Abstract:

Paper presents conditions of science and industry cooperation in Poland (restrictions, barriers, good practice). A key role in initiation of collaboration between units has financial support. What is also important, it is much easier to create innovative solutions on the base of combining the potential of individuals. That is why many countries all over the world look for innovative solutions using budget funds to support grants programs. The governments are aware that nowadays innovations are the engine of development. As a case study, the cooperation under a grant “Fobridge” is described. Here two universities and a private company joined their forces to design, build and test a shell composite footbridge. The goal was to create a structure which would be safe, cheap, widely available and constructed on the base of sustainable development rules. Combined advantages of each entity allowed to design the concept structure which will be constructed in near future and finally will hopefully change in a product available all over the world. It was possible because only the best advantages were taken from every consortium partner. Gdansk University of Technology is an advanced center of shell structures numerical simulations, is experienced in testing bridges and generally in Structural Health Monitoring Systems and finally the most important advantage - regular bridge engineers are working there. Military University of Technology has a modern research laboratory for material testing and is highly experienced in composite materials. On the other hand Roma Co. Ltd. is a small size company which implements composite materials in constructional applications for many years, and which may flexible to the requirements of the scientific partners.

Keywords:

Innovation, cooperation, national budget funding, footbridge, shell composite, GFRP.