The implementation-based doctorates programme was initiated in 2017 by the then Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and is now run by the Ministry of Education and Science. Under a tripartite agreement between the Ministry, a university and a company, a successful candidate takes part in a full-time doctoral course combining it with their professional duties. Each programme participant receives a doctoral scholarship.

“Seeing immense potential in implementation-based doctorates, we continue to encourage our employees to apply. Twenty doctorates are ongoing at the moment at our company, most of them focusing on chemistry – few universities could boast such an impressive number. Implementation-based doctoral theses drive innovation and continued development, both for the company and the entire chemical sector,” said Professor Bolesław Goranczewski, Member of the Management Board of Grupa Azoty ZAK.

Most of Grupa Azoty ZAK employees who are writing their implementation-based doctoral theses in chemistry are students of the Silesian University of Technology. This is another element that has strengthened the long-standing cooperation between the University and the Grupa Azoty Group.

“The Silesian University of Technology is among national leaders in terms of the number of implementation-based doctorates. As many as eighty doctoral theses have been started under the programme in the current academic year alone. Research work resulting from the University’s cooperation with the industrial sector and excellent understanding of business needs is one of the key objectives of the Silesian University of Technology’s Development Strategy. We view the collaboration between Grupa Azoty ZAK and our Faculty of Chemistry as extremely valuable. In addition to specialist technological projects with deliverables implemented into the chemical industry, it is particularly important to us that our students have the opportunity to further their education and complete internships and traineeships at Grupa Azoty ZAK,” said Professor Arkadiusz Mężyk, EngD, Rector of the Silesian University of Technology.

Conditions for qualifying to the ministerial programme include the implementation and market potential of a doctoral thesis.

“My objective was to develop effective, low waste and energy efficient methods for obtaining lactic acid esters in the presence of innovative catalysts. The topic of my doctoral thesis was inspired by cooperation with the Silesian University of Technology, my interest in biotechnology and educational background in the field. The results of my thesis can help the company extend the OXO processing chain and add bioesters to its portfolio,” explained Urszula Dorosz, EngD, Head of the Organic Products Development Office at Grupa Azoty ZAK.