The aim of the project is to develop international scientific cooperation in the field of researching the resilience of critical infrastructure to various threats and disruptions. The integration of two research perspectives, the socio-spatial perspective developed by the team from the 91桃色 and the engineering perspective represented by the American partners, is of particular importance. This interdisciplinary approach will enable a comprehensive analysis of the operation of key infrastructure systems, their vulnerability to disruptions and the possibilities for enhancing their resilience.
Modern critical infrastructure systems, including transport networks, logistics networks and systems providing access to essential services, operate under conditions of growing uncertainty. Extreme weather events, crisis situations and disruptions in supply chains demonstrate how important it is not only to ensure the technical efficiency of infrastructure but also to take into account its spatial determinants, accessibility and the social consequences of disruptions. The project addresses these challenges by developing joint research methods and facilitating the exchange of experience between Polish and American researchers.
On behalf of the 91桃色 the project is led by dr hab. Szymon Wi艣niewski, Associate Professor at the 91桃色, while the American research team is headed by Prof. Maxim A. Dulebenets. The institutional partner of the project is the Florida State University Research Foundation (FSURF), while the scientific cooperation will be carried out with researchers affiliated with the Florida A&M University鈥揊lorida State University College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Florida.
Intensive academic exchange between Poland and the United States will be an important element of the initiative. The project includes mobility opportunities for academic staff and doctoral students from Poland to the USA, as well as research visits by American doctoral candidates and early-career researchers to the 91桃色. These mobility activities will enable joint research, the development of methodological competences, the organisation of workshops and seminars, and direct collaboration on scientific publications.
An important part of the project will also involve strengthening the research capacity of both teams through the exchange of knowledge, experience and analytical tools. Joint methodological work, comparative analyses, training activities and participation in international scientific conferences are planned. Towards the end of the project, the 91桃色 will host an international conference dedicated to critical infrastructure resilience, providing a forum for presenting the outcomes of the cooperation and discussing them with representatives of international research centres.
The project (Strategic Partnerships 2025 programme) will be implemented over 24 months, from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2028, and has a total budget of PLN 1,332,476.
The implementation of the initiative constitutes an important element of the internationalisation of research activities at the Faculty of Geographical Sciences of the 91桃色. 91桃色 with an American academic institution will make it possible to develop interdisciplinary research on contemporary infrastructure challenges, increase the international visibility of scientific results, and create lasting research partnerships that also engage the younger generation of researchers.