CASSINI Hackathon

Yash Chawla, PhD

Founder and Head of CRAFT and Deputy Head and Assistant Professor in the Department of Computational Social Science at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. He holds a PhD with distinction in Management Sciences and combines backgrounds in Engineering, Computer Applications and Business Administration, working at the intersection of technology, business and societal impact. His work turns research into practical solutions, especially in sustainable development, and he has hackathon mentoring experience, including CASSINI. Through CRAFT, he connects research, talent development and public-private dialogue around responsible technology and the EU AI Act. He also advises companies, investors and startups on innovation, emerging technologies, feasibility, societal impact and design thinking. His research spans innovation management, technology adoption and humane technology, supported by grants from the European Commission and Poland’s National Science Centre.

Founder and Head of CRAFT, Wrocław Tech

Marek Jabłonka

Expert in systems architecture, systems engineering, and lifecycle management of advanced technology solutions in the space, defence, and IT sectors. He has long been associated with Exence S.A., where he serves as a manager and solution architect, leading projects for industry and public institutions in cooperation with national and international partners. He combines engineering expertise with operational and business perspectives. His experience covers satellite positioning and navigation systems (GPS/GNSS), Earth Observation (EO), and satellite communications (SATCOM), with a strong focus on ground segment, downstream data processing, and business development around satellite-based services and products. He specializes in complex IT systems integration, data analysis, operational process modelling, and decision-support tools. As a mentor, he helps teams refine problems, shape solution concepts, assess technical feasibility, and prepare projects for implementation and scaling.

Space Systems & Software Architect at Exence

Przemysław Chrobot

Graduate of Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, with postgraduate studies in team management and project management, and certifications including PRINCE2, Agile, SCRUM, and PMBOK. He has been with MPWiK Wroclaw since 2012 and currently leads the New Technologies Centre. He is responsible for developing the innovation ecosystem, cooperation with academia and business, technology commercialisation, and intellectual property management. He co-created the company’s R&D&I Policy, oversees an accredited water and wastewater laboratory, and has co-authored numerous publications. He has led projects funded by the National Centre for Research and Development, as well as major strategic initiatives at MPWiK, including implementation of R&D results such as two-stage deammonification and Smartflow. He also serves as an economic expert for public innovation institutions.

Manager of the New Technologies Center at MPWiK Wrocław

Olga Voropai, PhD

Expert in bridging high-level scientific research with sustainable market entry, with extensive experience mentoring deep-tech startups in EU-funded programmes including Horizon Europe, EIT HEI, and Digital Europe. She has worked with startups from Slovakia, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Türkiye across green and digital transition, alternative energy, biomedicine, and biotech. She helps teams navigate Industry 5.0 by aligning technological solutions with social sustainability and stakeholder needs. As a mentor, she supports teams in refining their value proposition, identifying market-readiness factors, discovering customers, mapping customer journeys, and validating long-term business impact. She also played a key role in building Kyiv’s deep-tech ecosystem as coordinator of the Science and Technology Park project at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. She is currently a researcher at Wroclaw Tech and Director of the CRAFT Academy.

Lead of CRAFT Academy and Assistant Professor, Wrocław Tech

Andrzej Bober

Graduate of the Wroclaw University of Economics in Production Economic Engineering. Senior specialist engineer at the New Technologies Centre of MPWiK S.A. in Wroclaw. For 16 years, he has been actively involved in developing and implementing projects focused on water loss reduction, including the Smartflow IT platform, water network monitoring in the area of hydraulic anomaly detection, and sewer network monitoring in the area of quality measurements.

Expert in Water Loss at MPWiK Wrocław

Katarzyna Siekanowicz, PhD

Graduate of Wroclaw University of Science and Technology in Spatial Planning and Environmental Engineering, with a PhD in Engineering and Technical Sciences in the discipline of Environmental Engineering, Mining and Energy. Senior specialist engineer at the New Technologies Centre of MPWiK S.A. in Wroclaw. For more than 10 years, she has worked in R&D on water resources, with a strong focus on digital transformation and artificial intelligence. She also coordinates cooperation with startups within acceleration programmes.

Expert in Soil Permeability at MPWiK Wrocław

Krystian Czuba, PhD

Graduate of Chemical and Process Engineering at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, with a PhD in Engineering and Technical Sciences in the discipline of Environmental Engineering, Mining and Energy. Specialist engineer at the New Technologies Centre of MPWiK S.A. in Wroclaw. His academic and professional work focuses on research and development projects in water treatment and water recovery technologies.

