Ceremonial contract signing between the University of Opole and GICON

With the ceremonial signing of an agreement between the University of Opole (Poland) and GICON, a collaboration in the renewable energy sector has been established.

The University of Opole in Poland and GICON GmbH signed a cooperative agreement on May 6th, 2011.  Serving as signatories to the contract were the Dean of the University of Opole, Prof. Piotr Wieczorek, and on the part of GICON, CEO Prof. Jochen Großmann.  For GICON, this represents the first collaboration with a university of applied sciences in Poland.

The objective of the collaboration is the strengthening of the cooperation between the partners for the exchange of ideas, scientists and students.  The University of Opole wishes to build a center of excellence for renewable energy, and in doing so draw primarily on the experience of GICON in the area of networking private sector activities with cutting-edge research institutes.  The experience gained will allow the university to assemble a qualified research team.

The signing of the agreement between the university and GICON originated from an idea by the Marshal of Opole Voivodeship, Tomasz Kostuś.  He is also the initiator of the founding of a Regional Eco-Center on the grounds of the Agricultural Advisory Center in the Voivodeship of Łosiów near Opole.  With support from the regional government, a R&D facility will be built there.  GICON will also be involved as a consultant in the area of energy supplies from renewable energies and will construct a biogas pilot plant together with the University of Opole.       

This pilot plant will serve predominantly as a center for research, development, and innovation.  Moreover, the plant will serve as a demonstration plant for advancement of the use of bioenergy for potential investors, operators, and students.  It will be the first plant of its kind in Poland, and would on the one hand significantly elevate the nationwide name recognition of GICON and on the other hand underscore the leading role of the Opole Voivodeship in the area of bioenergy use.     

It was furthermore agreed, that in 2011 the prerequisites will be fulfilled so that the first two exchange students can commence their work.  Longer term, joint PhD-degrees are also under consideration.  To help achieve this, the GICON-led large-scale research facility in Cottbus is also available.      

In recent months, the topic of renewable energy has fallen within the jurisdiction of Antoni Konopka, member of the governing board of the Opole Voivodeship, who attended the ceremonial signing of the agreement.

At the invitation of GICON, the Marshal of Opole Voivodeship, Tomasz Kostuś, accompanied by the Dean of the University of Opole, Prof. Piotr Wieczorek and a team of experts from research and government visited GICON headquarters in Dresden in December, 2010.  Following the visit, the delegation traveled to Schöllnitz, where a pilot plant based on the patented GICON Biogas Process was erected.  At the conclusion of the visit, the guests viewed the GICON large-scale research facility and new biogas plant located at the wastewater treatment plant in Cottbus.  Through these visits the delegation was best able to familiarize themselves with the technological potential of GICON.