Director of the Institute

Daria Frączak, PhD Eng., has more than 15 years of experience in R&D works, petrochemicals, and process and product development. She has specialised in chemical engineering and processes, R&D project management, the creation and management of companies’ intellectual property (IP) portfolios, as well as the development of scientific strategies. She has expertise in the development of product life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental impact assessment. She also has extensive skills in effective presentation and communication at all levels of the organization, as well as in front of external clients.

She graduated with a PhD degree from the Silesian University of Technology, where she presented her thesis entitled: ‘Catalytic hydrogenation of products of the thermal cracking process of plastics waste’. She is the author of three international patents and two patent applications and numerous publications. She has also obtained diplomas in project management and technology transfer brokerage. She is currently a student in a postgraduate MBA programme.

She gained experience in managing R&D units at Clariter, where she held the position of Scientific Director. This enabled her to influence the shaping of the company’s scientific strategy and vision. For the past 10 years, she has managed an international team of scientists and key personnel in Poland and South Africa.

Her knowledge and experience make her an international expert in the field of chemical recycling of plastics. She boasts the recognition of many international organisations and editors of scientific journals, who constantly invite her as a keynote speaker at conferences.

She was appointed as Director of Lukasiewicz – ICSO “Blachownia” on 1 April, 2025.