Expert in Source Protection at MPWiK Wrocław

Aleksandra Cichoń

Graduate of Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. Senior specialist engineer at the New Technologies Centre of MPWiK S.A. She works on research, development, and implementation projects focused on modern technologies, data analysis, and solutions supporting the sustainable operation of water and wastewater utilities. Her experience includes projects related to renewable energy, energy self-sufficiency, sludge management, digital transformation, and water network monitoring. She works in an interdisciplinary way, cooperating with academia and business, and her competences include technical analysis and participation in strategic projects supporting organisational development.

Expert in Data Acquisition at MPWiK Wrocław

Jan Surudo

Experienced advisor in team building, he has been running an executive search firm for nearly 10 years, specializing in the manufacturing and IT sectors. He focuses on recruiting senior managers and technical experts for demanding industrial and technology environments. Through work with organizations ranging from startups to large enterprises, he has developed a broad perspective on market needs, operational processes, and the challenges of team growth and transformation. He is also developing tryVinci - a project at the intersection of technology, health, and gamification of physical activity. He draws on his experience in building project teams and exploring solutions that engage users and support sustainable habits, especially for people with sedentary lifestyles. He is involved in innovative ventures combining hardware and software, with interests including biomechanics, training, and the impact of physical activity on health.

S-HR Partners / tryVinci co-founder

Jan Jakub Cendrowski

Marketing expert and business strategist with many years of experience in brand development, advertising campaigns, and online marketing tools. He has worked across the telecommunications and chemical sectors, as well as in advertising and PR agencies, including Me & My Friends. His portfolio includes brands from the Maspex Group such as Tymbark and Kubuś, as well as North Fish, ZP Polski Przemysł Spirytusowy, LC Corp, and the International Football Association Board. He has also worked with numerous startups, building their marketing strategies from the ground up. A long-time collaborator and lecturer at Wroclaw universities, he is also a recipient of industry awards and the author of publications in trade media.

Managing Director at inQUBE University Business Incubator

Robert Bednarski

Graduate of Economics at UMCS in Lublin, Project Management at WSB University in Wroclaw, and MBA studies at Franklin University in Ohio. Since 2006, he has been connected with the Wroclaw City Office, where he has been responsible for major strategic initiatives, including establishing an in-house company for large investment projects and coordinating key tasks related to UEFA EURO 2012 in Wroclaw, including stadium construction. Since 2014, he has served as Director of the Project Management Office, later expanded into the Smart City and Project Management Office. He is the author of the city’s project management policy and methodology and has coordinated major initiatives in smart and low-emission public transport, culture, revitalisation, the water node, and large cultural and sports events such as European Capital of Culture 2016 and The World Games 2017. Since 2015, he has been developing the Smart City and Wroclaw City Lab concepts.

Director of Smart City, City of Wrocław

Grzegorz Marut

Expert in satellite geodesy, specializing in low-cost GNSS receivers. He and his team developed a prototype of such a device and wrote receiver management software in Rust. He has used his device in applications including tropospheric research and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) using the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS). He developed his own implementation of outlier rejection in GNSS processing tailored to surveying and low-cost receivers, and also conducted analyses of the quality of observations recorded by low-cost antennas. He is currently actively involved in two projects focused on developing a low-cost GNSS receiver for real-time positioning using Galileo HAS, as well as on developing a low-cost permanent GNSS station. He is developing the co-authored GNSS-WARP positioning software by implementing it in C++, as well as preparing supporting software in Rust. In his work, he uses technologies such as Docker and Git.

Assistant Professor, Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, UPWr

Ewa Burszta-Adamiak

Associate Professor in the Department of Networks and Sanitary Installations at the Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, and a member of the research and teaching staff. She leads the Water-Climate-Environment (WCE) Leading Research Team and coordinates Work Package 3 in EU GREEN - the European University Alliance for sustainability. Her research focuses on sustainable stormwater management in urban areas, especially the quantitative and qualitative performance of green-blue infrastructure and Nature Based Solutions, including green roofs, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, and water quality management. She has contributed to international and national projects including Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, EIG CONCERT-Japan, NCBiR, and OPI&E. She co-created the Polish Atlas of Rainfall Intensities (PANDa), coordinated rainwater guidelines for urban areas with the Wroclaw Municipality, and co-edited the Polish Green Roof Guidelines.

Associate Professor at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Robert Kasperek, PhD

Habilitated doctor in agricultural sciences in environmental management and professor at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, specializing in river hydraulics, water management, and hydropower. Affiliated with the university since 1993, he has held leadership roles and is currently Director of the Institute of Environmental Engineering for 2025-2029. Author of 126 publications, he has led and contributed to research and implementation projects funded by national ministries, NCN, EU programmes, INTERREG, and industry partners including KGHM. His expertise covers sediment transport, river morphodynamics, water retention, drought and flood mitigation, hydropower, hydraulic modelling, flood protection, and water quality improvement. He completed research internships at Ghent University, delivered over 50 conference presentations, supervised doctoral candidates and more than 200 theses, and received multiple awards for scientific, teaching, and organisational achievements.

