Date added: 2026-02-16
OPUS 29: Millions in funding awarded to Gdańsk University of Technology researchers
A total of 2,538 proposals were submitted to the OPUS 29 call. Of these, 736 advanced to the second stage of evaluation, and experts from the National Science Centre ultimately selected 344 projects for funding, with a total value exceeding PLN 636 million.
Prof. Andrzej Seweryn (consortium with Gdańsk University of Technology as lead and Białystok University of Technology)
“Experimental investigation and numerical modeling of deformation and fracture processes in additively manufactured titanium alloy metamaterials”
Funding amount: PLN 1,678,950.
About the project
The project focuses on the mechanical properties—particularly strength, fracture resistance, and fatigue durability—of additively manufactured titanium alloy metamaterials with a designed structure, intended for use in implants. The material’s anisotropy, dependent on the printing direction, will also be taken into account.
Experimental studies will include mechanical and fatigue testing, while numerical simulations using the finite element method will model the deformation and fracture behavior of metamaterials with both classical and modified mesostructures, produced via Laser Powder Bed Fusion. The study will examine metamaterials with varying porosity and optimized node geometries, enabling significant increases in effective strength and stiffness without substantially changing relative density. Numerical simulations will incorporate the actual mesostructure obtained via micro-computed tomography (voxel size ~2 µm), allowing the inclusion of manufacturing-induced imperfections such as micropores, surface roughness, micro-notches, and thinning.
The results of this research will provide guidance for tailoring the effective mechanical properties of metamaterials—strength and stiffness—based on relative density (or porosity) and optimal node geometry. This is particularly important for bone-replacement implant applications. Reducing stiffness compared to solid material lowers stress concentrations at the bone-implant interface while maintaining adequate effective strength and deformability. Furthermore, properly optimized mesostructure parameters significantly enhance bone ingrowth into the porous structure, improving implant–bone integration and overall system reliability.
Prof. Dariusz Mikielewicz – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology, Gdańsk University of Technology
Project: "Improving the Efficiency of Energy Systems in Residential Buildings in Existing Urban Areas"
Funding: PLN 503,080
About the project
The aim of this research is to develop recommendations for the effective use of combined energy sources and to significantly reduce energy consumption in public and residential buildings. These recommendations will address both new construction projects and building retrofits, through the analysis and optimization of building systems to meet occupant needs and energy demand requirements. The project will establish a methodology for determining optimal energy efficiency levels and achieving nearly zero-energy consumption, along with reference energy and environmental models for public and residential buildings. User behavior models will also be developed to inform these designs. The outcomes will provide guidance for improving national approaches to nearly zero-energy building criteria.
Further improvements in the thermal performance of building envelopes alone are no longer yielding significant gains. Therefore, the focus will shift to reducing energy demand through the use of renewable energy sources. By integrating combined energy sources with optimized and enhanced building systems and operational strategies, overall efficiency can be increased while maintaining occupant comfort as a key priority.
A distinctive aspect of this project is the incorporation of occupant behavior, operational patterns, and comfort indicators—dependent on the building’s energy state—into the energy modeling. The economic feasibility of reducing energy consumption will be evaluated through dynamic simulation that integrates multiple factors: the operation of various energy sources and building systems, building envelope design, external environmental conditions, occupant activities and habits, and both subjective and objective comfort parameters.
Prof. Jakub Montewka – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology, Gdańsk University of Technology
Project: "Methodology for the Safe Design of Ships to Reduce Collision Risk: Development and Validation under Uncertainty Using Advanced Modeling"
Funding: PLN 1,245,620
About the project
Maritime transport plays a key role in the global economy, enabling the efficient and relatively low-cost movement of large volumes of goods between countries. However, the rapid increase in the number of ships at sea also raises the risk of accidents, particularly collisions, which can result in serious human losses and environmental disasters, such as oil or petroleum cargo spills. For this reason, increasing attention is being paid to considering collision scenarios already at the ship design stage, rather than relying solely on analyses of historical incidents.
Current methods, however, have significant limitations, as they rarely account for structural changes over a ship’s lifespan, particularly progressive corrosion. Another challenge is the uncertainty inherent in computational models and the lack of comprehensive validation. The aim of this project is to develop a new, more reliable methodology for ship design based on risk analysis that incorporates structural aging and associated uncertainties, enhancing maritime safety and reducing the consequences of potential accidents.
Recent editions of the OPUS and PRELUDIUM calls (read about PG laureates here) have attracted record interest from the scientific community. Compared with last year’s calls, submissions to OPUS increased by 11%, while PRELUDIUM saw a 19% rise in applications.