflect both the physiological and pathological conditions in the entire human organism. The  SALSETH project proposal facilitates exchange of knowledge, skills, competencies and capabilities (through secondments) of 8 internationally top-ranking participating organizations (4 from academic sector and 4 SMEs) from Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Malaysia and Australia. This project proposal promotes international and intersectoral collaboration between participating institutions, bringing experts from different fields of science in a unique R&I set up. The SALSETH brings together expertise of the respectable institutions to reach beyond the-state-of-the-art advances in: (1) natural and bio-inspired biocompatible materials; (2) edible food-based sensors which can promptly detect important biomarkers from saliva; (3) external smart electronic device for wireless reading data from sensors; and (4) microfluidic devices for optimal administration of drugs or essential oils as a main part of the intraoral appliances for better oral and systemic health. Through carefully designed secondments, the seconded staff will work on significant technological breakthrough in salivary theranostics for personalized dental bio-medicine. This interdisciplinary project offers an excellent research oriented environment for the personal and professional growth of the involved staff members. The SALSETH will open possibilities of salivary diagnostics for personalized individual medicine applications including clinical treatment options and outcome evaluation predictions.

Title: Bonus on the Horizon 2 - CEMoS-OFC - Computationally enhanced molecular sensing using optical frequency combs (CEMoS-OFC)

Funding institution: Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MEiN), Republic of Poland, within the Bonus on the Horizon 2 program

Principal investigator: Lukasz Sterczewski, PhD

Amount of funding: 138 263 PLN

Duration: 12/2021 – 06/2024

Description: The project provides a premium for members of the CEMoS-OFC - Computationally enhanced molecular sensing using optical frequency combs (CEMoS-OFC) project carried out within the Horizon 2020 program. The goal is to develop a new class of laser instruments for broadband air pollution monitoring. The optical device will exploit a pair of optical frequency combs in the spectroscopically-relevant mid-infrared region, where both non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have unique absorption features.