The University of Silesia in Katowice is starting the construction of the Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry (ŚICCH). It will be the most modern building in Poland, where new teaching methods will be implemented and comprehensive research will be conducted to advance national and global science. It will include modern laboratories, student spaces, a roof garden, seminar rooms, lecture halls and conference rooms, lecture halls, computer labs, and the first of the Network Science Centre’s laboratories, which will be one of the lasting effects of the European City of Science Katowice 2024 celebrations. The investment will improve the quality and conditions of higher education, while also allowing for the development of a society with high professional qualifications sought after on the labour market. It will also contribute to the development of scientific research and strengthen Katowice’s position as an academic centre.
The construction officially began on 26 May 2025 and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2027. The investment is valued at nearly PLN 318.5 million, of which approximately PLN 239.5 million is co-financed by the European Funds for Silesia 2021-2027 Programme.
The press conference was attended by representatives of local authorities: Wojciech Saługa, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship, Waldemar Bojarun, Deputy Mayor of Katowice, and Maciej Biskupski, Deputy Chair of the Board of Metropolis GZM.
‘Today’s ceremony constitutes a conversation about our future, ambition and the strength of the Silesian Voivodeship. The future begins at universities, in the minds of rebellious, ambitious people who want to shape this reality’, said Wojciech Saługa, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship, during the press conference. ‘The Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry is a strategic project and it’s extremely necessary for the development of the voivodeship,’ he added.
‘I am convinced that today’s ceremony is another big step not only in the expansion of the University of Silesia and its excellent teaching infrastructure, but also in the process of rebuilding the centre of Katowice. Universities can influence this’ said Waldemar Bojarun, Deputy Mayor of Katowice.
‘This is an extremely important investment because it builds the prospects and future of our region. Science is a priority, and creating good infrastructure is a prerequisite for its development,’ emphasised Maciej Biskupski, Deputy Chair of the Board of Metropolis GZM.
Representatives of the University of Silesia in Katowice and the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Silesia spoke about the plans for the Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry.
‘Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine a functioning world without advanced chemistry. This shows that we serve not only academic science but the entire complex environment of the University of Silesia, including citizens who need good, reliable science to know what kind of world they live in and to make it better for them’, said Prof. Ryszard Koziołek, Rector of the University of Silesia. ‘Today, no major civilisational project can take place without the support of science. We want to provide research support in diagnosing and determining the place we live in. We want to know the truth and find ways to repair the world devastated, especially in Silesia, by years of industrial history,’ he added.
‘The Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry is another investment on the development map of our faculty. This investment is intended to integrate the faculty’s research and teaching offer around the chemical sciences,’ noted Prof. Mirosław Chorążewski, Deputy Dean for Science and International Cooperation at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Silesia.
‘Today’s chemistry is transforming reality. In the new building, we will, among other things, research the first Polish green hydrogen. We need sensible innovation, and our chemistry is best suited for this’, explained Prof. Robert Musioł, Director of the Institute of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Silesia. ‘We are creating the Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry primarily for students. Thanks to the new teaching infrastructure, we will be able to take our students to the roof, show them how photovoltaic panels work, make a prototype in the laboratory and test it in the technology hall. We have also included a large science communication zone in the building with laboratories, workshops and lecture rooms, where everyone will be able to see how fascinating chemistry is’, he added.
Members of the management board of the NDI Group, the general contractor, also took part in the press conference.
‘We feel extremely honoured to be able to carry out this fascinating and important construction project for the region. We firmly believe that science and education are our future’, said Małgorzata Winiarek-Gajewska, President of the NDI Group’s Management Board.
Photo by Matylda Klos
A new quality of research and education
In the face of dynamic economic and environmental changes, there is a growing demand for specialists in chemistry, green technologies and modern materials. As part of the Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry, students will be able to pursue degree programmes offered by the University of Silesia. The centre will offer programmes in chemistry (1st and 2nd cycle) and chemical technology (1st cycle), as well as a new interdisciplinary engineering programme related to green transformation – modern technologies for sustainable development (1st cycle). Next year, the University of Silesia will expand its chemistry programmes to include environmental technologies and modern materials (2nd cycle studies), which will enable the training of master’s degree engineers prepared to implement innovative solutions in industry, energy and environmental protection.
The new building of the Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry will house over 20 specialist laboratories and workshops, which will give students direct access to the latest technologies and equipment. These laboratories will focus on specific areas of chemistry, such as:
- drug design and nanopharmacology,
- polymers and functional materials,
- materials for photonics and optoelectronics,
- analytical spectroscopic techniques,
- quantum and computational chemistry,
- synthesis of materials for energy,
- bioorganic chemistry, crystalline chemistry,
- luminescent materials and laser spectroscopy.
By investing in modern fields of study and advanced laboratories, the University of Silesia is creating a space where science meets the real needs of the economy. Our graduates will be a key link in the region’s green transition, and their knowledge and skills will contribute to building a sustainable and modern future for the region and the country. The Centre also represents an important step towards digital, economic and environmental transformation – it will support the green economy and the region’s smart and technological specialisations. As part of its activities, the Centre plans to implement joint projects with enterprises, research and implementation activities, and technology transfer.
