Bratislava, 24 February 2026 – Strengthening the link between technical education and industrial practice was the main topic of a working meeting held at the premises of ECO-INVESTMENT, a.s. in Bratislava. The meeting was attended by Miloslav Čurilla, Member of the Board of Directors of the company and President of the Slovak Pulp and Paper Industry Association (ZCPP SR), Juraj Dlhopolček, Secretary General of ZCPP SR, and František Živčák, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Technical University of Košice (TUKE).
The meeting resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation, establishing a framework for the systematic connection between academic research and industrial practice.
The Slovak pulp and paper industry is among the technologically demanding and export-oriented sectors of the economy. Its future, however, depends not only on production volumes but also on the ability to innovate production processes in a sustainable manner.
“Technical education must be in direct contact with industrial production. If we want to maintain long-term competitiveness, we need an effective transfer of innovation into practice and graduates prepared to meet the challenges of modern and sustainable industry,”
said Miloslav Čurilla, President of ZCPP SR.
The discussion focused mainly on developing cooperation in applied research, technology transfer, and the involvement of students in real industrial projects. Dean František Živčák presented the achievements of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at TUKE in implementing modern technologies and patented solutions in industrial production.
“Our ambition is that research results should not end up only in publications but directly in production. Partnership with industry enables both students and researchers to work on real projects and deliver solutions with an immediate practical impact,” said František Živčák.
The meeting also included an official invitation for the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of TUKE to become a partner within ZCPP SR, with the aim of creating a stable platform for cooperation between academia and industry.
A symbolic expression of the developing cooperation was the presentation of a gift for the faculty, which will be used for educational and professional activities carried out in cooperation with industrial partners.
The meeting confirmed that the future of the Slovak paper industry is built on a combination of technological excellence, a sustainable approach, and the systematic integration of research with industrial practice.
