The Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk has become a new member supporting the Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area (GGSMA). Thus, it joined the group of a dozen or so institutions, foundations and universities that had previously declared cooperation with the GGSMA. 

The Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area (formerly: Gdańsk Metropolitan Area) is an association of 59 communes, cities and counties of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The main goal of the institution is to take action for the economic development of the region of about 1.6 million people, which translates into the quality and comfort of life of the inhabitants.

The GGSMA is also one of the intermediary institutions in the implementation of the Regional Operational Program of the Voivodeship of Pomerania - it manages European funds worth PLN 1.76 billion, contributing to the increase of the competitiveness of the Pomeranian metropolis in Poland and elsewhere in the world.

On Monday 12 July, during the meeting of the GGSMA Council, a new member was admitted to the group of institutions supporting the Area: The Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk (FarU), which includes the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk (find out more about the Union of Universities). 

– We jointly want to build a new quality of life for the inhabitants of our region – says Prof. Krzysztof Wilde, Gdańsk Tech Rector and Chairman of the Fahrenheit Union Assembly. – Both FarU and GGSMA have similar goals: strengthening relations with industry and business, creating an attractive place to live and work in Pomerania, as well as building a leading academic centre in Poland and elsewhere in Europe. Together we can do more! – added the Gdańsk Tech Rector.

– The University of Gdańsk is not only Gdańsk, but also Sopot, Gdynia, Kashubia, and the Hel Peninsula – argued Prof. Piotr Stepnowski, Rector of the University of Gdańsk. – We feel connected with our metropolis and we want to actively participate in its development and actively support it. We have a lot to offer in this field – he added, emphasizing at the same time the importance of common strategic goals implemented both in the Union of Universities and in the GGSMA. – We were unified by the same idea of joint efforts and looking for the synergy effect, which is the result of not only adding potentials but also the scale effect – said the Rector of the UG.
 
The Medical University of Gdańsk is also opening a new sphere of its presence in the GGSMA.  – Our university is already strongly present in the Area in terms of health protection, treatment and healthcare, and now also at the level of didactics, education and science - said Prof. Michał Markuszewski, Vice-Rector for Science at the Medical University of Gdańsk. – We intend to continue to actively cooperate both in the Metropolitan Area and the Union of Universities.

Other institutions that also support the GGSMA include GIWK (Gdańsk Water and Sewage Infrastructure), Saur Neptun Gdańsk, Zakład Utylizacyjny (Waste Disposal Plant) in Gdańsk Szadółki, Lech Walesa’s Airport in Gdańsk, Olivia Business Center and the GPEC Group.

Photo: Grzegorz Mehring/Gdansk.pl