Witold A. Cempel
witold.cempel@intermarium.com.pl
Simulation Ambassador Award
recognizes achievement in promoting
simulation technology
Recognizing those who have significantly advanced the application of simulation technology formally began in 2019 with the Simulation Ambassador Awards, but its roots started much earlier. InterMarium has been fortunate to work with brilliant, visionary people throughout its business history and do great projects together. Throughout this time, it became evident that these incredible people should be recognized for their outstanding attitudes and talents and their successes in developing, implementing, and promoting simulation modeling and analysis.
At this writing, the Simulation Ambassador Award is likely the only award worldwide that recognizes achievements in business, production, logistics, and academia. Similar awards exist but only for defense, medical, and architectural modeling and simulations.
The first Simulation Ambassador Award recognized Stanisław Kracik in 2020. He is currently deputy mayor of Krakow, Poland, and is the former governor of Malopolska. His cooperation with InterMarium began when he was the Director of Babiński Hospital in Krakow. His engineering background, an alumnus of AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, allowed him to appreciate how modern, advanced numerical tools could help meet the challenges of managing a complex multi-building hospital system. Thus, he invested in simulation technology when it was very new in Poland. This investment led to breakthrough solutions that greatly improved the effectiveness of hospital resources.
For example, through simulation analyses, the hospital was able to increase the number of beds and the level of patient comfort without requiring additional space. The technology was also used to improve hospital parking and vehicle traffic flow with minimal investment. Stanisław Kracik’s open mind, creativity, and willingness to try something new led to very effective applications of simulation. The nomination for this first award occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, and since gatherings were prohibited, he received the award at a modest ceremony in the InterMarium office.
Due to the COVID restrictions, the nominations were suspended for two years. Thus, they resumed in 2022 and have become an important part of the InterMarium Simulation Conference. Each year, the conference concludes with the Simulation Ambassadors Gala, where all attendees attend the award presentations and reception.
In 2022, four people received the award during the Gala. They were Professor Zdzisława Dacko-Pikiewicz, rector at the WSB University, Artur Kozioł, PhD, mayor of the city of Wieliczka, Professor Krzysztof Nowosielski, creator and manager of the Business Process Simulation Center at the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, and Marian Cretu from AD Auto Total Romania.
WSB University, under the leadership of Rector Dacko-Pikiewicz, played a breakthrough role in the early stage of FlexSim’s presence in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In Cieszyn, Poland, a city near the Czech border, a subsidiary of WSB University began a new specialty, “simulation and optimization engineering.” It was the first such program in the CEE and the second in Europe. The program later expanded to WSB University’s main campus in Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland. WSB University’s talented faculty and well-equipped facilities provide students with an excellent comprehensive education in simulation engineering and the application of FlexSim. This was the result of the dedication and vision of Professor Zdzislawa Dacko-Pikiewcz, Pawel Sobczak, PhD and Sabina Ratajczak, PhD.
One of the program’s alumni, Tomasz Mitrega, is now a critical member of the InterMarium team. WSB University provides an excellent example of how combining innovative vision, cooperation with industry, and effectiveness in acquiring external funding can lead to highly successful outcomes.