At the beginning of March 2025, representatives of the Lviv Polytechnic National University participated in the Kick-off meeting of the LASER-PRO project, which took place on 3-4 March 2025 at the HiLASE Centre in Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic. This meeting began one of the most significant scientific and practical projects within the Horizon Europe programme, focusing on laser technologies that aim to transform Europe's high-tech industry.
The LASER-PRO project (Excellent Laser Technologies for the Sustainable Prosperity of Europe) brings together 18 partners from the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Ukraine, including the Lviv Polytechnic National University. The project aims to implement advanced laser technologies in various industries, including energy efficiency, sustainable development, and increasing the competitiveness of European industry on the global stage.
The Lviv Polytechnic National University is an essential partner in the LASER-PRO project, joining the consortium to represent the Ukrainian scientific and educational sector. The University is involved in the project at various levels, including joint research, development of new technologies, and personnel training. The following people from the University attended the kick-off meeting Professor Anatoliy Andrushchak, Head of the Department of Applied Physics and Nanomaterials Science, Director of the Scientific and Educational Centre for Innovative Technologies and Nanoengineering and LASER-PRO Project Coordinator from Lviv Polytechnic, and Denys Afanasiev, Research Fellow at the Department of Applied Physics and Nanomaterials Science.
"Lviv Polytechnic's participation in the LASER-PRO project is an important step in the development of Ukrainian science and innovation, which will allow us not only to raise our technological level but also to strengthen cooperation with European partners," emphasised Anatoliy Andrushchak.
The LASER-PRO consortium includes leading institutions and companies. From the Czech Republic: HiLASE Centre, the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Central Bohemian Innovation Centre, the Czech Optical Cluster, and the consulting company AMIRES. From Lithuania: Centre for Physical Sciences and Technology, Lithuanian Innovation Centre, Lithuanian Laser Association and laser micromachining developer and manufacturer "Aconeer". From Ukraine: Lviv Polytechnic National University, LLC "Scientific Park of Lviv Polytechnic", LLC "Novinano," and NGO "Junior Achievement Ukraine". All partners have significant experience in implementing innovations and technologies, and thanks to this, the LASER-PRO project will not only transform European industry but also contribute to the development of scientific and industrial ecosystems in all three countries.
The meeting was very intensive and consisted of several main blocks in which the strategic and technical aspects of the project were discussed. Michal Pruza, Director of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (FZU), opened the meeting, welcomed the participants, and emphasised the importance of this project for scientific and technological progress in Europe. Petra Pekova, Governor of the Central Bohemian Region, highlighted the project's importance for the region's development and economic prosperity. Jana Havlíková, Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Innovation of the Czech Republic, stressed the importance of cooperation between science, governments, and industry to achieve sustainable development. Tomáš Moček, Project Coordinator and Director of the HiLASE Centre, presented the main objectives and tasks of LASER-PRO, focusing on developing the innovation ecosystem, improving the skills of scientists and engineers, and ensuring sustainable development through innovative laser technologies.
The project has several main strands:
- Sustainable production development: Optimising material processing and reducing waste through ultrafast laser pulses.
- Semiconductor technologies: Development of laser technologies for chip manufacturing and packaging, particularly in the European Chips Act context.
- Biomedical innovations: Developing laser solutions for medical devices, implants, and microfluidic systems.
- Digital technologies and 3D printing: Improving design and productivity through advanced digital tools and 3D laser printing technologies.
- The project also aims to support start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling them to use laser technologies to improve their competitiveness and foster innovation.
During the meeting, specific aspects of the project were discussed, including the development of innovation centres, personnel training, research cooperation, and opportunities for start-ups and SMEs. Special attention was given to the integration of Ukrainian partners into the European innovation network. At the end of the meeting, the discussions were summarised and the first steps for further project implementation were outlined. In particular, key priorities for research and development were identified and close cooperation between all participants was established.
The LASER-PRO meeting was an essential milestone in creating a robust European innovation ecosystem, bringing together science, industry, and public policy. Lviv Polytechnic's participation in this project will allow our university to be part of the global scientific and technological revolution and create new opportunities for developing young scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs in Ukraine.
