Rafał Łukasik, professor
Acting Director of the Institute
Engineer, Full Professor, Habilitated Doctor
Education
Professor of Engineering and Technical Sciences, specializing in chemical engineering. He obtained his Master of Science in Engineering degree from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology in 2002. In 2007, he defended his doctoral thesis at NOVA University Lisbon (Portugal), where he subsequently also obtained his habilitation. In 2022, upon the recommendation of the Council of Scientific Excellence, the President of the Republic of Poland awarded him the title of Professor of Engineering and Technical Sciences. He is the author of over 130 scientific publications cited more than 8,000 times, two books, numerous monograph chapters, and six patents, including international ones.
Experience
A chemical engineer and an expert in research, innovation, and international cooperation. Immediately prior to assuming the role of Acting Director of the Łukasiewicz – Institute of Organic Industry, he served as Director of the Research, Innovation, and Commercialization Department at the Łukasiewicz Centre and as the Łukasiewicz Research Network President’s Plenipotentiary for International Relations.
In 2025, he was appointed to the European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, where he helps formulate independent recommendations addressing key challenges facing the European Union. He is also a member of the EARTO Executive Board, contributing to the shaping of European research and innovation policy. In Poland, he serves on the Main Council of Science and Higher Education and advises the Ministry of Science on the internationalization of science, the development of research infrastructure, and the updating of the State Science Policy.
For nearly 20 years, he pursued a research career in Portugal—primarily at the National Laboratory for Energy and Geology (LNEG)—where, as a senior researcher, he led projects in bioenergy, biofuels, and the circular economy. He collaborated with the European Commission (DG RTD) on research infrastructure development and innovation funding, as well as with European technology platforms, including ETIP Bioenergy. His research interests focus on green chemistry, renewable energy, and biorefineries. His track record—spanning research, implementation, and advisory work—positions him among the leading European experts who successfully bridge the worlds of science, technology, and policy.
