Two scientists from Wrocław University of Science and Technology have been included in the list of the 10 of the best Polish innovators under 35 years of age by the prestigious American magazine MIT Technology Review. The winner of the Polish edition of the “Innovators under 35” competition will be announced at a gala to be held in Paris

Every year, the jury of the competition, organised by the magazine published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, choose ten people they consider the most innovative scientists in a few countries of Europe. This year, these were Poland, Italy, Belgium, Spain, France, and Germany. On September 14, Paris will become home to the finale gala, during which we will find out the names of the winners of each national edition and the list of 35 most innovative European scientists - the so-called Innovators Under 35 Europe.

Two researchers from our University, Jan Kędzierski PhD. from the Faculty of Electronics and Jerzy Łątka, a doctoral student at the Faculty of Architecture, have chances to receive the title.

Jan Kędzierski PhD. works at the Faculty of Electronics of Wrocław University of Science and Technology, for years, undertaking projects related to artificial intelligence. His research involves examination of human reactions and behaviours in contacts with a social robot who can express emotions and make gestures. Along with his collaborators from the Department of Robotics and Automatics, he built a robot named FLASH, whose different versions went to countries including the USA, Portugal, the UK, and Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, where the robotics laboratory “Robotarium” was set up.

He is a co-founder of the company FLASH robotics, where he’s currently working on an interactive robot called EMYS, which will teach foreign languages to children. More information on the project can be found on the website.

Jerzy Łątka is a doctoral student at the Faculty of Architecture of WUST and the University of Technology in the Dutch city Delft.  He specialises in the construction of various structures from paper and adapting them to social needs. In his research career, he has dealt with fields such as constructing homes for the homeless, victims of natural disasters, and refugees, and paper furniture. In 2015, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the University, he and his students built an original pavilion from paper and wood in Wrocław’s Solny Square. An exhibition dedicated to the history of Wrocław University of Science and Technology was installed inside.

To find out more about the competition “Innovators under 35” and the full list of nominees, please visit the organisers’ website.