Institute

History and range of activities of the Institute

The history of the Institute consists of several events leading to the establishment of the independent scientific and research unit of the Polish Academy of Sciences:

• 1986 − The Department of Basic Research on Mineral Management was founded.
• 1988 − The Centre for Fundamental Problems of Mineral and Energy Management of the Polish Academy of Sciences was established.
• 1998 − The Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences was founded.
• 2012 – The Institute was granted the right to confer the degree of Doctor of Mining and Engineering Geology.
• 2016 – The Institute celebrated 30 years since its foundation.
• 2017 – The European Commission awarded the Institute with the right to use the prestigious logo, HR Excellence in Research.

The studies carried out at the Institute are characterized by interdisciplinarity and complexity. They are implemented on the basis of the entire research process—from basic research to application—with a particular emphasis on their usefulness. The interdisciplinary nature of the Institute’s activities includes disciplines such as:

• Mining
• Geology and geoengineering,
• Power engineering, including renewable and geothermal energy,
• Environmental engineering,
• Geophysics and applied geophysics

It is worth emphasizing that the Institute is a pioneer in the use of geothermal energy in Poland. The first Polish experimental geothermal plant, located in Bańska Niżna-Biały Dunajec and made up of two deep boreholes, was launched in 1993. As of today, this installation is used for heating purposes and as a geothermal laboratory.