University Professor at Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Konrad Dyk

Doctor of chemical sciences and an experienced leader working at the intersection of analytical chemistry, R&D management, and industrial application. As an Analytical Chemist at Gekko Photonics in Wroclaw, he delivers technical solutions to industrial clients through advanced spectroscopic analysis and oversees the full operational lifecycle of the laboratory. His background spans research institutions and industry across Poland and Europe, including leading interdisciplinary teams, managing nationally and internationally funded projects, and building laboratory infrastructure from the ground up. He has contributed to Horizon Europe programmes and maintained strategic partnerships with global technology companies. His expertise includes analytical chemistry, spectroscopy, measurement science, quality systems, documentation, process standardisation, and translating scientific findings into practical, commercially relevant outcomes.

Analytical Chemist at Gekko Photonics

Dariusz Gajewicz

Experienced in project management and technology, working for years at the intersection of engineering and business. During his studies, he co-organized three editions of Project Management Session, one of the largest project management conferences in Poland. He began his career at WABCO, focusing on change management and adapting products to local markets, then joined Global4Net, an e-commerce solutions provider, where he managed the company’s largest client, Neonet. At the same time, he was actively involved in the International Project Management Association (IPMA), serving for two years on the board of the Lower Silesia Regional Group. In 2019, he joined GlucoActive, which later evolved into Gekko Photonics. He is currently a co-founder and COO, supporting the company’s operations and organisational processes. In his free time, he enjoys tabletop RPGs, mixology, bartending, video games, music, and live concerts.

Chief Operating Officer, Gekko Photonics

Anna Górecka, PhD

Director of the Academic Business Incubator at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology. With over 15 years of experience in technology transfer, academic entrepreneurship, and innovation management, she has supported the development of more than 200 technology startups, including deep-tech and university spin-offs. Her work focuses on founder support systems, acceleration and pre-incubation programmes, mentoring startup teams, and linking academia with business. She has co-created and delivered EIT-funded projects including IDEATION, DEETECHTIVE, and AIDEAS, as well as national initiatives such as ScalePL. She specializes in deep-tech entrepreneurship, university spin-offs, and innovation support systems in higher education. She is also an OECD expert involved in the Youth Entrepreneurship Policy Academy and the Better Entrepreneurship Policy Tool, serves on regional innovation advisory bodies, and is a certified business trainer and Design Thinking moderator.

Director of Business Incubator at Wrocław Tech

Paweł Sawicki

Technology and operational transformation leader combining engineering and managerial experience with the ability to build a strong narrative for change. He has led strategic initiatives across finance and industry, including cloud platforms and data integration for banking, global digital transformation programmes in FMCG, R&D and manufacturing projects for BMW and Scania, and infrastructure programmes for EU security agencies. He specializes in linking strategy with execution, working with complex stakeholder groups, and leading change that delivers measurable results. He is a lecturer at Coventry University Wroclaw, a mentor and advisor to leaders, and an expert for the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR). He is also a recipient of the Business Tiger 2023 distinction and the Mayor of Wroclaw’s award for contributions to innovation. He currently works with BPX S.A.

Executive Transformation & Delivery Leader at BPX S.A.

Tomasz Wiśniewski

Innovation expert with extensive experience in business consulting, technology transfer, and commercialization of research results. He initiates and implements R&D projects, supports research-business collaboration, develops development strategies, and implements innovative solutions. Participates in industry events, pitches, and acceleration programs. Possesses extensive knowledge in managing innovation projects and fostering a culture of innovation within organizations. As an experienced leader and trainer, active in startups and business institutions, he establishes contacts, builds lasting relationships, and fosters an atmosphere conducive to creative problem-solving. He is the author and co-author of numerous monographs, publications, and articles on risk management, innovative projects, and building investment readiness.

Technology Broker at the University of Wrocław's Technology Transfer Center

Igor Zieliński

Robotics Engineer by training with a deep focus on firmware development and hardware-software integration. Expert in optimizing real-time performance and complex control loops. My background in competitive programming allows me to approach algorithmic challenges with a unique blend of mathematical rigor and low-level efficiency.