Attractive spaces for the academic community and all science enthusiasts
The Centre’s new building will also feature numerous spaces designed to ensure comfortable studying conditions. In modern functional laboratories, students and doctoral students will be able to conduct research in convenient conditions and under the supervision of experts. The project also includes the creation of student rooms, which will be quiet, secluded places for independent study.
This teaching and research complex is a direct response to the growing need for research and strengthening cooperation between the spheres of science and economy, especially in supporting the creation of modern functional materials. In addition, as part of the university, the centre will provide a space where students can learn to adapt to life in today’s rapidly changing world, to be resilient to everyday challenges, to combat ignorance and to overcome the difficulties of conflicts and disasters. The facility will house specialised laboratories covering the disciplines of chemistry, physics and biology – this infrastructure will enable rapid testing and the design of bioactive substances (such as vaccines) that are key to addressing urgent health threats.
The building will also house a science communication space for the Network Science Centre, where scientists will explain scientific phenomena in the context of their research. The audience – students, enthusiasts, and residents of the region – will have the opportunity to talk to specialists, report research problems, and observe science ‘in action’ from up close. It will also be possible to learn about key research projects and scientific exhibitions, and take part in popular science activities in the field of science and technology.
What will our scientists be doing at the Centre?
Through scientific research and development work carried out at the Centre, scientists will explore existing and seek undiscovered correlations between the properties of matter and its behaviour in practical use. The activities to be carried out already include groundbreaking research conducted at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Silesia by researchers listed in the rankings of the most influential and most frequently cited people in science. These achievements include:
- developing technologies for the automotive industry (the first Polish biodiesel) by Prof. Marzena Dzida;
- designing modern drugs – including those for fighting cancer by Prof. Robert Musioł and those useful in modern agriculture by Prof. Eng. Jarosław Polański;
- designing and obtaining photoluminescent materials that can be used in optoelectronics, photocatalysis and medicine, by Prof. Barbara Machura;
- researching the adsorption properties of graphene and graphene oxide by Prof. Rafał Sitko;
- physicochemical forensic research and analysis of the mechanisms of bloodstain formation by Prof. Grzegorz Zadora;
- description of the history of the discovery of chemical elements by Dr Jan G. Małecki, Prof. UŚ. by Jan G. Małecki, PhD, DLitt, Assoc. Prof.
Other topics researched at the University of Silesia include: patenting a new compound used in cancer therapies (Jacek Mularski, PhD, Eng., Katarzyna Malarz, PhD, Prof. Robert Musioł), researching the impact of plastics on human health (Joanna Orzeł, PhD), analysis of environmental pollution with harmful substances (Paweł Świt, PhD, Eng.), research into innovative photovoltaic cell coatings (Marcin Libera, PhD, Eng.), and nanopharmacology and improved diagnostics in medicine (Maciej Serda, PhD, DSc, Eng., Assoc. Prof.). The development of chemical and biological sciences is of particular importance for the region and the country in the context of the transition to a climate-neutral economy.
Just Transition
The investment will also be an important part of the Green Science Zone, which addresses the needs arising from the just transition. The project related to the European City of Science Katowice 2024 is a comprehensive initiative that aims to create a green space supporting both the well-being of Katowice residents and the social aspects of life in the region. One of the overarching goals is to revitalise and restore the Rawa River to its natural state. The initiative also involves the creation of a Network Science Centre, within which Katowice’s public universities will provide a wide audience with access to the current results of the work of Silesian scientists.
The concept of the Green Science Zone, of which the Centre will be a part, is linked to the planned activities set out in the Regional Innovation Strategy for the Silesian Voivodeship 2030 Smart Specialisations in the Silesian Voivodeship: energy, emerging industries, green economy.
The objectives of the project also have a common ground with the objectives contained in the ‘National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021-2030’ and the ‘Low-Carbon Economy Policy for the Silesian Voivodeship. Regional Energy Policy until 2030’. Its effects will ultimately contribute to: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the share of renewable energy sources in energy consumption, increasing energy efficiency and reducing the share of coal in electricity production.
Implementation
The Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry will be a new facility located between Bankowa, Chełkowskiego, Moniuszki and Uniwersytecka Streets. It will be built and equipped with funding from the European Union under the European Funds for Silesia programme. The initiative is scheduled for completion in 2027.
The value of the project is nearly PLN 318.5 million (PLN 318,465,217.63), of which co-financing from the European Funds for Silesia 2021–2027 Programme, Priority FESL.10 ‘European Funds for Transformation’ covers nearly PLN 239.5 million (PLN 239,415,754.10).
Characteristics of the Silesian Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry
- 8 floors (7 above ground + garage);
- development of the adjacent area;
- purchase of equipment necessary for the facility to function as an educational unit;
- use of elements and solutions in line with the principles of the Circular Economy;
- installation of renewable energy sources (photovoltaic panels and air source heat pumps);
- use of atmospheric air cooling (free cooling);
- increase in biologically active area, including additional plantings (flower beds, green areas, rain gardens and a green roof on the non-technical part);
- retention and use of rainwater, e.g. for watering greenery or flushing toilets;
- full adaptation of the building to the needs of people with special needs: all necessary markings and facilities for visually and hearing impaired people (including induction loops, Braille markings, warning strips, visual identification), quiet rooms, rooms for wheelchair users, ramps, appropriately adapted lifts and sanitary facilities, appropriately equipped rooms for carers with children and nursing mothers;
- an integrated BMS system enabling remote management and control of technical functions
