On 27 June 2024, Lviv Polytechnic National University opened the Engineering and Robotics Research and Education Center. It was created for students majoring in Applied Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering to develop their practical skills. In particular, it will become not only a leading center for technology development, but also a base for fruitful cooperation between business and higher education institutions.
The establishment of the Center was funded by the USAID Economic Support for Ukraine Project for a total of about $500,000.
“The USAID project has been collaborating with Lviv Polytechnic since the beginning of summer 2022 to promote research cooperation between science and business. This time, USAID provided necessary equipment for the expansion of the Center and the University. This includes equipment for processing and production, as well as for material analysis and manufacturing.
Also, thanks to our partnership, Lviv Polytechnic has trained its faculty to use the new equipment, so they are now ready to teach students. The updated teaching and learning materials will enable the integration of the latest technologies into the curriculum. We hope and believe that the creation of this Center will significantly strengthen the practical training and research capabilities of the university. Students will receive the highest level of education and practical experience with equipment that meets international standards. We look forward to fruitful cooperation between universities and businesses”, said Kirsten Pfeiffer, Deputy Chief of Party on the Ukraine Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), USAID.
According to Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, this equipment will enable students to acquire practical skills in programming and controlling robots, as well as conduct research in artificial intelligence, automation and other innovative areas.
‘Thanks to the high-precision equipment, students will be able to engage in mechanical engineering - right down to the manufacture of the smallest parts. Until recently, they studied everything only on computers, but now they will participate in the real production process, and after graduation they will be able to start working immediately as specialists with practical experience. The Center has a robotics laboratory, an inclusive laboratory for visually impaired scientists, as well as metal analysis and processing laboratories”, explained Maksym Kozytskyi.
He also added that the Center can serve as an additional base for Lviv region's milling and metalworking companies, as well as a basis for joint research between the University and business.
“Lviv Polytechnic is steadily turning into a technological hub for development, education and production. We are grateful to the American people for giving our young people this Center. Thank you for all the support we feel from you at this historic time. I hope that the new opportunities we have received will give impetus to the export of products and the development of metalworking in the Lviv region”, said Maksym Kozytskyi.
The Center was established by the Tech StartUp School, Lviv Polytechnic National University, with the assistance and financial support of the USAID Economic Support to Ukraine Project.
For reference
The USAID Economic Support for Ukraine Project was created to strengthen Ukraine's economy, which suffered as a result of Russia's invasion. The USAID project supports relocated businesses and internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as local institutions in the recently liberated territories of Ukraine, to help them rebuild their livelihoods and take advantage of business opportunities to restore a sustainable post-war economy.