Embedded Software Developer, GekkoPhotonics

Wojciech Buła, PhD

PhD, EMBA - trained as an electronics engineer at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology and a nanotechnologist at the MESA+ Institute, University of Twente. Over the past 20 years, he has designed microreactors in the Netherlands, water contamination analyzers in Hiroshima, and lab-on-a-chip biomarker diagnostics in Tokyo and San Francisco, working at the intersection of science, engineering, and product innovation. He has collaborated with companies including ASICS and SpaceX, completed the HAX/SOSV hardware accelerator in Shenzhen, received a Gold Edison Award and a CES Innovation Award, and graduated top of his MBA class at SGH Warsaw School of Economics. He is a co-founder of deep-tech startups, currently serves as CTO of Orthoget S.A., is a partner in an AI-focused software house, and lectures at SGH, where he also sits on the MBA for Startups program board.

CTO at Orthoget, Co-founder of ImmunoTronics, Co-founder of Blackgate.Consulting

Jakub Ciążela, PhD

Geoscientist at the Polish Academy of Sciences and CEO of MIRORES Mining Data Services, working at the intersection of mineral exploration, environmental geochemistry, and advanced sensing technologies. His research spans terrestrial, marine, and planetary systems, with a strong focus on metal cycling, remote sensing, and real-time environmental monitoring. A significant part of his recent work concerns the Odra River, including a highly cited paper in Science of the Total Environment on heavy-metal contamination in the Middle Odra Valley. He has also contributed to public debate on stronger legal protection for the river. Beyond academia, he develops applied solutions in European Space Agency projects, including infrared spectroscopy and remote-sensing workflows for early warning and automated detection of environmental hazards. He has also taken part in major oceanic expeditions and led several National Science Centre projects.

President of the Board at MIRORES MDS

Arkadiusz Lipiecki

Currently pursuing a PhD in Economics at Wrocław Tech. His research focuses on energy forecasting and social simulation. He holds a BSc in Quantum Engineering and an MSc in Big Data Analytics. Right now, he’s mostly invested in research on probabilistic forecasting and reconciliation for day-ahead electricity markets using statistical methods and deep learning models. He also studies opinion dynamics and emergent social phenomena through the lens of agent-based models and dynamical systems, with a particular interest in polarization and anticonformity.

Forecasting and social simulation researcher at Wrocław Tech

Łukasz Urbański

Experienced IT consultant and software developer with over ten years of experience across education, healthcare, industrial, and e-commerce projects. He combines strong technical knowledge with a practical business approach, focusing on selecting the right technology for each problem rather than limiting solutions to a single stack. As CTO at Quantum Connect, he is responsible for the company’s technology direction and the development of innovative solutions, including co-creating Heyoo, a virtual business card redefining how contact information is presented and shared. He is also a technology content creator and public speaker, able to explain complex topics in an accessible way. He combines technical curiosity with a natural passion for problem-solving, treating every project as an opportunity to learn, improve processes, and build technology that makes everyday life simpler and more effective.

CTO VP at Quantum Connect

Oskar Zdunek

Business Development Manager at Scanway S.A., responsible for developing the company’s Space branch. Previously, he worked at the Polish Space Agency as Chief Specialist in the Strategy and International Cooperation Department, and also served as Industrial Liaison Officer for the European Southern Observatory and EUMETSAT Contact Point in Poland. At POLSA, he worked on satellite navigation, Earth observation, industrial policy, and cooperation on national, EU, and international space-sector documents and working groups, and was involved in the H2020 SUN project. He was also appointed as an expert of the Polish delegation to the European Space Agency and served as an advisor to the EUSPA Administrative Board. Earlier, he was Office Manager of the Polish Space Industry Association. He is also a Board Member of the Polish Space Professionals Association.

Business Development Manager at Scanway S.A.

ARAW

Wroclaw Agglomeration Development Agency - official city’s economic development agency, responsible for attracting investment, supporting innovative companies (startups) and coordinating partnerships between the municipality, business and universities.

ChallengeRocket

ChallengeRocket specialises in discovering, engaging, and developing talent through hackathons and online skill challenges. We have delivered complex international hackathons and innovation challenges for organisations such as NVIDIA, ING, Samsung, AS Watson and others, fully covering strategy, legal and organisational design, promotion, participant outreach & support, and judging.

City of Wrocław

A city on the Oder River with a long history of battling floods, which, following the disaster of 1997, has been investing heavily in modern water management and infrastructure protection systems. Today, Wrocław combines advancements in water science and space technology, engaging universities, companies, and institutions in innovative projects and initiatives such as hackathons.

Startup Wroclaw

It brings together startup founders, researchers, investors, and local leaders to support the development of the city’s tech ecosystem. The organization collaborates with universities, business hubs, R&D teams, and local government to turn ideas into real impact.