Research into low-emission technologies for heavy industry is gaining international momentum – Paulina Copik, DEng, from the Łukasiewicz – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology.has been awarded the prestigious DAAD scholarship. As part of the programme, she will undertake a research stay at Fraunhofer UMSICHT in Germany, where she will advance solutions supporting the decarbonisation of metallurgy and increasing the use of renewable raw materials.
Paulina Copik, DEng, from the Łukasiewicz – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology has been awarded the prestigious DAAD scholarship for 2026. As part of the programme, she will carry out a two-month research stay at Fraunhofer UMSICHT in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, developing a project of significant importance for the transformation of heavy industry.
Fraunhofer UMSICHT is a research institute dedicated to the development and optimisation of technologies in the fields of environmental, process, materials, and energy engineering. Its activities focus on circular economy solutions, carbon footprint management, green hydrogen, and local energy systems.
The project involves the development of a technological pathway for producing pellets from biochar intended for metallurgical applications, with particular emphasis on the material’s mechanical strength parameters. The aim of the work is to support the decarbonisation of industrial processes and increase the share of renewable raw materials in the steel sector.
During the research stay, collaboration is planned with Christopher Graf-Kick and Sophie Schönfeld. The cooperation will focus on the development of methods for producing carbon-based materials, particularly pyrolysis processes, as well as their characterisation for industrial applications.
The research visit is directly linked to the scientific activities carried out at the Łukasiewicz – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology, where projects in the field of sustainable industrial technologies are being developed, including the use of biomass and waste in metallurgical processes. The scholarship represents an important step towards strengthening international collaboration and facilitating knowledge transfer to the Polish industrial sector.
The DAAD programme supports the international mobility of researchers by funding research stays and internships in Germany, enabling the implementation of scientific projects in cooperation with German research institutions and fostering long-term academic partnerships.
