12 moments that defined 2025

The past months have been intense and full of interesting experiences. As always, the Warsaw University of Technology gave us countless stories and memories. Let’s take a moment to look back together at what happened during this time – the events that stirred emotions and inspired reflection.

New ERC grant

2025 brought the third European Research Council (ERC) grant to a researcher from the Warsaw University of Technology. This prestigious award was granted to Wojciech Krauze, PhD, who, together with his team, is carrying out the Re.HOT project – reflective-mode holographic tomography. The solution will be used primarily in the medical field, specifically in ophthalmology.

Research centres

Two new research centres have been established at our University to harness its scientific and implementation potential and to respond to the needs of the economy and society. The Centre of Excellence for Quantum and Nuclear Technologies integrates and strengthens activities in three areas: quantum technologies, nuclear energy, and high-energy physics. The Centre for Credible Artificial Intelligence focuses on developing and implementing AI systems and solutions that enhance their safety, explainability, transparency, and reliability.

WUT technology recognized worldwide

Our PhD student, Filip Budny, won the international James Dyson Award – a design competition that supports and recognizes young people addressing real-world challenges. The award was granted for his project WaterSense, an innovative solution aimed at developing and bringing to market a system for monitoring water quality.

New degree programmes, specialisations, and changes to curricula

In 2025, we focused on aligning our educational offer with the needs of students and the labour market. As a result, several new degree programmes were launched: Civil Engineering as a long-cycle Master’s programme, Management and Marketing in the Digital Economy as a first-cycle programme, and Biomedical Engineering as a second-cycle distance-learning programme. New specialisations were also introduced within existing programmes such as Materials Engineering, Paper and Printing Technology, Spatial Planning, and Telecommunications. In addition, changes were made to current curricula, and preparations for further updates are already underway.

Students in international competitions

Our students demonstrated outstanding performance in international competitions and contests.

A team from the Warsaw University of Technology won the global Bit n Build hackathon. The students developed two AI-based solutions: Campaign Strategist – a platform supporting the creation and planning of marketing campaigns, and EchoMed – an application that analyses users’ voices to detect early signs of Parkinson’s disease.

Students from WUT also won the national stage of the Enactus World Cup and represented Poland in the international finals. They developed MedWave, a med-tech solution that uses artificial intelligence to automate medical documentation. Our representatives advanced to the top 16 teams in the competition.

A team of students from Warsaw universities – including our own – took second place in the prestigious iGEM competition, the world’s largest synthetic biology contest organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The young innovators presented Hepaswitch, a project consisting of targeted-therapy tools aimed at liver cancer cells.

Our students also proved to be the world’s best designers of power electronics devices, winning the International Future Energy Challenge 2025. They achieved excellent results in architectural competitions as well, including designs for a seismically resilient school, a new building for San Francisco State University in California, and a micro-house project.

Our teams successfully competed in events for designers of unmanned aircraft (SAE Aero Design), Mars rovers (University Rover Challenge and European Rover Challenge), motorcycles (MotoStudent), and racing cars (Formula Student – Team 1, Team 2). Students earned both awards and invaluable experience at these competitions. Every such achievement holds a special place in our memory.

Sporting passion and a historic achievement

Elżbieta Glinka, a graduate of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Mechanics and Petrochemistry at the Warsaw University of Technology in Płock, won the 35^th Independence Run in Warsaw and set a new Polish women’s record in the 10 km race. In her daily professional life, Ela works as a Production Preparation Manager at one of Poland’s largest construction companies, successfully combining a demanding career with elite-level competitive running.

Together for health

Our researchers made headlines with projects related to medicine. Among the highlighted solutions were: personalized, commercially available spinal and craniofacial bone implants; studying and inhibiting the activity of an enzyme whose increased activity is observed in many cancer types; a biodegradable implant for treating retinal detachment; hop-based preparations for skin disease therapy; a new approach to dental implants addressing the problem of insufficient integration with surrounding bone tissue; and the development of advanced infection diagnostics.

The future in our hands

In the past year, WUT scientists demonstrated their ability to implement their solutions or make significant strides toward practical applications. Examples include: the Mobile Forensic Platform handed over to the Łódź Regional Police Headquarters; aluminium and composite processing technologies implemented in an aerospace company; solutions to reduce noise and vibrations from railway traffic now ready for practical use; new research on the Treblinka II camp providing key insights into its operation; a new spin-off company specializing in rapid road lighting measurements as well as audits and analyses of lighting infrastructure to help road managers optimize systems and plan investments.

Our scientists are also co-authors of research that challenges conventional assumptions about neural networks – showing that deepening these networks (adding more layers) can bring significant benefits, including improved performance and scalability.

WUT researchers received recognition for their innovative ideas. In the Polish Product of the Future competition, the Bioactive Spongy Bone Substitute and FuelCellPoland – carbonate fuel cells for producing electricity, heat, and synthetic fuels – were honoured. Our representatives were also among the winners of the Innovator of Mazovia contest, where a home robotic rehabilitation system and methods used in microwave technologies, including radar and telecommunications, earned acclaim.

Popularizing science

Our PhD student, Natalia Izdebska, made waves in the international science communication competition FameLab, winning the audience award at the global finale with her story about batteries that will be cheaper and safer than those currently available. As the national winner, Natalia represented not only the Warsaw University of Technology but all of Poland at the international final.

Science outreach is an essential part of our mission. In 2025, we participated once again in projects such as the Science Festival, the Science Picnic organized by Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre, the National Materials Engineering Day, and Night at the Institute of Aviation. Among the many university events, we also hosted the Mathematics Popularization Day, the Student Research Groups and Organizations Fair (KONIK), and – a new initiative – events connected to a cybersecurity project.

New spaces and renovations

In recent months, several changes have taken place in our infrastructure. The complete renovation of the Pineska Student Hall of Residence ended: installations and windows were replaced, the façade was refurbished, room layouts were redesigned, and the entire space was newly furnished and equipped with modern facilities. The Central Canteen has also been renovated, now offering a brighter, more spacious, and greener environment. New spaces for study and relaxation have also appeared across our campus, including the Floratorium – Green Corner of Calm and the Relaxation and Study Zone.

Christmas illumination

At the end of the year, the new Christmas illumination of the WUT Main Building became a sensation. Designed in a fairy-tale, Christmas-inspired style and incorporating distinctive architectural features of the building, it was full of animated effects. Thanks to this decoration, hundreds of Warsaw residents and tourists visited the campus, and photos and videos quickly flooded social media. The illumination is entirely our own work – the design and execution were carried out by Warsaw University of Technology staff, with the projection equipment borrowed for the display.

200 years of WUT

On October 1, we began celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the Warsaw University of Technology. The celebrations will continue throughout 2026, commemorating events from 1826. On January 4 of that year, after years of effort, the Preparatory School for the Polytechnic Institute was established – considered the beginning of technical education in Warsaw and the foundation of WUT. As part of the anniversary, the first events have already taken place, including ceremonies, concerts, meetings, social initiatives, and social media campaigns.

Thank you for sharing this past year with us. We wish everyone wonderful moments in 2026 and hope that we will be able to experience at least some of them together!