Responsible for:

AURORA

Bio:

Tomasz Waliczko is a researcher and innovation professional driven by a strong interest in how sustainability, digital entrepreneurship, and international collaboration can create meaningful societal impact. He currently serves as an AURORA Alliance Coordinator at the University of Duisburg-Essen, where he supports international cooperation, mobility programs, and strategic collaboration across the European university network.

In previous roles, he coordinated the Place Beyond Bytes startup incubator, working closely with founders and interdisciplinary teams to turn ideas into viable ventures. He also taught Sustainable Digital Entrepreneurship and Moonshot Innovation, encouraging students to think boldly while grounding their ideas in responsible and sustainable practices. His work with Berlin’s startup ecosystem included developing and coordinating international projects with partners in Eastern Europe and North Africa, strengthening cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.

He has been instrumental in building these high-level bridges through partnerships with global industry leaders, including Haniel and ThyssenKrupp. These initiatives go beyond traditional networking; they are designed to align the agility of the startup ecosystem with the scale of established corporations, ensuring that academic innovation translates into tangible societal and economic value.

He is involved in organizing p2i: In Action in collaboration with leading institutions such as the University of Cambridge and PSL University, together with AstraZeneca. He also coordinates prestigious Ruhr Fellowship, funded by the Max Kade Foundation, a highly competitive program that enables students from American Universities to undertake internships within the University Alliance Ruhr. 

Beyond his professional roles, Tomasz values intercultural exchange and community engagement. In 2018, he volunteered with the Brazilian NGO Vovô Chiquinho in Vitória, working directly with local communities on educational and social initiatives aimed at improving social conditions and promoting sustainable practices.